Big 12 Predictions, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 12

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Big 12 season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Big 12 season.


How are the Big 12 predictions so far?
SU 44-18, ATS 24-27, o/u: 31-21


Click on each game for game preview & prediction 

Kansas at Oklahoma State

12:00 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Oklahoma State -17.5, o/u: 67.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

TCU at Texas Tech

12:00 ESPN2 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: TCU -2.5, o/u: 56.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Texas at Iowa State

3:30 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Iowa State -6.5, o/u: 65.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

West Virginia at Kansas State

3:30 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Kansas State -14.5, o/u: 47.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Oklahoma at Baylor

7:30 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Oklahoma -9.5, o/u: 67.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

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TCU vs. Texas Tech Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

TCU vs. Texas Tech fearless prediction and game preview.

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TCU vs. Texas Tech fearless prediction and game preview.


TCU vs. Texas Tech Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX
Network: ESPN2

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

TCU (4-5) vs. Texas Tech (4-5) Game Preview

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Why TCU Will Win

A whole lot of parts to the puzzle are still working.

The defense continues to be the best in the Big 12, the secondary is able to hole its own just fine, and the run defense is a bit of a wall. Granted, it hasn’t dealt with a whole slew of running teams, but it’s been good.

There aren’t any worries this week against the run, and the secondary that’s been holding everyone but Texas to under 300 yards should be able to keep the big plays to a bare minimum. Iowa State and Oklahoma State were the only teams to hit the home runs on the Horned Frogs, and the only way Texas Tech is winning games is by going ballistic.

Jett Duffey has been fantastic, but merely hitting a ton of short to midrange throws isn’t getting it done. It he’s not throwing for over 350 yards, Texas Tech isn’t winning, and that’s not happening against this TCU defense.

The secondary is generally doing a solid job of tackling in the open field, and it’s coming up with plenty of takeaways. However …

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Why Texas Tech Will Win

Texas Tech isn’t giving it up.

This isn’t a timely offense, and it’s not moving the chains well enough, but it’s not giving away many cheap points. The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in turnover margin with an O that’s careful to not screw up and a D that’s making up for several problems by taking the ball away.

The pass rush is just good enough to be a bother, and the great punting game is doing just enough to tilt the field. The defense is giving up too many yards after coming up with strong field position, but the TCU offense isn’t consistent enough to do that too many times.

QB Max Duggan is looking like a keeper, but the freshman has been off lately. He did just enough to keep the team in the game against Baylor, but he was wildly erratic and threw three picks for the second game in a row.

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What’s Going To Happen

Both teams are in desperate need of something positive.

TCU might have beaten Texas a few weeks ago, but it’s also on a run of losing four games in the last five. Texas Tech hit the West Virginia Layup, but it lost five games in its previous six before that.

Both teams have massive flaws, but Duffey is going to be a bit sharper than Duggan. Give this one to the home team in what should be an interesting – but not all that well-played – close game.


TCU vs. Texas Tech Prediction, Line

Texas Tech 30, TCU 26
Bet on TCU vs. TT with BetMGM, or for latest line 
TCU -2.5, o/u: 56.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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Texas vs. Iowa State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Texas vs. Iowa State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Texas vs. Iowa State fearless prediction and game preview.


Texas vs. Iowa State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Network: FS1

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Texas (6-3) vs. Iowa State (5-4) Game Preview

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Why Texas Will Win

All of a sudden, the Iowa State secondary has gone bye-bye.

To be fair, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma can throw the ball a little bit, but after a strong first seven games of giving up yards and keeping the big plays to a minimum, the Cyclones are getting bombed on.

Both the Sooners and Cowboys averaged way over ten yards per throw, and ISU lost both games.

Sam Ehlinger and the Texas passing game can do a little bit of everything right, and it’s about to get helped by an Iowa State secondary that’s letting just about everyone hit 70% of their passes.

No problems there – Ehlinger was nearly flawless against Kansas State after saving the day against Kansas a few weeks earlier – averaging over nine yards per throw in both games.

Mostly due to Ehlinger’s dual-threat abilities, Texas is the best in the Big 12 and fourth in the nation in third down conversions. The ability to keep the chains moving is helping to overcome a whole slew of massive problems, like …

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Why Iowa State Will Win

Iowa State’s secondary might be having a whole slew of issues, but it’s holding the Longhorns’ beer.

Texas is getting roasted for well over 230 yards per game be everyone – Rice being the lone exception – giving up two touchdown passes or more in every game and getting ripped for way over eight yards per throw.

