CFB: Week 12 Preview
Team Rankings:
1. LSU (9-0, 98)
2. Ohio State (9-0, 97)
3. Clemson (10-0, 94)
4. Oregon (8-1, 83)
5. Georgia (8-1, 80)
6. Alabama (8-1, 77)
7. Oklahoma (8-1, 70)
8. Baylor (9-0, 63)
9. Minnesota (9-0, 57)
10. Utah (8-1, 52)
#1 LSU jumps into the top spot of our rankings after their 46-41 road win over previously undefeated Alabama. It's the best win of any team so far this season, and the Tigers now have four top-10 wins over Texas, Florida, Auburn, and now Alabama. It's hard not to rank this team at the top. #2 Ohio State is just a single point behind, though, while #3 Clemson is two wins away from a second straight undefeated regular season. #4 Oregon hops into the top-four for the first time this year following a bye week. #5 Georgia and #6 Alabama are next up. #7 Oklahoma and #8 Baylor have an outside shot at reaching the playoffs but one will likely be eliminated when they play this weekend. #9 Minnesota earned a win over then-undefeated Penn State, while #10 Utah got a week off.
Week 12 Picks:
Wake Forest @ #3 Clemson
#9 Minnesota @ Iowa
USC @ Cal
#5 Georgia @ Auburn
Picks Records:
Caleb Henderson: 41-14
Charles Post: 45-10
Chinedum Wejinya: 46-9
Tyler Taylor: 37-18
Playoff Picks:
1. LSU (13-0, SEC champions)
2. Ohio State (13-0, Big Ten champions)
3. Clemson (13-0, ACC champions)
4. Oregon (12-1, Pac-12 champions)
Wake Forest (7-2) travels to face #3 Clemson (10-0) as the Tigers have a chance to clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a victory. According to our voters, the Tigers have a 100% chance to win. In the Big Ten, Iowa (6-3) hosts unbeaten #9 Minnesota (9-0) as the Golden Gophers need two wins to earn a spot in the Big Ten championship game versus either Ohio State or Penn State. We give Iowa a 75% chance to pull off the upset. #7 Oklahoma (8-1) heads to Waco versus #8 Baylor (9-0), as the two look to remain in playoff contention. We're giving the Sooners a 75% chance. In the Pac-12, USC and Cal go head to head. This one is a 50% split. In the primetime SEC matchup of the week, #5 Georgia (8-1) hopes to hold onto a potential playoff bid against Auburn (7-2). The Bulldogs have a 50% chance to do so.
Heisman Standings:
1. Joe Burrow (LSU, 20)
2. Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma, 16)
3. Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama, 12)
4. Justin Fields (Ohio State, 4)
5. Chase Young (Ohio State, 3)
Joe Burrow earned all 20 votes for the second straight week and has become the clear favorite after helping LSU pull off the upset over Alabama. On the biggest of stages, Burrow has shown that he is the best quarterback in the country and for that reason, he has to be the pick at this point in the year. Jalen Hurts, who helped Oklahoma put up 42 points in their win over Iowa State, has been stellar and has nearly locked up an invite to New York City. Tua Tagovailoa lost to LSU but he threw for 418 yards, which at least keeps him in the conversation. Who knows, maybe we'll get a rematch and Tua can reclaim his spot as the clear cut #1 pick. A pair of Ohio State players round out the top-five as Justin Fields and Chase Young have led the Buckeyes to an impressive 9-0 start before they face Rutgers.
Photo Credit: 247 Sports.
