Air Force still has a distant shot of winning the Mountain Division with wins this week and against Wyoming to close, and hoping for a total Boise State collapse in its final two games.
More likely, the Falcons are shooting for a ten-win regular season to go along with one of the league’s better bowl slots.
New Mexico is simply looking for something positive.
This game was supposed to be played a few weeks ago, but was postponed after the death of Lobo defensive lineman Nahje Flowers.
On a seven-game losing streak, New Mexico’s offense has stalled, there’s no passing game, and not it has to deal with an Air Force team playing exactly its style.
The Lobos are allowing over 200 rushing yards per game in three of the last four outings – Air Force will rumble for 300 as it seems like it has the ball for the entire game.
The Owls are still in the fight for the Conference USA East title.
They need to beat UTSA and take out Southern Miss, and hope for Marshall to lose to Charlotte or FIU to close things out.
FAU doesn’t make mistakes, it does a great job of taking the ball away, and the offense has the passing attack to take over and put this way. UTSA doesn’t have nearly enough offense to keep up.
FAU will start out balanced and with the passing attack working, and then the ground attack will take over against a struggling Roadrunner defensive front that can get behind the line, but is allowing over 200 rushing yards per game.
Being +3 in turnover margin – expect a few late picks when UTSA tries throwing to get back into the game – will help the Owls turn this into a bit of a blowout late.
Middle Tennessee appeared to have everything set up for a late run to bowl eligibility, and instead, it handed Rice its first win of the season.
The Blue Raiders can’t be awful enough to lose to another team in desperate need of a win, can they?
Old Dominion slipped by Norfolk State to start the year, and that’s been it, losing nine straight ever since.
The Monarchs are dead last in the nation in total offense, they don’t have any sort of an efficient passing game, and the offensive line isn’t doing enough to give the skill parts time to work.
Middle Tennessee won’t lose the turnover battle like it did last week, and it’ll run just well enough to settle things down and get back on the winning track … but a week too late.
The opportunities will be there, but ODU won’t be able to move the ball well enough.
Middle Tennessee vs. Old Dominion Prediction, Line
UTEP vs. New Mexico State fearless prediction and game preview.
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UTEP vs. New Mexico State fearless prediction and game preview.
UTEP vs. New Mexico State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, NM
Network: Not Televised
Can UTEP finally get another win? It’s been a rough eight-game run with a few tight battles, and no victories since beating Houston Baptist in the opener.
New Mexico State beat Incarnate Word for its first win of the season, but the offense hasn’t been consistent and the defense was getting hammered way too hard before dealing with the FCS team.
UTEP’s offense is miserable on third downs, there’s no pressure in the backfield, and it doesn’t have anything it can rely on offensively, but now it gets someone its own size.
New Mexico State dinks and dunks, UTEP takes more shots down the field, and when it comes to running games, it’s about dead even in mediocrity.
The biggest difference overall between these two bad teams? New Mexico State turns the ball over, and UTEP doesn’t.
This will come down to the mistakes, and the Aggies will make more of them.
Southern Miss vs. WKU fearless prediction and game preview.
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Southern Miss vs. WKU fearless prediction and game preview.
Southern Miss vs. WKU Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
Network: ESPN+
Southern Miss can still win the West. It has to beat WKU this week and Florida Atlantic next week, and it needs Louisiana Tech to lose to either UAB or UTSA.
WKU can still win the East, but it’s going to need a bunch of help. It has to beat USM and then Middle Tennessee, and then get Marshall and Florida Atlantic to lose twice.
No matter what, it’s been a great turnaround season for the Hilltoppers, even with the losses to slide all but out of the Conference USA race. It’s been two weeks since the 45-19 win over Arkansas that ended up getting Chad Morris fired, and now it’s rested.
WKU doesn’t take the ball away, but it’s playing some of the best D in the conference, and the team dominates the time of possession battle by being great on third downs, helped by a terrific passing game.
USM’s defense will do its part with its fantastic pass rush, and it’ll do a good job of controlling the clock on its own side. At home, the great Golden Eagle lines will be just a wee bit better in a good, tight, four quarter battle.