Iowa State’s Brock Purdy continues to make a big push to be Second Team All-Big 12 behind Mr. Hurts. He almost pulled the Cyclones out of the fire last week with five touchdown passes in a wild comeback attempt against Oklahoma – falling short on a failed two-point conversion try.

Outside of the loss to Oklahoma State – throwing three picks – he’s been able to limit the mistakes while pushing the offense in game after game. The O might sometimes take a little time off during games, but in the end, it’ll roll for close to 300 yards through the air.

It’ll have no problems doing that this week.

[lawrence-related id=499899]

What’s Going To Happen

Purdy had the worst game in his short career last year against the Longhorns – throwing for 130 yards in the 24-10 loss. That’s not happening this time around.

Texas is having real problems thanks to that defense that’s just not coming up with enough key stops. At home, Iowa State breaks the two game losing streak in a wild firefight that should come down to whoever has the ball last.

Brock will otutduel Sam.


Texas vs. Iowa State Prediction, Line

Iowa State 38, Texas 34
Bet on Texas vs. ISU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Iowa State -6.5, o/u: 65.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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West Virginia vs. Kansas State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

West Virginia vs. Kansas State fearless prediction and game preview.

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West Virginia vs. Kansas State fearless prediction and game preview.


West Virginia vs. Kansas State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS
Network: ESPN

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

West Virginia (3-6) vs. Kansas State (6-3) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why West Virginia Will Win

Can the Mountaineers somehow get hot for a game?

The Kansas State defense has been good, the offense has been great at controlling games, and overall, the team is playing the style it’s supposed to, and West Virginia has to bust through that.

It starts with not letting the Kansas State offense to get comfortable. The Mountaineer offense doesn’t have enough positive things happening to keep up if this gets into any sort of a scoring fest, and it’s miserable on third downs, but the D has to use its excellent pass rush to at least make Skylar Thompson hurry his throws.

He’s been able to hit on his deeper passes a bit more lately, but he’s also been inconsistent. He was never able to find a passing groove against TCU or Oklahoma State, and he needs the running attack to work – James Gilbert and Jordon Brown haven’t been healthy.

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Why Kansas State Will Win

West Virginia just won’t have enough to keep the chains moving.

It’s dead last in the Big 12 in third down conversions, and the Wildcats are third in the nation in third down stops. The whole goal of the K-State offense is total control.

Control the clock, control the tempo, and control the mistakes.

The offense doesn’t turn the ball over enough to matter – West Virginia desperately needs easy chances to score – and it’s great at grinding out drives. Along with all of WVU’s other main problems, it doesn’t go on long marches and it doesn’t move the chains.

There’s no fear of a Mountaineer downfield passing game, and there’s no concern of a big comeback. The Wildcats might end this if it can get up by two scores early – they’ll just sit on the ball and grind out the clock from there.

[lawrence-related id=498866]

What’s Going To Happen

West Virginia isn’t getting better.

Its offense hasn’t been able to find anything to consistently click, it’s struggling way too much to come up with 14 points, and it’s not coming up with any clutch plays.

Kansas State will be methodical, it’ll get up early, and it’ll work. It’s not going to have to do anything crazy to get out of this with an uninspiring – but relatively easy – victory.


West Virginia vs. Kansas State Prediction, Line

Kansas State 34, West Virginia 17
Bet on WVU vs. KSU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Kansas State -14.5, o/u: 47.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Get Tickets For This Game

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Must See Rating: 3

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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Oklahoma vs. Baylor Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Oklahoma vs. Baylor fearless prediction and game preview.

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Oklahoma vs. Baylor fearless prediction and game preview.


Oklahoma vs. Baylor Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: McLane Stadium, Waco, TX
Network: ABC

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Oklahoma (8-1) vs. Baylor (9-0) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why Oklahoma Will Win

No, really. Have you seen what Jalen Hurts is doing?

America might have handed Joe Burrow the Heisman already, but with the national spotlight back on the Sooners, don’t be so fast to count out No. 1 once he gets a chance to reintroduce himself to the college football public.

Shhhhhhhhh, but he’s been better than Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield.

He’s hitting 73% of his passes with 24 touchdowns and four picks, and he’s already up to a seemingly effortless 869 rushing yards and 15 scores. In full control of the attack, he’s about to hit a Baylor defense that’s been great, but struggled against the Texas Tech quick-hitting offense and hasn’t needed to get into too many firefights.

The Sooners might be a bit inconsistent lately, but when they’ve been on, they can turn the lights out in a flash. It helps that the O isn’t screwing things up along the way.

