Expert Predictions for Week 14 in College Football
Rivalry week was wildly entertaining, but college football's championship week is where the rubber meets the road.
After 13 weeks of games, rankings and heated discussions about said games and rankings, the only thing we can say with certainty about the College Football Playoff is its selection committee isn't buying UCF and the Group of Five.
It's possible that each of the current Top Four teams makes the playoff.
It's also possible that none of the four receives an invite to the national semifinals.
With CFB armageddon possibly on the horizon, Bleacher Report's college football experts—Matt Hayes, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Brad Shepard and Greg Wallace—had a meeting of the minds and offered predictions on the following burning questions:
- Will USC, UCF, Oklahoma and Auburn each beat their opponent for the second time this season?
- Can Wisconsin slow down Ohio State's offense and remain undefeated?
- Who gets invited to the Heisman presentation?
- And will Lane Kiffin stay at Florida Atlantic?
Our experts are on the case.
Will TCU Get Revenge on Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship?
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Matt Hayes
TCU won't get revenge. It's so hard to beat Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield in a big game. He has been through so many of these things, the pressure has zero impact on him mentally. Keep betting on the guy with the chip on his shoulder, and you may not lose again this season. There's also a certain issue with the consistency of TCU QB Kenny Hill: One game he's hot, the next he's making incredibly poor decisions. If he's hot, this could be a wild finish.
David Kenyon
The Sooners probably won't force as many punts (seven) or stall as few drives just outside of scoring territory again, and TCU's defense has either intercepted a pass or held the opposing quarterback below a 50 percent completion rate in every game except one. But you can probably guess who that one quarterback was. I'm not going to doubt Baker Mayfield now, though I do anticipate a closer finish than the 38-20 November clash.
Adam Kramer
The contrarian in me wants to say TCU will get its revenge, but the realist thinks this would be a bad idea. Let's start with this average #take: This game will be much better and closer than the previous installment, which isn't saying much. TCU's defense will be much more prepared to handle Mayfield. But still, Mayfield and Co. are really good, and I don't know if TCU has the offensive firepower to stay with them. The Horned Frogs will give 'em one heck of a punch, though.
Kerry Miller
At full strength, maybe TCU would pull off the upset. But leading rusher Darius Anderson is out for the season with a foot injury, second-leading tackler Nick Orr is suspended for at least the first half of this game, and leading tackler Travin Howard and safety Niko Small have missed the last two games due to undisclosed injuries. The latter two are expected to play, but does anyone believe they're at 100 percent? Those defensive shortcomings will keep the Horned Frogs from slowing Mayfield, resulting in a 42-24 victory for the Sooners.
Brad Shepard
The Horned Frogs have an outside shot at the playoff, though nobody is talking about them. What has to happen? Other than getting a lot help, coach Gary Patterson's team needs to blow out Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. That'll never happen because of two words: Baker. Mayfield. The future Heisman Trophy winner is going to have a massive game to prove he deserves the award. Though this contest will be closer than the last one, the Sooners will win again and head to the CFP.
Greg Wallace
For Oklahoma, the math is simple: Win and you're in the playoff. The Sooners have been one of the nation's best teams all season, with a lone loss to Iowa State. They have the nation's No. 4 scoring offense and are averaging 45.3 points per game.
The Horned Frogs are good but not elite, and OU handled them 38-20 three weeks ago. Patterson has a top-10 scoring defense, and Hill is a capable senior quarterback, but they can't hang with likely Heisman Trophy winner Mayfield and Oklahoma's passing attack. The Sooners will win 41-24 and punch their playoff ticket.
Will Wisconsin Remain Undefeated with a Win over Ohio State?
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Matt Hayes
Wisconsin has heard for the last six weeks that it isn't deserving of any CFP love. The Badgers have heard about the easy schedule. That they avoided Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State from the Big Ten East. And on and on. We've talked for two weeks now about an Alabama-Ohio State argument in the CFP. Wisconsin, behind the nation's No. 1 defense and the running of freshman Jonathan Taylor, will end it.
David Kenyon
The Badgers will lose, but that's a reflection on the Wisconsin offense more than the defense. I'll be pleasantly surprised if this matchup reaches 40 combined points. The Badgers still haven't allowed a 30-yard run all season, but the Buckeyes are most effective when committed to the running game. Eventually, they'll break through. Combine that with the seemingly inevitable turnover from Wisconsin's offense, and Ohio State will steal a close one.
