Today's Schedule of Games

Some interesting games today, but not as many as you would think for a Saturday in November.  And it’s not even that Saturday in November when the entire SEC plays all high school teams.  But still, there are some good games spread throughout the day.

Here are some highlights:

At Noon on ESPN2: Purdue at #21 Illinois.  The Big Ten West is a hoot.  The most fun you can have with bad football.  Purdue - Illinois is for the outright lead in the Big Ten West . . . for Illinois.  But if Purdue is the winner, then both Purdue and Illinois will be tied at the top of the Big Ten West (along with Minnesota), and the winner of the Wisconsin - Iowa game will also join them.  Bonus game:  At 3:30 PM on FS1: Wisconsin at Iowa.  If Purdue wins, then take a peek at this game to see who stays on pace for the Big Ten West lead.  I have no idea who will win it (and neither does anybody else), so I will go with Iowa as the home team.      

In the Afternoon at 3:30 PM on ABC: Nebraska at #3 Michigan.  Last week I wrote this preview about the Michigan - Rutgers game: “Michigan has established a clear trend this season . . . we crush the teams we are supposed to crush, but we take our damn good-natured time about it.  There have been a bunch of blow-out wins this year that were quite uncomfortable games in the first half.  So while we would all love for Michigan to get a quick 35 point first half lead on Rutgers so that JJ can practice 40 yard downfield passes to Andrel Anthony, that’s not what’s going to happen.  That is not who Michigan is.  And by Michigan, I mean Jim Harbaugh . . . Michigan will crush Rutgers, but they will take their damn time about it.” 

Replace “Rutgers” with “Nebraska” and you have today’s write up.

Also at 3:30 PM on CBS: #9 Alabama at #11 Ole Miss.  Alabama is in a very unusual position for Alabama.  It’s early November and they are out of the picture for the CFP and very likely out of the picture for the SEC West.  So how will Alabama play when they have “nothing to play for”?  Saban’s mantra has always been “We still have all of our goals in front of us” even after a loss.  And that’s been exactly right a number of times.  But not now with two losses.  So will just pride (and fear of Saban) be enough for Alabama to play like everything still matters?  Yes, I think it will.  Alabama will beat Ole Miss in Oxford.

Also at 3:30 PM on FOX: Maryland at #14 Penn State.  Maryland is Ohio State-lite.  And like Ohio State, they collapsed in bad weather.  But I think their highly-organized proficient offense can give Penn State some trouble today in good weather.  Will it be enough to beat Penn State in Happy Valley?  It could very well, but I am going to chicken out and go with Penn State.      

In the Evening at 7:00 PM on FOX: #25 Washington at #6 Oregon.  The big game in the Pac 12.  Oregon was written off early in the season after getting blown out by Georgia.  Turns out that was premature . . . they are in good company with elite teams like Tennessee.  They are not at Georgia’s level (who is?), but they are clearly at the level of top team in the Pac 12.  Washington will make it a game for a while, but Oregon will show their class and pull away for a comfortable win.    

At 7:30 PM on ABC: #4 TCU at #18 Texas.  The biggest game of the day, IMO.  TCU has been living on the edge, coming from behind late in the game to pull out wins over and over.  That is going to catch up with them one day, and that day will be today in a night game at Texas.  TCU will make a mistake late in the game and Texas will pounce and go crazy on them and win the game.      

Finally, your Pac-12 After Dark Special(s) - meaningless crazy football just for the fun of it:

At 10:00 PM on ESPN: Stanford at #13 Utah.  This game is Pac-12 After Dark, but it won’t be special.  There won’t be any late night ju ju in this game that gives Stanford a chance for an upset.  Utah will steadily overpower Stanford for the win.

At 10:30 PM on FOX: Arizona at #12 UCLA.  Ditto the above.  UCLA will take care of business without much Pac-12 After Dark drama.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2022:

AWAY               HOME      TIME         TV

NOON:

Indiana @ 2 Ohio State   12:00 PM   FOX

Missouri @ 5 Tennessee   12:00 PM   CBS

7 LSU @ Arkansas   12:00 PM   ESPN

20 Notre Dame @ Navy   12:00 PM   ABC

Purdue @ 21 Illinois   12:00 PM   ESPN2

Vanderbilt @ 24 Kentucky   12:00 PM   SECN

Oklahoma @ West Virginia   12:00 PM   FS1

Liberty @ UConn   12:00 PM   CBSSN

Rutgers @ Michigan State   12:00 PM   BTN

Virginia Tech @ Duke   12:00 PM   ESPN3

Pittsburgh @ Virginia   12:00 PM   ACCN

SMU @ South Florida   12:00 PM   ESPNU

AFTERNOON:

UL Monroe @ Georgia State   1:00 PM   ESPN+

James Madison @ Old Dominion   1:00 PM   ESPN+

Lamar @ New Mexico State   2:00 PM    -

Rice @ Western Kentucky   2:00 PM   ESPN+

UMass @ Arkansas State   3:00 PM   ESPN3

Temple @ Houston   3:00 PM   ESPN+

Nebraska @ 3 Michigan   3:30 PM   ABC

9 Alabama @ 11 Ole Miss   3:30 PM   CBS

Louisville @ 10 Clemson   3:30 PM   ESPN

Maryland @ 14 Penn State   3:30 PM   FOX

Boston College @ 16 NC State   3:30 PM   ACCN

22 UCF @ 17 Tulane   3:30 PM   ESPN2

Arizona State @ Washington State   3:30 PM   PAC12

Iowa State @ Oklahoma State   3:30 PM   ESPNU

Army @ Troy   3:30 PM   NFL NET

Wisconsin @ Iowa   3:30 PM   FS1

Northwestern @ Minnesota   3:30 PM   BTN

Miami @ Georgia Tech   3:30 PM   ESPN3

New Mexico @ Air Force   3:30 PM   CBSSN

Appalachian State @ Marshall   3:30 PM   ESPN+

Charlotte @ Middle Tennessee   3:30 PM   ESPN3

Louisiana Tech @ UTSA   3:30 PM   ESPN+

North Texas @ UAB   3:30 PM    -

South Carolina @ Florida   4:00 PM   SECN

Texas State @ South Alabama   5:00 PM   ESPN+

EVENING:

1 Georgia @ Mississippi State   7:00 PM   ESPN

25 Washington @ 6 Oregon   7:00 PM   FOX

19 Kansas State @ Baylor   7:00 PM   FS1

Kansas @ Texas Tech   7:00 PM   BIG12|ESPN+

Wyoming @ Colorado State   7:00 PM   CBSSN

Florida Atlantic @ Florida International   7:00 PM    -

4 TCU @ 18 Texas   7:30 PM   ABC

15 North Carolina @ Wake Forest   7:30 PM   ESPN2

Texas A&M @ Auburn   7:30 PM   SECN

Southern Miss @ Coastal Carolina   7:30 PM   ESPNU

23 Florida State @ Syracuse   8:00 PM   ACCN

California @ Oregon State   9:00 PM   PAC12

LATE NIGHT:

Stanford @ 13 Utah   10:00 PM   ESPN

Arizona @ 12 UCLA   10:30 PM   FOX

Boise State @ Nevada   10:30 PM   CBSSN

San José State @ San Diego State   10:30 PM   FS1

Utah State @ Hawai'i   11:00 PM    -