Baylor hasn’t been living on turnover margin, but it’s been a massive plus. The Oklahoma offensive style should negate the fantastic Bear pass rush, and Hurts isn’t going to make enough massive mistakes to matter – the Sooners have only lost the ball ten times so far. However …

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Why Baylor Will Win

You’re dead against the Sooners if you can’t at least make Hurts move around a bit, and Baylor has the ability to get behind the line and not let him get too comfortable.

Of course Hurts is deadly when he’s in the open field or getting to improvise, but he doesn’t get enough credit for being able to simply go through his progressions and make the solid throw to spring the big play. Baylor can take that away.

There’s also the issue of a defense that’s starting to creep back into its old, ugly self.

For two games in a row, the Sooners were lit up by a solid Big 12 quarterback. Kansas State’s Skylar Thompson threw or over 200 yards and ran for four touchdowns in the win. Last week, it was Iowa State’s Brock Purdy who went off for five touchdown passes, a rushing score, and came within a two-point conversion of pulling off the massive comeback win.

This is Charlie Brewer’s moment.

Steady, he threw three picks against Texas Tech, one interception last week, and that’s been it for the turnovers. He’s cool under fire, can run enough to be a problem, and he’s got the weapons around him to let others do the work.

This might not be an explosive offense like Oklahoma has, but it’s been able to answer the call in tight battle after tight battle.

Oh, and by the way – looking at you, College Football Playoff committee – Baylor actually beat Kansas State. Oklahoma didn’t.

[lawrence-related id=499899]

What’s Going To Happen

Don’t be totally stunned if we’re about to see Minnesota-Penn State II here.

Baylor doesn’t have a chance … it hasn’t beaten anyone … it doesn’t have the weapons and talent Oklahoma has …

All the talking points were used last week against the Gophers.

Oklahoma has only beaten two teams certain to go bowling – Texas and Iowa State – and both were massive battles. It lost to the other team on the slate that’s a lock for a swag bag game.

Baylor won’t have quite enough to pull this one out, but it’ll get a huge day out of Brewer and an offense that will slow it down just enough to keep Hurts on the sidelines. But Hurts will be the star of the show as he has enough highlight moments to cement him in the No. 2 spot in the Heisman chase.


Oklahoma vs. Baylor Prediction, Line

Oklahoma 37, Baylor 34
Bet on OU vs. BU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Oklahoma -9.5, o/u: 67.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Get Tickets For This Game

Want a 2nd opinion on who to bet in the Oklahoma vs. Baylor game? Click here to get WinnersAndWhiners.com’s predictions on the side, total, first half, and exotic bets! All Free!

Must See Rating: 5

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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Kansas vs. Oklahoma State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Kansas vs. Oklahoma State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Kansas vs. Oklahoma State fearless prediction and game preview.


Kansas vs. Oklahoma State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
Network: FS1

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Kansas (3-6) vs. Oklahoma State (6-3) Game Preview

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Why Kansas Will Win

Is this the week the offense starts to work again?

The Jayhawks have had two weeks off to get ready after getting popped by Kansas State, but before the 38-10 loss, the O rolled in the win over Texas Tech and in the 50-48 near-miss against Texas.

It starts with getting back QB Carter Stanley, who left the K-State game with an injury after throwing two picks. The time off was enough to get him close to right again, and that means the passing game should go off.

He threw for 310 yards and four scores against Texas, and hit Texas Tech for 415 yards and three touchdowns. Now he and the Jayhawk offense get to bomb away against a porous Oklahoma State secondary.

The Cowboys give up over 275 yards per game and can get hammered by the big plays. Baylor and Texas each went off, and now – assuming Stanley’s knee really is 100% – it’s about to get hit for 300 yards. However …

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Why Oklahoma State Will Win

It’s not like the Kansas defense is stopping anyone.

The Jayhawk defensive front is getting hammered by everyone’s running game. West Virginia is the only team in the last seven games to not hit the 200-yard mark, and it ran for 192 yards and three scores.

Last week? Kansas State got 342 yards and five scores, with QB Skylar Thompson running for 127 yards and the running backs combining to crank out yards at will.

Oklahoma State will get its big day from Chuba Hubbard.

The nation’s leading rusher keeps on ripping off massive days, getting over the 1,600 yard mark with a 223-yard, two-touchdown day two weeks ago against TCU. Just 396 yards away from a 2,000-yard season he’s a mortal lock to get lop off at least 200 of that this week.