Adam Kramer
I am not a hater, Wisconsin. I love you. I love you for your cartoon Bloody Marys and beer chasers. I love you for your love of meat. I love the good people of the state as a whole. (I'm about 25 minutes or so from the Wisconsin border.) I also love Wisconsin's football team, and in particular this group.
But even with all that love, Ohio State will win. It's not because the Badgers are bad or undeserving, but because this matchup favors Ohio State. Wisconsin's defense should do a fine job, but I worry about the offense against Ohio State's defensive front. Where will the points come from? It should be close for a while, regardless of who plays quarterback for Ohio State following J.T. Barrett's knee surgery, but the Buckeyes will prevail.
Kerry Miller
The Badgers have yet to face anything like Ohio State's offense, but they have held seven consecutive opponents to fewer than 300 total yards and have only relinquished more than 17 points once this season. The Buckeyes did just score 31 points on Michigan and plastered Michigan State for 48 a few weeks ago, but they'll have more difficulty than usual with this defense. And yet, Ohio State will get a 24-20 victory with a big assist from a back-breaking Alex Hornibrook interception.
Brad Shepard
It's hard to bet against the Buckeyes. They've looked so good over the past month since they gave up 55 points to Iowa. I expect them to win. After the distractions of last weekend's camera-gate, the Michigan rivalry and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano's Tennessee fiasco, expect OSU to be galvanized. This has all the trappings to be the game of the weekend, and though it'll be a slugfest, the Buckeyes will knock Wisconsin out of the playoff.
Greg Wallace
Wisconsin is one of only two remaining FBS unbeatens, but the Badgers have garnered little respect despite a 12-0 regular season. But they'll get in the playoff with a win in the Big Ten title game over Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are the flashier, more athletic team, but Wisconsin has a nasty defense that allows 12 points per game (No. 2 in the nation) and has one of the nation's top tailbacks in Taylor, who has rushed for 1,806 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barrett is expected to play after he suffered an injured knee in a bizarre sideline incident at Michigan, but his track record in recent big games has been spotty at best. A balanced, consistent Badgers team will shut down OSU and take a 24-10 win to make the CFP.
Can UCF Get to 12-0 in the AAC Championship Against Memphis?
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Matt Hayes
It's a going-away party for UCF head coach Scott Frost, who could be Nebraska's coach by Sunday morning. There's too much to like about the Knights in the game—beginning with the dangerous trifecta of QB McKenzie Milton, wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith and running back Adrian Killins—and too much on the line. UCF is better than Memphis. The Knights showed it earlier in the season in a 40-13 win and will do it again Saturday.
David Kenyon
Both teams are going to score a bunch, so it's a matter of which defense musters one extra stop. USF exposed some holes in UCF last week, but the Knights have otherwise been stingy against the pass all season. Memphis will probably have an opportunity for a late go-ahead score, but UCF will edge the Tigers.
Adam Kramer
UCF can win, and it will. In what could (or perhaps "likely will" is more appropriate) be Frost's final game, I like UCF in this spot. The offense is cooking, and it should continue to do so against a Memphis defense that has allowed a lot of points (No. 88 nationally) and yards (No. 111). Memphis, by the way, should score a great deal of points too. I just feel like UCF, wire to wire, will prove it's better. Side note: If you're looking for a game that will feature somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 total points, this is the one you'll want to watch.
Kerry Miller
For all the talk about UCF's unstoppable offense, Memphis averages more yards per game (529.5) than the Knights (523.5). When they played back in September, Killins had a 96-yard touchdown run, which was followed by a Riley Ferguson interception and another UCF TD. From there, the rout was on. But Memphis will make things much more interesting this time.
In fact, I'm picking the Tigers in a highly entertaining, back-and-forth, 52-45 upset. If the Knights were to win, Frost would have a hard time leaving for the Nebraska opening prior to UCF's New Year's Six bowl. But it'll be much easier for him to skip town before the Gasparilla Bowl.
Brad Shepard
Memphis is too good of a team and Mike Norvell is too good of a coach to get their doors blown off again by Central Florida. But the Knights are too good to lose this game. Seriously, it's ridiculous how little support they're getting for the playoff. Should they be in the Top Four? Nobody's saying that. But 14th?! This is one of the best teams in the nation, and it's going to win in a shootout and represent the Group of Five in the big-boy bowls. This game will send Frost out in style.