Rice FINALLY got its first win of the season with a strong offensive performance in a win over Middle Tennessee. Can it close out strong against North Texas and UTEP to crank up the momentum going into next year?
North Texas can’t slip. This hasn’t been the year it was expected to be, but QB Mason Fine is back at the helm after a rough day in the blowout loss to Louisiana Tech, and a bowl is still a possibility by beating Rice this week and closing out against UAB.
The Mean Green passing game might not be the high-flying fun show it should be, but Rice doesn’t have the offense to keep up any sort of pace.
Fine will throw for 300 yards, the Owl running game won’t be enough to take over the game, and the turnover margin will be even. Rice was able to survive last week partly because it was a +2 against the Blue Raiders. It won’t be that this week.
Even with the blowout loss to Marshall last week, Louisiana Tech can take the Conference USA West title with a win over UAB and if Southern Miss loses to WKU. Or, the Bulldogs can take care of this themselves and beat UAB before taking out UTSA next week.
Defending Conference USA champ UAB can still get pull off a division title by beating Louisiana Tech and then North Texas, and getting two Southern Miss losses.
The Blazers overcame their offensive lull – scoring nine points in two games – with a 37-10 wipeout of UTEP. They’re already bowl eligible, but winning out and coming up with a ten-win season would be a remarkable accomplishment.
Here’s the problem – they’ve only been good against the miserable teams.
Louisiana Tech’s offense still doesn’t have suspended starting QB J’Mar Smith or star WR Adrian Hardy, and it won’t have the running game to do enough against a Blazer defense that only allowing three yards per carry.
Tech might have Conference USA’s No. 1 offense, but for the second straight week it’s not going to move well enough to survive.
Marshall vs. Charlotte fearless prediction and game preview.
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Marshall vs. Charlotte fearless prediction and game preview.
Marshall vs. Charlotte Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: McColl-Richardson Field, Charlotte, NC
Network: Not Televised
Marshall can lock up the Conference USA East title with a win to go along with a Florida Atlantic loss to UTSA, but the more likely scenario is to win over the next two weeks against Charlotte and FIU.
Charlotte is out of the conference title picture, but it’s a win away from being eligible for its first bowl game as a program. On a three-game winning streak, it has to win this week at home or next week at Old Dominion to get it done.
First, the 49er offense has to rise up against a Marshall defense that clamped down on Louisiana Tech last week and is a bear against the run. The bigger problem for Charlotte will be the steady Herd ground game that’s averaging over five yards per pop.
The 49ers don’t do enough to take the ball away to offset several effective Herd drives. MU won’t get pounded in the time of possession battle – a huge key for Charlotte – and the fantastic pass rush will do just enough to hold down the dangerous downfield Charlotte passing attack.
It’s the week before THE WEEK when we get all the big rivalry games – or, at least, most of the big ones – all crammed into one giant final full regular season Saturday. But there are still five very, very big games …
If you’re looking to get in on the sports betting action this weekend, be sure to sign up with BetMGM to take part in any of these games or other action on the schedule.
5. UCLA at USC
Photo Credit: Melissa Majchrzak – USA TODAY Sports
Why You Should Bet On UCLA: Can USC stop Joshua Kelley? The UCLA running back took over last season with 289 yards and two scores in the win over the Trojans, and he’s been every bit as good over the back half of this year. The ground game has been just good enough to pound it out again on a USC defense that’s been fine, but can and will give up yards to anyone who commits to the ground attack.
Why You Should Bet On USC: He might not be Joe or Tua or Jalen, but Kedon Slovis has been as hot as any quarterback in the country over the last few games, throwing for 838 yards and eight touchdowns in his last two outings, and with 15 touchdown passes in his last four. UCLA has been hit-or-miss when it comes to getting into shootouts, but USC is far better equipped to go up and down the field in a hurry.
Prediction: Playing for its bowl eligibility life, UCLA will make this a battle and keep it within the 13.5, but USC’s passing game will take over with Slovis throwing for four touchdowns in the win.
