College Football Week 12: Predictions for the Top 25 Teams

Even though the focus of college football has been squarely on Penn State this week, there are still a bunch of great games this weekend—thankfully.

Three teams in the Top 25 already squared off, with Houston and Virginia Tech winning their games, and there are three other games between Top 25 opponents.

Conference titles are on the line in the Pac-12 and Big Ten, and you won’t want to miss any of the exciting action. Here are the most likely outcomes of those games.

1. LSU Tigers

Vs. Western Kentucky, Win

The Tigers may have somewhat of a letdown after a monster win against Alabama last week, but there’s absolutely no way they lose this game.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys

At Texas Tech, Win

I had this game in an upset last week, but after watching Tech play against Texas, they won’t have enough to stop the Cowboys' Joseph Randle. This should be one of the highest-scoring affairs of the day.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

At Mississippi State, Win

Like LSU, Alabama may experience somewhat of a hangover after such a huge game, but also like LSU, they won’t have a problem winning this game.

Mississippi State has been dreadful the entire year after coming in with high expectations. This game has a slightly higher chance of an upset than Western Kentucky over LSU, but it is still a huge longshot.

4. Stanford Cardinal

Vs. No. 7 Oregon, Loss

The Cardinal gave up over 50 points to Oregon last year, and the defense has given up huge numbers to their best opponents. This game will turn into a shootout and they won’t be able to outscore the Ducks, even at home.

5. Boise State Broncos

Vs. TCU, Win

TCU is just not a very good football team this year, and the Broncos haven’t lost to a conference opponent at home since 1998.

The past games between these teams have been close, but this is a new year, and Boise has a legitimate chance of going to the national championship if they impress in their one tough game left on their schedule.

6. Oklahoma Sooners

Bye Week

7. Oregon Ducks

At No. 4 Stanford, Win

Oregon has played a number of quality teams this year compared to Stanford’s three with a winning record. With that experience and the unchallenged defense of the Cardinal, the Ducks gets a win.

8. Arkansas Razorbacks

Vs. Tennessee, Win

Injuries have not helped this team at all in the rebuilding process, and the Volunteers are vying with Kentucky for the worst team in the SEC East.

Arkansas plays lights-out at home and should have had a lot more points last week against South Carolina. It should be a lopsided affair.

9. Clemson Tigers

Vs. Wake Forest, Win

If you don’t follow the ACC, you may not realize the importance of this game, but it is a de facto playoff for the Atlantic Division championship.

That said, Clemson is always tough at home, and while Wake Forest has been a pleasant surprise this year, they don’t have enough offensive weapons to hang with the Tigers for very long.

10. Virginia Tech Hokies

At No. 21 Georgia Tech, already won

11. Houston Cougars

At Tulane, already won

12. Penn State Nittany Lions

Vs. No. 19 Nebraska, Loss

Nebraska’s weakness has been mobile quarterbacks, but neither of the Nittany Lions quarterbacks can make much of an impact.

The Huskers should win this one pretty easily, even though they lost to Northwestern last weekend, but the emotion of the game after everything that has happened could propel Penn State to victory.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

Vs. Florida, Win

Florida has just not been a quality football team this year and even though South Carolina will be without Marcus Lattimore, the Gamecocks defense will propel the team to victory at home.

14. Kansas State Wildcats

Vs. Texas A&M, Win

The thing that has killed Texas A&M has been their pass defense, but Kansas State runs the ball.

Until last week, this game was an upset in my book, but Collin Klein nearly propelled his team to a road win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma State. They should be able to handle A&M at home.

15. Georgia Bulldogs

Vs. No. 20 Auburn, Win

Auburn plays more true freshmen than anyone in the country and against Georgia’s defense, that won’t cut it.

The Bulldogs know how important this game is—they win and they essentially win the SEC East—so they’ll come out and get it done.

16. Texas Longhorns

At Missouri, Win

If the Longhorns can look anything remotely similar to how they looked against Texas Tech, they should win this game pretty handily. Their offensive line was flat-out dominate and they put up over 400 rushing yards.

Missouri is an underrated team, but Texas did everything right against Tech so they should be favored to win, though an upset is well within the realm of possibility.

17. Michigan State Spartans

At Iowa, Loss

The gas is out of the tank for the Spartans and they are 1-2 on the road already this season with a lone three-point win over Ohio State.

Iowa is red-hot after beating Michigan, and their three losses are all on the road. All of this has the feeling of a big upset.

18. Wisconsin Badgers

At Minnesota, Win

Minnesota is awful. Wisconsin’s two losses are on Hail Mary plays. Even with this game on the road, Wisconsin rolls easily.

19. Nebraska Cornhuskers

At Penn State, Win

Nebraska understands what they will be getting into in Happy Valley this weekend, and Bo Pelini will have his team ready to go. If the Blackshirt defense comes to play, they win this game.

20. Auburn Tigers

At No. 15 Georgia, Loss

Auburn may have beaten South Carolina on the road, but Georgia hasn’t lost since the second week of the season.

The Tigers aren’t playing for anything, while the Bulldogs have it all on the line. Gene Chizik is also not a good road coach.

21. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech, already lost

22. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Vs. Central Florida, Win

UCF had a lot promise coming into the season but have failed miserably with those expectations.

Southern Miss is on a crash course with Houston for the C-USA title, and they won’t mess this up.

23. Cincinnati Bearcats

Vs. West Virginia, Win

In the Big East, always take the home team, especially when the home team is better.

West Virginia is very hot and cold and after a loss to Louisville, they won’t have enough emotion to play their best. The Big East is happy that their conference leader is still ranked.

24. Michigan Wolverines

At Illinois, Win

This game was a monster shootout last year, but both teams’ defenses have vastly improved since then.

Still, you need to score more points than your opponent, and Michigan has much better playmakers than the Illini.

25. Baylor Bears

At Kansas, Win

Kansas has the worst defense in all of college football and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III is one of the best players in the game. This game should easily go to the Bears.