Greg Wallace
UCF is one of college football's best stories. In two years, Frost has taken it from winless to 11-0 and put it in the driver's seat for the Group of Five's New Year's Six bowl spot. The Knights have averaged an FBS-best 48.3 points per game and have a dynamic quarterback in Milton, who has thrown for 3,301 yards and 30 touchdowns. Now, they just have to beat Memphis.
Norvell's team is prolific, too, as it's averaged 47 points per game. But we've seen this movie before: UCF pounded the Tigers 40-13 in a regular-season meeting. While Memphis is a handful, the Tigers haven't improved that much in two months' time. UCF will take a 48-24 win and improve to 12-0.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Will Miami Bounce Back from Pitt Loss to Beat Clemson?
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Matt Hayes
It's not necessarily that Miami won't bounce back; it's more that Clemson is beginning to hit its stride. QB Kelly Bryant is healthy, and look for freshman Travis Etienne to take this three-game stretch (ACC Championship Game, CFP semifinal, CFP final) and develop into one of the game's best runners. This Clemson defense—the nation's most talented—has played bored at times, but will get hot this weekend in a win.
David Kenyon
This is the largest spread (9.5 points) of the power-conference championships, yet it's also the game I'm least confident in predicting. I think the Hurricanes prefer the unquantifiable underdog role and will give Clemson a four-quarter fight, largely because both defenses rarely allow the huge explosive play. The offenses should pick up plenty of 10-yard chunks, but sustaining drives will be the difference. Clemson ranks 10th nationally on third down; Miami is 122nd. That'll be the difference in a Clemson win.
Adam Kramer
Miami will play better than last week, which isn't exactly saying a great deal. But Clemson is starting to peak, both offensively and defensively, and Miami's offense won't handle it well. Having been benched in the game last week, Miami quarterback Malik Rosier will go up against the beefiest defensive line in the country. That seems like a problem. I will say, however, that Miami does seem to play well in big games, and there is no bigger game than this. I just don't think it will be enough.
Kerry Miller
With all due respect to Miami and the power of the turnover chain, this will be the biggest blowout among the nine conference championship games.
Clemson has only committed 13 turnovers this season, and when the offense does cough up the ball, the defense typically picks up the slack. Only one of those 13 turnovers led to a TD for the opposition, and on eight of the subsequent 13 drives, the opponent gained five yards or fewer. Without those big turnover-fueled swings for the Hurricanes, I just don't see how Miami can stay in a game against a Tigers defense that has held four of its last five opponents to 230 total yards or fewer. Clemson will cruise 38-13.
Brad Shepard
Miami doesn't have a chance. Hey, look, all it took for the Hurricanes to lose was for me to start believing in them. I thought they were marginal all season, and they proved me wrong time and again. Then, last weekend, they had their Mark Richt moment in a loss to Pittsburgh. This weekend, Miami will get exposed by a Clemson defense that will make Rosier struggle for the second week in a row. When Bryant goes off, the Tigers will wind up with an easy win.
Greg Wallace
I feel like we've seen this movie before. Ten years after Pitt stunned a West Virginia team that was on its way to the BCS National Championship Game, another mediocre Panthers team stunned former Big East rival and unbeaten Miami 24-14 last Friday. The Hurricanes' loss wasn't all that surprising when you dig a little; they struggled to put away the likes of Georgia Tech, Syracuse, North Carolina and Virginia. Maybe an average offense just caught up with them.
Clemson is not the kind of team you want to try to "get well" against, either. The Tigers have hit their stride both offensively and defensively, and are No. 1 in the CFP Top 25 entering championship week.
Clemson is strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball and has dynamic athletes. The Hurricanes offense is also all sorts of banged up after it lost Ahmmon Richards to a knee injury this week. Miami has had a great season, but I don't see how it can hang with Clemson. Clemson 31, Miami 13.
Will Auburn Complete Incredible 4-Week Run with Another Win over Georgia?
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Matt Hayes
Auburn will continue its run. A lot will depend on the health of running back Kerryon Johnson. If he's full-go, Auburn will win. If his shoulder injury prevents him from running with the same physicality, the Tigers will need another huge performance from their defense (like the first game against Georgia and last week's win over Alabama) to get it done. The difference could be Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, who has played nearly flawless in big wins over Georgia and Alabama.