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What’s Going To Happen

With star receiver Tylan Wallace out for the year, the Oklahoma State offense will keep on going, but the passing game won’t be quite as dangerous. That’s where Hubbard comes in.

If you want to think really crazy … he’s just good enough and dangerous enough to flirt with hitting the 400-yard mark against this D.

No, he’s not going to do that, but the Cowboys will run wild, the Jayhawks will throw at will, and these two are about to put on one of the best shows of the weekend.

OSU will have just enough offense to survive at home, but it’s going to be in for a four quarter fight.


Kansas vs. Oklahoma State Prediction, Line

Oklahoma State 41, Kansas 34
Bet on KU vs. OSU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Oklahoma State -17.5, o/u: 67.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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Big Ten Predictions, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 12

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Big Ten season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Big Ten season.


Results So Far: SU 70-14, ATS 41-38-1, o/u: 48-29-2

Click on each game for game preview & prediction    

Indiana at Penn State

12:00 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Penn State -14.5, o/u: 54.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Wisconsin at Nebraska

12:00 BTN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Wisconsin -14.5, o/u: 50.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Michigan State at Michigan

12:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Michigan -13.5, o/u: 44.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

UMass at Northwestern

12:00 BTN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Northwestern -40.5, o/u: 56.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Ohio State at Rutgers

3:30 BTN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Ohio State -52.5, o/u: 61.5

Minnesota at Iowa

4:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Iowa -2.5, o/u: 44.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Ohio State vs. Rutgers fearless prediction and game preview.

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers fearless prediction and game preview.


Ohio State vs. Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: HighPoint.com Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Network: BTN

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Ohio State (9-0) vs. Rutgers (2-7) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why Rutgers Will Win

Ohio State doesn’t have Chase Young for another week. Other than that …

Okay, so this is a wee bit of an uphill battle for the Scarlet Knights, but watch out for the Buckeyes looking to get in, get this over with, and move on to the Penn State game next week as healthy as possible.

Rutgers is getting back RB Isaih Pacheco from an ankle problem that kept him out of the Illinois game. He’s a real, live weapon for a rested team that’s had two weeks off to gear up a bit.

QB Johnny Langan might not be Joe Burrow throwing the ball, but he can move, and the offense as a whole has had a few moments when it was at least able to move the ball a wee bit.

And then there’s the anger factor. Ohio State was looking to make a point last week against Maryland – there won’t be any onside kicks against the Scarlet Knights. The pity factor might be enough to call the dogs off early.

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Why Ohio State Will Win

Ohio State can call its shot.

Does it want to score 50? 75? Does it really want to push for 100?

It’s playing at the highest of levels on both sides of the ball. The offense might get all the attention and love – QB Justin Fields and RB JK Dobbins are going off for an attack that leads the nation in scoring – but the defense has been the real star.

With or without Young, the D keeps on dominating.

The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, sacks, and second in the country in third down stops. There’s NFL talent all across the board – it’s more than just Young.

Rutgers might have just enough parts to eek out a late score, but it’s going to take something amazing to get to double-digits.

[lawrence-related id=499899]

What’s Going To Happen

Don’t expect the Buckeyes to be all that ticked off about being No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings – and yet they’ll look and play like they are.

Rutgers will score. It just won’t do it twice.


Ohio State vs. Rutgers Prediction, Line

Ohio State 58, Rutgers 3
Bet on OSU vs. RU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Ohio State -52.5, o/u: 61.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 1.5

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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Northwestern vs. UMass Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Northwestern vs. UMass fearless prediction and game preview.

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Northwestern vs. UMass fearless prediction and game preview.


Northwestern vs. UMass Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
Network: BTN

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northwestern (1-8) vs. UMass (1-9) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why UMass Will Win

No, really, Northwestern just doesn’t score.

What does the nation’s worst defense desperately need? One of the nation’s worst offenses.

Northwestern has the nation’s second-worst scoring attack – averaging just 11 points per game – has the least-efficient passing game in college football, and makes things a whole lot worse with a whole bunch of turnovers.

Even last week when the offense did move a bit and the running game worked against Purdue, the offense still only managed 22 points. The Wildcats can dink and dunk a little bit, but there’s nothing for the UMass defense to worry about deep.

For all of the problems the Minutemen defense might have, it’s not bad at taking the ball away, coming up with three turnovers in four games, They’re going to need at least three to make this a wee bit interesting, because …

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Why Northwestern Will Win

No, really, UMass has the nation’s worst defense.

This thing is next-level bad, allowing 500 yards or more in every game but the win over an Akron team that’s the worst in college football.

