5. No. 23 Kansas State @ No. 7 Texas (11 a.m. on Fox)
In the first of two Big 12 games, both teams come in with high-powered offenses.
Kansas State comes into the game averaging 464.6 yards per game while Texas is averaging just under that with 454.1. The Longhorns will be in their second game having to start redshirt freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy, due to the injury of redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Murphy was good enough for the Longhorns to get the win last week against BYU, throwing for 170 yards and two touchdowns. However, it will be interesting to see how the inexperienced quarterback plays in a game with higher stakes.
Fortunately for Murphy, the Wildcats defense does a better job stopping the run than it does the passing game as they average 234.4 yards given up through the air per game, ranking 75th nationally.
As long as Murphy protects the ball and refuses to allow his inexperience to catch up to him, the Longhorns will come out on top in Austin.
Winner: Texas
4. No. 5 Washington @ No. 20 USC (6:30 p.m. on ABC)
For Washington and USC, the first one to 100 points wins. In all seriousness, this game should produce major fireworks with how explosive the offenses are and how poor the defenses are.
Add in the fact playoff and conference championship berths are on the line, fans are not going to want to miss this one.
The Huskies’ senior quarterback Michael Penix Jr. comes in as a favorite for the Heisman trophy. With a win, he would further improve his claim for the trophy while also putting his team in a good position to finish out the regular season.
USC nearly dropped its third game in a row last week to Cal, but somehow came back, keeping themselves alive in the conference race. A spot in the playoffs may be a long shot now, but winning a conference title will be something Trojan fans will want before they say goodbye to the Pac-12.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, USC ranks worse than the Huskies at 111th in the nation in total defense. Penix and reigning heisman trophy winner, junior quarterback Caleb Williams should have a stat-padding weekend.
However, Penix will be the only one of the two that comes out with a victory as the Huskies continue their undefeated season with a win in Southern California.
Winner: Washington
3. No. 12 Missouri @ No. 2 Georgia (2:30 p.m. on CBS)
The top spot in the SEC East is on the line this weekend between Missouri and Georgia. The Tigers have not won the East since 2014, but a win will put them in the driver’s seat for the division, while a win for Georgia will likely lead to its third-straight division title.
On both sides of the ball, the Bulldogs still have a national championship-worthy squad. Ranking fourth in the nation in total offense and eighth in total defense, Georgia has begun to look like the Bulldog teams from the last two years after a shaky start to the season.
If the Tigers are to pull off the upset in Athens, Georgia, they better give coach Eli Drinkwitz a lifetime contract. To turn a 6-7 team from the past two seasons into a contender in the SEC is not to be taken lightly.
However, the odds are stacked against them this weekend. Junior quarterback Brady Cook and sophomore wide receiver Luther Burden are going to have to play out of their minds. If not, the Bulldogs will stay at the top of the division standings.
That’s the most likely result. Georgia wins by double digits in this mid-afternoon showdown.
Winner: Georgia
2. No. 8 Oklahoma @ No. 22 Oklahoma State (2:30 p.m. on ABC)
It’s time for the final Bedlam for who knows how long. In the 118th edition of the rivalry game, the stakes are higher than they have been in some time.
With the Sooners loss last weekend to Kansas, they likely need to win out in order to make the Big 12 championship. The same goes for the Cowboys who, after starting the season on a bad note with a loss to South Alabama, have turned their season around and now control their own destiny for a spot in the conference championship.
The key to the Cowboys recent success has been sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II, rushing for 282 and 271 yards in the last two games, respectively. Gordon is a problem for most defenses but could be even more of a nightmare on a defense ranked 52nd in the nation in run defense.
Since beating Texas, the Sooners have lost while also scraping by in a win against a 3-5 UCF team and sophomore quarterback Dilon Gabriel has doubled his interception total.
If the Sooners are to get past the Cowboys in Stillwater, Oklahoma, they must go back to that team that beat the Longhorns. With the rivalry and everything at stake, OU coach Brent Venables will have his team ready to go. The Sooners will win the final Bedlam before heading off to the SEC.
Winner: Oklahoma
1. No. 14 LSU @ No. 8 Alabama (6:45 p.m. on CBS)
A classic SEC matchup is on deck this weekend between the Tigers and Crimson Tide. This matchup goes a long way in deciding how the SEC West shapes out. What more does someone need to be fired up for this one?
Coming into the game, LSU’s defense ranks 88th in the nation, averaging 395 yards allowed per game. This is a good sign for the Tide, who come in with a stout defense and an offense that seems to be just getting by.
Alabama ranks 126th in the nation in sacks allowed, but redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe has figured himself out, utilizing the deep ball and senior wide receiver Jermaine Burton. The defense ranks No. 17 in the nation in total defense, however, they are up against the nation’s No. 1 offense this week.
Both these teams have come a long way offensively from the 9-6 LSU victory in 2011. This game will be a high-scoring shootout, and for the second time since 2019, the Tigers will come out of Tuscaloosa on top.
Winner: LSU
Honorable Mentions
Virginia Tech @ No. 13 Louisville (2:30 p.m. on ACC Network)
It’s an ACC-Eliminator matchup between the Hokies and Cardinals. Virginia Tech has been fun to follow recently, but Louisville will be too much for them to handle in this one.
Winner: Louisville
Boise State @ Fresno State (9 p.m. on CBSSN)
It’s a sold out crowd for a matchup in the Mountain West with huge conference championship implications. Boise State has a tough defense, however, it won’t be enough to slow down Fresno State who is looking to defend its title from last season.
Winner: Fresno State