– CFN Full UCLA vs. USC Game Preview & Prediction
Why You Should Bet On Pitt: The Panthers have the nation’s best pass rush, and the Virginia Tech offensive line is just mediocre enough to have problems on the key downs. The run defense will be everything for Pitt – Virginia Tech is 6-0 when rushing for over 140 yards.
Why You Should Bet On Virginia Tech: There’s no real Pitt running game that can rise up and take over a game. The Hokies have a killer pass rush, too, and it should be able to get to Kenny Pickett and an inconsistent Panther passing attack that’s going to sputter way too often on the road. Virginia Tech can handle Pitt’s pass rush better than the other way around.
Prediction: Virginia Tech will run a little bit, Pitt won’t. The two defenses will take over in a fun fight, but the HOKIES will pull out the win – and cover – at home to be in a position to take the Coastal next week against Virginia.
– CFN Full Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Game Preview & Prediction
Why You Should Bet On Texas: Just how down is Baylor after its epic collapse against Oklahoma? It’s been a disappointing year for the Longhorns, but there’s still a sliver of a shot it can make the Big 12 Championship Game with a win this week. Thanks to both the legs and arm of Sam Ehlinger, Texas is among the best teams in the country at keeping the chains moving. Baylor is good on third downs, but the Longhorns have the ability to control the tempo on the road.
Why You Should Bet On Baylor: The Bears’ pass rush should be able to get to Ehlinger enough to be a big problem. There were issues getting to Jalen Hurts last week, but overall the defense is still the best in the Big 12, Charlie Brewer is still among the league’s most effective quarterbacks, and the team should be able to bomb away on a beleaguered Texas secondary, the BU D should be able to take care of the rest.
Prediction: Baylor will get over last week’s clunker and get the win it needs to not only get into the Big 12 Championship Game, but also back into the College Football Playoff picture. Brewer will have a big game as the BEARS win and cover.
– CFN Full Texas vs. Baylor Game Preview & Prediction
Why You Should Bet On Texas A&M: This is the exact type of Georgia team that fits what the Aggies need. There isn’t a ton of pop and explosion, it likes to go a bit slow and deliberate, and it’s not going to come out and throw for 400 yards and wing it all over the yard. The A&M secondary has been amazing – no one has completed more than 46% over the last four games. Jake Fromm might be terrific, but he’s not throwing for big yards and he’s been a bit erratic this year – his receiving corps isn’t helping.
Why You Should Bet On Georgia: Texas A&M isn’t going to get any easy chances. Georgia might not be LSU when it comes to putting up the big offensive numbers, but Fromm isn’t screwing up. He threw three picks in the loss to South Carolina, and that’s it. Defensively, the Dawgs aren’t allowing anything against the run – A&M’s Kellen Mond has to be perfect. He’s been okay this year, but not good enough.
Why You Should Bet On Penn State: The pass rush has to get to Justin Fields early, and it has to be relentless. The Buckeyes have faced a better schedule than it’s getting credit for. It dealt with a terrific Wisconsin defensive front and won easily, but it had problems keeping the Badgers out of the backfield. The Nittany Lions come in waves to get behind the line and will easily be the biggest test yet for a Buckeyes offense that hasn’t had to deal with even the slightest bit of adversity.
Why You Should Bet On Ohio State: Ohio State already had the No. 1 defense in college football, and now it gets back a rested and ready Chase Young off of his two-game bull(bleep) suspension. On the other side, the Nittany Lions secondary – even helped by the great pass rush – isn’t doing anything special. Minnesota, Pitt and Iowa were all able to throw without a problem, and Fields will be able to bomb away.
Prediction: This is where the Buckeyes flex a little muscle. Penn State is good, but it doesn’t have the consistent offensive pop to keep up. Ohio State pulls away in the second half to cover.
– CFN Full Penn State vs. Ohio State Game Preview & Prediction
Now that you know what you need to know, head over to BetMGM and get some action in any — or all — of these games for Week 13 of college football.
For more coverage on Week 13’s College Football slate of sports betting action, be sure to check out CollegeFootballNews.com. And for more sports betting tips and picks, be sure to access SportsbookWire.com.
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