NCAA Football 2019 Week 12 picks

The MAC kicks off the week as we reach the point of the season when we have football every night.

Tues Nov 12
Western Michigan Broncos at Ohio Bobcats:  The Bobcats lost last week, dropping from the East division lead.  The Broncos, on the strength of a two-game winning streak, are tied atop the West division.  By numbers, the Broncos look to be the favorite.  However, they have not won a game on the road all season, and the Bobcats want to keep their title hopes alive.  OHIO

Wed Nov 13
Bowling Green Falcons at Miami Ohio Redhawks:  If Ohio wins on Tues, the Redhawks know they have to win to stay ahead.  Given the problems experienced by the Falcons this season, that shouldn't be hard.  MIAMI OHIO

Thurs Nov 14
Buffalo Bulls at Kent State Golden Flashes:  Buffalo still has an outside chance of winning the East division, but they need to win out.  They can start that here.  BUFFALO

Fri Nov 15
#21 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Marshall Thundering Herd:  A Bulldogs win here helps both them and the Florida Atlantic Owls.  Marshall will fight hard, but I think the strong Bulldogs offense will prove just a bit too much for them.  LOUISIANA TECH

Fresno State Bulldogs at San Diego State Aztecs:  These Bulldogs, on the other hand, don't have quite as good an offense, and they face a stingy defense.  Worse, the Bulldogs defense isn't great, which should give the Aztecs a chance to improve their offensive numbers.  SAN DIEGO STATE

Sat Nov 16
Top 25:
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  Easy pick.  OHIO STATE

#2 LSU Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels:  Another very easy pick.  LSU

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #3 Clemson Tigers:  Wake was lining up to be the toughest foe Clemson would face, until they lost last week.  That label still applies, but the Tiger win won't be as impressive now.  CLEMSON

#4 Alabama Crimson Tide at Mississippi State Bulldogs:  The Tide will roll over struggling Miss St.  ALABAMA

Indiana Hoosiers at #5 Penn State Nittany Lions:  This game could be closer than people expect!  The Hoosiers have a good offense, and they will watch film of the Minnesota game and see how they shredded the Penn State secondary.  Unfortunately, Indiana doesn't have as good a defense as Minnesota, but the Hoosiers should beat the spread.  PENN STATE

#6 Georgia Bulldogs at #15 Auburn Tigers:  This could be an interesting game.  A Georgia loss puts Florida back into solid contention for the East title.  Auburn is basically out of the division title picture, but they love to play spoiler.  They have a good defense, and could frustrate Georgia.  Georgia's defense is better, so this will be a low-scoring affair.  Those games could hinge on special teams and a turnover, two things Auburn is good at.  I'll pick Georgia, but watch for the upset in this one.  GEORGIA

Arizona Wildcats at #7 Oregon Ducks:  The Ducks think they still might have a shot at the playoffs.  I'm not so sure, but another loss to both Georgia and Penn State would place them in good position.  They need to impress, and a strong win here will help.  OREGON

#8 Minnesota Golden Gophers at #16 Iowa Hawkeyes:  Would you believe it, the Gophers are underdogs AGAIN?  They like it that way, and that alone might be enough incentive for them to beat Iowa.  Both have strong defenses, but Minnesota has the better offense and special teams.  MINNESOTA

UCLA Bruins at #9 Utah Utes:  UCLA still has a chance to win the division title, and nothing would please them more than to beat the Utes.  Utah is unbeaten at home, though, and I think that'll continue.  UTAH

#10 Oklahoma Sooners at #11 Baylor Bears:  Oklahoma needed a tipped two-point conversion to win last week, but Baylor didn't fare much better in a three-overtime thriller.  I think Baylor will be the next team to fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.  OKLAHOMA

#12 Wisconsin Badgers at Nebraska Cornhuskers:  Nebraska's offense is struggling right now, and making too many mistakes.  Wisconsin looks to win out to keep pace with Minnesota.  The Badgers have caused four shutouts this season, and this game might be the fifth.  WISCONSIN

Michigan State Spartans at #13 Michigan Wolverines:  With Michigan's improved offense, the Spartans don't stand a chance.  MICHIGAN

#17 Navy Midshipmen at #14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  Ooh, this should be exciting!  Navy has the better defense, and might give Ian Book and company problems.  Moreover, the Navy offense is fast, perhaps faster than some of the Irish secondary.  I predict Navy will lead late, but the luck of the Irish may get them into range for a winning field goal.  NOTRE DAME by one

#18 Cincinnati Bearcats at South Florida Bulls:  The Bulls are one of a minority of teams who have played worse at home than on the road.  Add to that an offense struggling to find themselves and a diminished defense (Cincy actually comes in with the better defense) and the Bearcats could clinch their division.  CINCINNATI

#20 Memphis Tigers at Houston Cougars:  Not a good year for Houston.  MEMPHIS

#22 Appalachian State Mountaineers at Georgia State Panthers:  Crucial game for both teams.  The Panthers are perfect at home, but the Mountaineers haven't lost a road game.  Something has to give.  Games like this I tend to favor the better defense, and that's easily Appalachian State.  APPALACHIAN STATE

#23 Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers:  Florida continues to keep pace with Georgia by declawing the Tigers.  FLORIDA

New Mexico Lobos at #24 Boise State Broncos:  Boise gets an easy win to stay atop their division.  BOISE STATE

Big Ten:
UMass Minutemen at Northwestern Wildcats:  The Wildcats haven't been able to beat a Big Ten opponent, but they split their non-conference opponents, so they have the power to beat UMass.  NORTHWESTERN

Other Games of Interest:
Tulane Green Wave at Temple Owls:  Tulane has better numbers than Temple except for one -- the Green Wave can't win on the road.  Still, this one smells ripe for an upset.  TEMPLE

Wyoming Cowboys at Utah State Aggies:  One of these teams will lose any shot at the Mountain West championship game.  Wyoming was strong earlier in the season, but momentum and improvement are on the side of the Aggies.  UTAH STATE

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns at South Alabama Jaguars:  The Jaguars are tame this season.  LOUISIANA

Air Force Falcons at Colorado State Rams:  If the Aggies win, Air Force knows they need to win to keep pace.  Fortunately the Rams won't present much of a challenge.  AIR FORCE