David Kenyon
Perhaps I'm reading too far between the lines, but Johnson's injury seems like a major concern. In wins over Georgia and Alabama, 35 of his 37 first-down carries resulted in a gain. The Tigers' ability to be supremely confident in the running game on a running down is a huge luxury, so any limitations on Johnson create a problem. The more passing situations Auburn finds itself in, the better chance Georgia has of redeeming itself. I'm taking the Dawgs in a close one.
Adam Kramer
I would like to note that I picked Auburn to beat Georgia in the previous installment of this game. (Self-back pat.) But I am now picking Georgia to beat Auburn. Yes, playing Alabama last week will play a role. Johnson's injured shoulder is a big deal for the Tigers, and I just can't envision that he's 100 percent.
But bigger than that, however, is the way we tend to overreact to these moments. Oh, Auburn got Georgia good last time. The score was lopsided and the end result was ugly. But the game was played at Auburn, one of the best environments in the country, and those types of games sometimes get away from you. It will be close, but give me Georgia in the playoff.
Kerry Miller
Georgia will put up more of a fight in Atlanta than it did at Jordan-Hare Stadium three weeks ago. However, there was nothing fluky about that outcome. The Tigers manhandled the Bulldogs in the trenches on both offense and defense, and there's no good reason to expect that to be any different just because of 21 days and a change of venue. Auburn is the hottest team in the country, and it will clinch a spot in the CFP with a 31-23 victory over Georgia.
Brad Shepard
A ton hinges on Johnson's shoulder. But Kam Martin is more than capable of stepping in, and this AU scheme looks brilliant, as Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey are in a rhythm. Then, there's Kevin Steele's defense, which is perhaps the most underrated unit in the nation.
The D dominated Georgia in the first game, and the Bulldogs won't magically come up with a formula to break through. That's why the Tigers will beat UGA for the second time this year, regardless of Johnson's status. But his presence certainly would help.
Greg Wallace
Auburn has had a remarkable second half of the season. On Oct. 14, we were wondering if Malzahn would keep his job following a meltdown at LSU. Now, the Tigers have won five straight, including upsets of previously unbeaten Georgia and Alabama, and averaged 40.4 points in the process. Now comes the hard part: beating the Bulldogs again on a neutral field in Atlanta.
Auburn has improved significantly, but the Tigers look beat-up; the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs took a toll, particularly on Johnson. Georgia and its bruising ground game have learned from the 40-17 whipping Auburn applied in Jordan-Hare Stadium. This should be a different contest. Georgia will win, 24-20, and take the SEC title.
One Coaching Carousel Question: Will Lane Kiffin Stay at FAU for 2018?
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Matt Hayes
Here's the question to answer the question: Where would Lane Kiffin go? I believe the hype for him is more about the young fans' clamoring to see the coach with the big personality and even bigger social media profile at a bigger school.
Because if you're a university president at a Power Five school, do you really want a coach who tweets about how he beat the betting line after a game? Kiffin is a fabulous coach, but he still can't get out of his own way outside the white lines.
David Kenyon
Most everyone understands this is a short-term stop for Kiffin, but I'm convinced he's going to stay for 2018. His name hasn't been tossed around much (other than in jest) during the current carousel, and I don't expect him to settle for just any Power Five job. There's no doubting Kiffin's football brain, and he'll spark a program next offseason.
Adam Kramer
He'll stay. He needs to rehab his image more, and that will take more than one season to convince big-university brass that he's worth a major investment. While this season has done wonders for his buzz and image, major universities—the kind of job Kiffin has his eye on—still need an extended sample size.
That said, there is no better Twitter follow in the world. Kiffin has done himself wonders this year, both as a personality and a coach, and I cannot wait to see where he ultimately lands.
Kerry Miller
My heart says he'll stay, because I want Kiffin to remain at Florida Atlantic for 20 years and continue to troll everyone on whatever form social media has taken by 2037. But my head says no. There are just too many good openings around the country for him to stick with "Second Chance U" for less than $1 million per year. I highly doubt he'll go back to Tennessee, but here's hoping he takes one of the SEC West openings for annual games against Nick Saban.
