Week 12 CFB Open Thread

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Week 12 CFB Open Thread

National Game of the Week: #11 Oklahoma @ #4 Alabama

There are two big games in the SEC that are near mirror images of one another. They both feature a pair of rivals who recently joined from the Big 12 and enter the game at 7-2 visiting a traditional SEC powerhouse who is 8-1. The OU-Bama game is #11 vs. #4; the Texas-Georgia game is #10 vs. #5 (largely because Bama beat Georgia while Texas beat OU). Oklahoma is looking up at five teams with 0 or 1 loss in conference, so their odds of makin the CCG are slim. However, winning out would get them to 10-2 with a good shot at making the CFP. Alabama held LSU to nine points last week. If they survive Oklahoma, they will finish the year with relatively more easy games against Eastern Illinois and Auburn. Coming off consecutive wins over Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee, that seems downright rosy. There’s also some recent history between the teams. It was a loss to a struggling OU team that put some heat on Kalen Deboer in his debut campaign for the Tide and he want retribution.

Also of note

  • #10 Texas @ #5 Georgia- as mentioned above, this game is right on par with OU-Bama. Both teams have a single SEC loss, so the winner will be very much alive in the SEC title race. If Texas wins, they can control their own destiny because they will get a chance to knock off Texas A&M in their final regular season game.
  • #9 Notre Dame @ #22 Pitt- The best game of the early window sees the Irish tryin to maintain the momentum they have built after some early season struggles. I hoped Navy could give them some competition last week, but ND squashed them 49-10. Pitt is one of five ACC teams with a single conference loss. This game will not impact their standing, but they finish @Ga Tech, vs. Miami, arguably their three most difficult games of the year in a row.
  • #21 Iowa @ #17 USC- The Trojans only have a single Big 10 loss. Neither Indiana nor Ohio St look likely to lose a game in conference, but they will certainly want to stay in the mix for the CCG. They will try to do it against the polar opposite of a Lincoln Riley team. Iowa’s defense against USC’s offense will be worth watching, even if the other side of the all is much less attractive.

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