College football Week 11: Picks and preview

The Bearcats are off to their best start since their 12-1 season of 2009 when they lost to Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Cincinnati is getting it done on both sides of the ball, but a defense that has yielded just 70 total points, and more than 13 just once, must be celebrated. East Carolina has been outscored 181-74 during a four-game losing streak at Cincinnati.

Predictions: Cincinnati (-27 1/2)

Obviously, this is the best season in Liberty’s brief FBS football history, and the program is one victory away from matching a school record on that level. The Flames, who just gave coach Hugh Freeze a contract extension, might have the country’s best unknown player in quarterback Malik Willis (1,339 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, one interception; 603 rushing yards, seven touchdowns). Western Carolina, out of the FCS, is playing its first of three scheduled games in 2020.

Prediction: OFF

Have the Hoosiers officially become the darlings of the college football world? With wins over perennial Big Ten powers Penn State and Michigan, Indiana is trying to reach 4-0 for the first time since 1990 and is ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1969. How did Indiana get here? Partially because of an offense that’s averaging 37.0 points. Meanwhile, it’s uncertain what to expect from Michigan State, which lost at home to Rutgers, won at Michigan and was blown out 49-7 at Iowa. The Spartans have won three straight and 17 of 20 in this series.

Prediction: Michigan State (+7 1/2)

Like Marshall, and to a certain extent Liberty, Coastal Carolina is another Group of Five program that has turned heads this season despite entering with little fanfare. The Chanticleers are a powerful offensive team (37.9 points per game) and also have yielded six points over their last two games. Troy has dropped two of its last three games but has scored 102 points in its three home games this season.

Prediction: Coastal Carolina (-10 1/2)

Back in the Top 25, Louisiana has a chance to clinch the Sun Belt West Division and a spot in the league’s championship game — most likely against Coastal Carolina. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won three in a row by a combined 21 points. They’ve also won four straight over South Alabama by a combined 30 points.

Prediction: Louisiana (-15 1/2)

USC pulled out a comeback 28-27 win over Arizona State last week and now takes on that state’s other Pac-12 squad. Kedon Slovis threw for 381 yards. while receivers Drake London and Amon-Ra St. Brown combined for 15 receptions and 225 yards last week. Arizona, meanwhile, is finally set to open its season after COVID-19 claimed its scheduled date with Utah.

Prediction: Arizona (+14)

That’s right, these are the two top teams in the Big Ten’s West Division. Purdue last started 3-0 in 2007, so it’s been some time since the Boilermakers have enjoyed this kind of early success. Their two wins have come by a combined 11 points. Northwestern, meanwhile, is doing it with defense, allowing 36 points in three games while already forcing nine turnovers.

Prediction: Northwestern (-2 1/2)

Yes, there are still games being played within the SEC this week. Arkansas quarterback Feleipe Franks (1,428 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions) has helped the Hogs surpass their win total from last season and returns to Gainesville to face his former team. However, Arkansas’ defense will be seriously challenged by a Florida group that just roughed up then-No. 5 Georgia 44-28. Behind Kyle Trask (1,815 passing yards, 22 TDs, three INTs), the Gators are averaging 42.4 points.

Predictions: Florida (-17 1

Oregon looked relatively solid during its 35-14 win over Stanford to open the season. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 227 yards and a TD and ran for 85 and a score in his first start for the Ducks, so that was a good sign. Washington State can score points in bunches but also can give them up at a generous rate. The Cougars have won two straight at home in this series.

Prediction: Oregon (-10)

We honestly don’t know what to expect from this matchup. Specifically, who will be on the field for a COVID-19-infested Badgers squad that’s playing its first game since rolling over Illinois on Oct. 23. Will quarterback Graham Mertz be cleared to play? At Michigan, the issues are limited to the field, where the Wolverines have allowed 89 points in three games, can’t find offensive consistency and must deal with the Jim Harbaugh-on-the-hot-seat talk at an all-time high.

Prediction: Wisconsin (-4 1/2)

North Carolina garnered plenty of attention by winning its first three games but has been rather inconsistent while splitting its next four. Wake, on the other hand, has won four in a row without hardly any of the country taking notice. The Demon Deacons have totaled 167 points over those four games, which included a win over then-.No.19 Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels, however, have won two straight at home in this series.

Prediction: North Carolina (-13 1/2)

West Virginia looks to improve to 5-0 at home while TCU is trying to go 3-0 on the road in this Big 12 matchup. Something has to give. TCU quarterback Max Duggan has thrown for 1,113 yards and also leads the Horned Frogs with 329 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Mountaineers running back Leddie Brown has averaged 128.3 yards on the ground at home.

Prediction: West Virginia (-3)

COVID-19 kept Utah from playing its season opener last weekend, but things appear to be a go on Saturday. It’s uncertain who will be available for the Utes , who didn’t have enough scholarship players available last weekend. UCLA, meanwhile, lost in a wild 48-42 contest at Colorado. Bruins quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson, one of the Pac-12’s top athletes, threw for 303 yards with four TDs while also gaining 109 on the ground with a score last week.

Prediction: UCLA (+2 1/2)