Brad Shepard
He'll leave. He's openly lobbying (and trolling) on Twitter daily. As a Tennessee guy, I'd love to see the Vols go after him again, though we all know that will never happen. But there are still a lot of puzzle pieces left to fall in the coaching carousel. He's going to be a handful for anybody, of course, because he still has a big mouth. But he's also one of the greatest play-callers in the country. He's going to succeed and make somebody happy.
Greg Wallace
With the carousel still unsettled and potentially spinning even faster with high-profile Power Five openings possibly coming into play, it's hard to say how Kiffin could fit. However, he's done an excellent job in his first season at FAU, taking the Owls to the Conference USA title game. His checkered past and (admittedly entertaining) Twitter persona could give more conservative athletic directors pause, though. My guess is he'll have another "prove-it" year in Boca Raton and get a legit opportunity next winter.
Which Players Will Get Invited to New York as Heisman Finalists?
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Matt Hayes
Baker Mayfield, Bryce Love, Kerryon Johnson and Jonathan Taylor. Johnson will not only play Saturday, but he'll play so well, he'll use the SEC Championship Game as a springboard to get to New York City. It has happened numerous times before in that game. But no one will touch Mayfield. The Sooners will win the Big 12 and wrap up a CFP spot, and he'll wrap up the trophy.
David Kenyon
Sitting alongside Mayfield, the likely winner, should be Lamar Jackson, Love, Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor. Only Mayfield and Jackson have a chance to win, so I wouldn't have a problem if only those two made the trip. But if you invite one of Love, Barkley and Taylor, the other two should be there. San Diego State's Rashaad Penny would be a deserving finalist, too.
Adam Kramer
Mayfield, duh. He's going to be there, and he's going to win. That feels like an easy thing for me to write, so I might as well get it out of the way now. (Side note: If you're a Heisman voter and you decide not to vote for him because he grabbed his goods that one time, please, kindly, show yourself out of college football as a whole. Bye.) The other finalists will include Barkley, Love and Jackson. Enjoy the free trip and meals, gents.
Kerry Miller
Not only will I give you the finalists, but here's the order in which they'll finish. Mayfield will win (and resist the urge to grab his crotch during his acceptance speech). Love will come in a somewhat distant second place, followed closely by Jackson in third. Then there's a huge (entirely unjustified) gap before Penny in fourth. And even though the numbers don't much support it, Barkley will finish fifth.
Those last two spots may depend upon what happens this weekend and whether the Heisman voters wait until closer to the deadline to submit their ballots. They went out this past Monday, and voters have until next Monday to get them in.
If enough voters do their due diligence and wait at least until Saturday night to finalize decisions, maybe Johnson and/or Taylor will sneak into the top five with a big conference-championship performance. However, I believe Penny's 2,000 yards and months of Barkley hype will be enough for those backs to get an invite.
Brad Shepard
The top two players in the country are Mayfield and Love, without question, and the other three are up in the air. But I'll lean toward Barkley as a finalist because of his unreal first half of the season. He's not a threat to win, but he will be there. So will J.T. Barrett, who has been incredibly good when he's been on.
And say what you want about Jackson, but his season was great as he fell just shy of 5,000 total yards (4,932). He won't win either, but he should go. This is Mayfield's award, and the only way that could change is if he lays an egg this weekend while Love thrives.
Greg Wallace
Barring a total meltdown, the Heisman appears to be Mayfield's to lose. Who will accompany him? Love has had an excellent season at Stanford, and Jackson has essentially matched the numbers that won him the stiff-arm trophy last fall. I'd also like to see Penny—the nation's leading rusher, who has 2,027 yards—get an invite. He has earned it, even if the Doak Walker Award inexplicably snubbed him as a finalist.
In Order, Who Will the Top Four Teams Be in Final CFP Rankings?
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Matt Hayes
We'll go chalk on championship weekend. As much as everyone would love to see upsets and mayhem—who doesn't love a little chaos?—three favorites and Wisconsin will win. The final rankings, in order: Clemson, Auburn, Wisconsin, Oklahoma. That leaves semifinal matchups of Clemson vs. Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, and Auburn vs. Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. From there, we'll get a rematch from earlier this season in the championship game: Clemson vs. Auburn.
David Kenyon
Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama. Ohio State will present a decent case, but the Buckeyes looked lifeless against Oklahoma and lost to Iowa by 31 points. A blowout like that shouldn't be forgiven when compared to the Crimson Tide. After all, it's why 2016 Ohio State made the playoff over Penn State.
