College Football Week 11 Predictions & Best Bets

Ten games, ten best bets, and a weekend that starts under the Friday night lights at the Rose Bowl, with Big Ten title hopes on the line in Pasadena, Bloomington and Eugene.

Let's get into it.

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FRIDAY NIGHT

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI @ #4 UCLA BRUINS

Friday, November 13 | 6:00 PM PT | Fox

Line: UCLA -10 | O/U: 47.5

Illinois was able to use its defensive prowess and physicality to slow-grind the Cornhuskers and come away with a win late. Meanwhile, the undefeated Bruins kept rolling with another dominant win, continuing to showcase a lethal, balanced attack.

Ty Dieffenbach only needed 8 completions to throw for 303 yards, courtesy of two back-to-back 75-yard 4th quarter touchdown strikes. UCLA just might be the most lethal team in the 4th quarter.

UCLA at home under the Rose Bowl lights is a tough spot for a sputtering Illini offense. The Bruins' offense should put up enough points to win in what should be another slugfest.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24, ILLINOIS 13

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SATURDAY MORNING

DUKE BLUE DEVILS @ #7 MIAMI HURRICANES

Saturday, November 14 | 9:00 AM PT | ABC

Line: Miami -13.5 | O/U: 54.5

Duke has been slowly gaining momentum all year long in the ACC, and the winner of this game would have a massive tiebreaker over the other for the ACC title game. Granted, Duke has to win out and get some help, but you can bet their butts they're going to pull out all the stops against a Miami team eager to get back on the field after a loss at Notre Dame.

I get that Miami was number one, but Notre Dame was favored by 7. Why are we storming the field?

I expect Miami to win this game, but give me Duke to cover.

PREDICTION: MIAMI 27, DUKE 24

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#13 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS @ SMU MUSTANGS

Saturday, November 14 | 9:00 AM PT | ESPN

Line: SMU -1.5 | O/U: 60.5

Wake Forest has been putting up massive points in all of its victories this year and is finally starting to get some well-deserved national attention. I think the committee will reward Wake Forest handsomely if it can pull off the upset in Dallas against a dangerous and hungry SMU team.

This game also has major playoff implications and features two of the country's best quarterbacks. I expect a lot of points in this one.

Give me Wake on a last-second field goal.

PREDICTION: WAKE FOREST 34, SMU 31

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON

#8 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS @ TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Saturday, November 14 | 12:00 PM PT | ESPN

Line: Tennessee -2.5 | O/U: 43.5

Tennessee flexed its muscles in the trenches last week, leaning on the run game for 240 yards and imposing its will on a tough Kentucky team. Tennessee's defensive line is no joke and can keep the Vols in most ball games.

A&M has had a season to forget, but Mike Elko can take some pressure off himself if the Aggies pull off an upset.

I expect A&M to keep it close, but defense and run games travel, so give me the Vols to break away in the 4th quarter.

PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 27, TEXAS A&M 14

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#18 USC TROJANS @ #9 INDIANA HOOSIERS

Saturday, November 14 | 12:30 PM PT | CBS

Line: Indiana -10 | O/U: 50.5

We knew USC's offense would be great coming into this year, and it has been. The biggest question mark was the defense, and it seems to have finally arrived at the right time as the Trojans head into the climax of their schedule.

The Hoosiers have seemingly survived week to week for the last month or so behind a stellar defensive unit. If the offense doesn't show up against USC, the Hoosiers will be in trouble.

Can the men of Troy pull off the upset against a stout Indiana team? Or will Indiana finally get some production and fight off the Trojans?

This is my upset of the week. Give me the Trojans, baby!

PREDICTION: USC 31, INDIANA 20

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MICHIGAN WOLVERINES @ #16 OREGON DUCKS

Saturday, November 14 | 12:30 PM PT | FS1

Line: Oregon -11.5 | O/U: 38.5

They. Just. Don't. Die.

