We’ve reached the critical juncture of the college football season where a good or bad result can make or break a team’s season.
The schedule for Week 12 There are two showdowns in the SEC matching teams in the top 10 that will have an impact on the conference race and which teams will reach the College Football Playoff. Another contender, Notre Dame, heads on the road to meet a ranked opponent. And there are are other potential banana skins to wipe out contenders, including a Big Ten matchup.
So which games are the likeliest to produce upsets?
That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer have their bold predictions for Week 12 of the college football season.
Baylor deals blow to Utah’s playoff hopes
I’d love to pick the Minnesota run game to dictate tempo, and upset Oregon. Or hot Texas QB Arch Manning cutting up the shaky Georgia secondary. Or Pittsburgh, with the motivation of Notre Dame rolling into town, force multiple turnovers and upset the Irish. None of it happens. But Baylor, with underrated quarterback Sawyer Robertson, will end Utah’s CFP hopes. — Matt Hayes
Lane Kiffin can’t get past Florida, again
There’s going to be plenty of eyes as Lane Kiffin goes against the school that many are speculating could be his future employer. Florida was the team that effectively knocked out Ole Miss from the playoff’s last year with an upset in November. Can it happen again? The Rebels aren’t able to put together a consistent game and the Gators hand Mississippi its second loss to completely change the SEC and College Football Playoff race. — Jordan Mendoza
Bounce back from Iowa ends USC’s playoff hopes
Iowa muscles out a low-scoring win against Southern California to dump the Trojans out of the at-large playoff mix and clarify a muddled Big Ten race. Iowa has already been eliminated by narrow losses to Iowa State, Indiana and Oregon, though the Hawkeyes might be one of the best three-loss teams in the Power Four. But a USC loss would be good news for the Ducks and even better news for Michigan, which would play for the conference title with an Oregon loss to the Trojans next week combined with its fifth win in a row against Ohio State. — Paul Myerberg
Oklahoma makes emphatic playoff statement at Alabama
The Sooners have faced one of the toughest schedules in the country and it’s brought them to the biggest moment of the season. A win at Alabama would put them in great position to make the playoff. John Mateer has shown improved as he continues to heal from his hand injury and the defense should be able to slow down the Crimson Tide run game. The biggest challenge will be slowing down Ty Simpson and the Alabama receivers. It’ll be close. It’ll be dramatic. But Oklahoma does enough to get its second big road win. — Erick Smith
Pittsburgh shakes up playoff race with Notre Dame upset
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told the truth earlier this week when he said the upcoming game against Notre Dame is not, strictly speaking, a must-win proposition for his Panthers. But don’t mistake that eyebrow-raising admission for apathy. He and the Panthers would very much like to win it – and they will do just that.
Notre Dame’s bread and butter is its ground game, capable of hitting a home run any time and producing over six rushes per game gaining at least 10 yards. But the Panthers’ third-ranked defense has surrendered just 19 such plays all season and gives up just 2.39 yards per rushing attempt. The Irish will break off a few, but not enough for sustained success. Pitt will prevail and cause the biggest splash in the next playoff rankings. — Eddie Timanus
Prepare for Indiana beatdown of Wisconsin
Will Wisconsin know how to handle success? The Badgers hadn’t tasted any since early September before beating Washington last weekend. Bravo to Wisconsin for not quitting, but I suspect its punter-led passing attack will encounter more trouble against Indiana. Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi invited Notre Dame to score 100 points in their game this weekend. Curt Cignetti might take that as an invitation for all schools located in Indiana to hang 100. Purdue won’t have any hope of that, but Indiana could try for 100 against the Badgers. Or, perhaps a more realistic goal for Cignetti and Co.: Beat Wisconsin by more than Ohio State did this season. The Buckeyes won 34-0. — Blake Toppmeyer