Adam Kramer
Wow, how did the season end so fast? This makes me somewhat sad. Anyway, let's do this thing. The No. 1 seed will be Clemson after it takes care of business against Miami. Oklahoma will finally gain the committee's respect and earn the No. 2 spot. Georgia, with a victory, will jump all the way up to the No. 3 spot and make the playoff as the SEC champion.
The final and fourth spot will go to…wait for it…Alabama! Ohio State will be the team on the outside looking in as a conference champion, unable to overcome the loss to Iowa. The Crimson Tide will get in by sitting on the couch this weekend, and people are going to be really upset about it.
Kerry Miller
Based on my aforementioned predictions for the various conference championships, it's going to be Clemson at No. 1, Auburn at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3 and an extremely heated discussion for the fourth spot.
Alabama, Ohio State and USC will all have a legitimate argument for inclusion—leading to months of debating about expanding to a six-team playoff—but my guess is the Buckeyes take that final spot. It may boil down to how convincingly they beat the Badgers, but wins over Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan should make up for that ugly loss to Iowa.
Brad Shepard
1. Clemson, 2. Auburn, 3. Oklahoma and 4. Ohio State. I'll go with the four winners of the big-time conference championship games. Since the Pac-12 won't have a participant regardless, this would be a good year for the committee to make a statement about conference winners.
That will suck for a one-loss Alabama if a pair of two-loss teams make it over it, but the bottom line is the Crimson Tide didn't even win their division, so there should be punishment for that. Auburn will handle Georgia, and Clemson will beat Miami handily to leave no doubt about the top two.
Greg Wallace
This has been a fun, chaotic season of college football, but I don't see the committee's rankings changing a ton once the dust settles on championship weekend. I'm going with: No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Wisconsin. That'd make for an intriguing Final Four in multiple ways.
Will USC Beat Stanford for the Second Time in 2017?
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Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB)
Yes. Stanford is playing better defense and is more secure at quarterback. That means a whole lot of Bryce Love and an aggressive defense that will force USC to win by throwing with Sam Darnold. Seriously. The Trojans are most dangerous when Ronald Jones II sets the tone in the run game.
David Kenyon (@Kenyon19_BR)
Stanford can't play as terribly on defense as it did in September, right? The Trojans converted 10 of 12 third downs while hanging 42 points on the Cardinal. Stanford doesn't have a dominant defense, but it's foolish to expect a repeat of that performance. Although USC is a slightly better team on paper, I'm picking the upset.
Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs)
This is without a doubt the championship game I feel least confident about. Both teams, at times, have looked playoff-worthy. At others, both have looked lost. But USC is the more talented team. Darnold, when he's not throwing the ball to the other team, remains one of the most gifted players in the sport. And while Stanford's Love will deservedly be celebrated as the best running back in this game, USC's Jones is not far behind—some would argue he isn't behind Love at all. It will be a close, sloppy USC victory.
Kerry Miller (@kerrancejames)
Way back in Week 2, I picked Stanford to pull off the road upset, and I based that decision on a lack of trust in USC's ability to slow Love. Instead, USC outgained Stanford by nearly 300 yards (623-342). I still don't think the Trojans will bottle up Love, but they'll once again win the game with a deluge of offense. It won't be enough to get Darnold to New York as a Heisman finalist, but the QB will pace USC to a 38-27 victory.
Brad Shepard (@Brad_Shepard)
No, the Trojans won't win. This is the type of game for which Cardinal coach David Shaw was hired. Stanford isn't as talented as USC, but it is more disciplined, better-coached and has one more opportunity to put a nice, little bow on Darnold's subpar season. The Pac-12 has been a hot mess this year, eliminating any chance of a conference representative in the College Football Playoff. What isn't supposed to happen this weekend? A Cardinal win. And that's why I'm picking them to win it.
Greg Wallace (@gc_wallace)
USC expected to be in the Pac-12 title game when 2017 began, but having no shot at the playoff likely wasn't in the Trojans' plan. However, a league title is still a good prize, and the Trojans can take one home by repeating their September success against the Cardinal. USC has hit its stride with four consecutive wins following a 49-14 demolition at Notre Dame's hands Oct. 21. The Trojans have a far more athletic roster than Stanford, save for the explosive Love. Stanford is better than the 42-24 beating the Trojans applied in Week 2, but USC will take a 34-21 win and the Pac-12 title.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