As a Huskies fan, I have to admit it's fairly impressive to see this Oregon team continue to fight. Win out and get some help: that is Oregon's route to the B1G Championship game.

The help may not seem that hopeless either, as the Ducks need a loss from Indiana and Illinois over the next three weeks. Those losses could happen this week, considering the Illini play at UCLA and the Hoosiers play USC. I don't know about you guys, but I think it would be phenomenal if the former Pac-12 teams were the B1G championship reps.

As far as Michigan-Oregon goes, I expect Oregon to continue to play stellar defense, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Ducks shut out this woefully bad Michigan offense.

PREDICTION: OREGON 27, MICHIGAN 3

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FLORIDA GATORS @ #11 KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Saturday, November 14 | 3:15 PM PT | ESPN

Line: Kentucky -3.5 | O/U: 52.5

Florida continues to be the most inconsistent team in the country, as it lost at home last week to a very mediocre Oklahoma team.

Kentucky got smacked in Tennessee, losing 34-6 in a very hostile environment. Kentucky kept it close for 3 quarters but was unable to give Kenny Minchey any protection, as the Vols defense unleashed wave after wave of pressure.

Florida's defense has been fairly undisciplined all year, and I expect Will Stein to come up with an effective game plan to get Kentucky back on track. These teams are graded fairly even, so it may come down to special teams.

Give me the Cats to bounce back.

PREDICTION: KENTUCKY 34, FLORIDA 31

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SATURDAY EVENING

#2 UTAH UTES @ #23 ARIZONA WILDCATS

Saturday, November 14 | 4:30 PM PT | Fox

Line: Utah -2.5 | O/U: 54.5

Utah remains undefeated after another gritty, physical victory last week. It got scary for a minute after the Utes blew a 14-0 lead and all the bounces seemed to go BYU's way for 2.5 quarters. In the 4th quarter, though, the Utah defense and offense stepped up and made some crucial plays. Devon Dampier used all his experience to lead the Utes on a crucial scoring drive that put them up by 8.

Arizona, on the other hand, needed an onside kick with less than 2 minutes to go against a pesky TCU team that just didn't seem to go away. Zona recovered the kick, hit the go-ahead field goal with 38 seconds left and then picked off TCU to keep its slim Big 12 title hopes alive.

The Utes have pounced on teams on the road this year, and I expect them to do the same against a dangerous Wildcats team. Utah will wear Zona down in the trenches and should have some explosive plays in the 4th quarter.

Utah remains undefeated.

PREDICTION: UTAH 26, ARIZONA 23

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#6 TEXAS LONGHORNS @ #21 LSU TIGERS

Saturday, November 14 | 4:30 PM PT | ABC

Line: LSU -4 | O/U: 46.5

Texas was banged up and missing several key players, but it was able to pull out a win in a hostile environment at Mizzou behind its stout defense.

In Baton Rouge, LSU was neck and neck with Alabama until an explosive 4th quarter from the Crimson Tide put the Tigers to bed. Hey, Lane Kiffin… TAKE. THE. POINTS. LSU had several trips early in the first half against Bama and ended up turning the ball over on downs. Kiffin should have trusted his defense more.

LSU needs a win, but so does Texas… Texas hasn't lost on the road this year, and I expect the Horns to come out with another wild road victory.

PREDICTION: TEXAS 27, LSU 23

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#17 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS @ ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Saturday, November 14 | 4:45 PM PT | SEC Network

Line: South Carolina -7 | O/U: 51.5

South Carolina might be the hottest team in the country. Okay, maybe like the 2nd or 3rd hottest, behind Utah and Georgia. LaNorris Sellers looks like the Heisman-caliber QB everyone expected him to be, and Beamer Ball is in full force down in Columbia.

In Fayetteville, the Hogs need to win this game if they want to keep their bowl hopes alive.

I expect the crowd to be rocking and a closely contested game, with South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers making a clutch play late.

PREDICTION: SOUTH CAROLINA 26, ARKANSAS 21

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— Justin Tapp | The Sizzlin CEO