You want to throw the ball? Everyone is able to fire at will for yards in bulk, unless they want to run at will. UMass has allowed 240 rushing yards or more in every game but two, and 300 yards or more in three of the last four games.

Northwestern’s Drake Anderson has been running just well enough to get the ball more, Kyric McGowan tore off 146 yards last week against Purdue as the receiver changed up his roles a little bit, and this week …

Everyone gets to eat.

And …

[lawrence-related id=499899]

What’s Going To Happen

The Northwestern defense will have something to do with this.

The focus will be on an offense that’s done next to nothing all season long, but the D will make this a laugher. The UMass defense will get hit for big, big yards against a team desperate to have a little bit of offensive fun, but the offense will be just as big a problem with no running game whatsoever against the Wildcat defensive front.


Northwestern vs. UMass Prediction, Line

Northwestern 52, UMass 7
Bet on UMass vs. NU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Northwestern -40.5, o/u: 56.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Get Tickets For This Game

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Must See Rating: 1.5

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

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Predicting The Rest of the Season
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Minnesota vs. Iowa Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Minnesota vs. Iowa fearless prediction and game preview.

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Minnesota vs. Iowa fearless prediction and game preview.


Minnesota vs. Iowa Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Network: FOX

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Minnesota (9-0) vs. Iowa (6-3) Game Preview

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Why Minnesota Will Win

Can we start giving Minnesota credit for having a terrific passing game led by a quarterback having a fantastic season?

Everyone knows who Joe Burrow is now. Everyone figured out how to spell Tagovailoa, is familiar with Jalen Hurts, marvels at Justin Fields, and has Justin Herbert on the NFL radar.

Does anyone have a clue who Tanner Morgan is?

He’s only the fourth-most efficient passer in college football – right after Hurts, Tagovailoa and Burrow – is third in yards per attempt, and is coming off a special day against a supposedly impenetrable Penn State defense.

Minnesota might be able to run well with Rodney Smith and its deep group of backs, but Morgan was the star last Saturday, completing 18-of-20 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. It helps to have NFL-caliber receivers in Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson to throw to.

Iowa’s secondary has been solid, but it got can be hit for big yards by a hot quarterback, and it doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush to bother Morgan on a consistent basis.

Iowa’s Nate Stanley hit a few big passes last week against Wisconsin, but it doesn’t have a deep ball aspect to its game. Minnesota can unleash that at any time.

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Why Iowa Will Win

Iowa does a lot of things Penn State does, only – potentially – without the turnovers.

To be fair, Penn State doesn’t have a turnover problem and Minnesota was good enough to change that for a game, but the Hawkeyes have only lost the turnover battle twice – the losses to Michigan and Penn State – and gave it away a mere three times in the other seven games.

The Hawkeyes have to hold up against the run, and they almost certainly won’t get gouged. And even if they do, they’re going to be able to keep this close.

Last week, Jonathan Taylor was able to go off on the Iowa run defense, but 1) that’s Jonathan Taylor, 2) it was an aberration, and 3) the Hawkeyes still almost pulled out the win. They’re 0-3 when allowing 120 rushing yards or more, and 6-0 when allowing fewer.

To hold up, Iowa has to control the time of possession battle – it’s great at that – and it needs Stanley to keep hitting his third down plays. Sean Clifford kept things moving throughout the game for Penn State, and Stanley can hit those same sorts of throws to the tight ends over the middle to keep gouging the Gopher secondary. However …

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What’s Going To Happen

Minnesota is amazing at winning close games, and Iowa is just okay at it.

Iowa is roughly three plays away from unbeaten – or close to three plays – but that’s sort of the point. Minnesota is 5-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less, and Iowa is 2-3 in those games.

The world is watching Minnesota now, but this game doesn’t matter that much. The Gophers can lose, beat Northwestern and Wisconsin, and get to the Big Ten Championship at 11-1 with a shot at Ohio State or Penn State for an almost certain berth in the College Football Playoff.

First, the Gophers will take one step closer to getting to Indianapolis by hanging on late for yet another thrilling, close win.

Second, they leave Kinnick Stadium with the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.

Want a 2nd opinion on who to bet in the Minnesota vs. Iowa game? Click here to get WinnersAndWhiners.com’s predictions on the side, total, first half, and exotic bets! All Free!


Minnesota vs. Iowa Prediction, Line

Minnesota 23, Iowa 20
Bet on UM vs. Iowa with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Iowa -2.5, o/u: 44.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 4

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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