Sportsvival’s Week 11 Six-Pack
Utah stayed unbeaten by beating BYU, and now the Utes have to take that momentum to Tucson. Texas gets another SEC road test under the lights at LSU, while USC and Indiana meet for the first time since 1982. The ACC has two games worth catching at noon, and Georgia opens its first week atop the Sportsvival poll against Missouri.
All rankings reflect Sportsvival’s Week 11 Top 25. All six games are Saturday, November 14, and kickoff times are Eastern. Scores are Sportsvival’s predictions.
1) No. 2 Utah at No. 21 Arizona
Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET | FOX | Casino Del Sol Stadium
Utah is 9-0 after beating BYU 28-20. Arizona is 7-2 and has won the last two meetings. The Wildcats get the Utes at home, where a win would give Arizona a signature result in the Big 12 race and end Utah’s unbeaten run.
Players to watch. Utah quarterback Devon Dampier threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more against BYU. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita enters with 2,794 passing yards, and receiver Isaiah Mizell leads the Wildcats with 753 receiving yards. Watch how often Fifita can get Mizell the ball downfield before Utah’s pressure arrives.
The deciding factor. Arizona’s edge discipline. If Dampier can turn covered passing plays into first downs with his legs, Utah can keep Fifita on the sideline and control the fourth quarter.
Sportsvival prediction. Utah 31, Arizona 27.
2) No. 14 USC at No. 6 Indiana
Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Memorial Stadium
Indiana is 8-1 and coming off a bye. USC is 7-2 and has a chance to earn the kind of road win that could change its playoff outlook. The programs last met in 1982, and this is their first game as Big Ten opponents.
Players to watch. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,525 yards, and running back King Miller gives the Trojans a way to stay ahead of the chains. Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover has a downfield target in Charlie Becker, who leads the Hoosiers with 875 receiving yards.
The deciding factor. USC’s early-down rushing. Indiana has made a habit of taking away the run. If Miller can keep third downs manageable, Maiava has a better chance to sustain drives and keep pressure on Hoover to answer.
Sportsvival prediction. Indiana 31, USC 27.
3) No. 8 Texas at No. 24 LSU
Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Tiger Stadium
Texas is 7-2 after scoring 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Missouri 34-20. LSU is 6-3 and gets a chance to turn its season with a Saturday night win in Baton Rouge. Texas needs to handle the crowd and avoid giving the Tigers short fields.
Players to watch. Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw for 297 yards at Missouri. Running back Raleek Brown added 85 rushing yards, and wide receiver Emmett Mosley V led Texas with 85 receiving yards. For LSU, keep an eye on offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and how he handles the edge when Texas can rush on obvious passing downs.
The deciding factor. Third-down pass protection. Sportsvival believes the Longhorns can dictate the second half if Brown keeps the offense out of third-and-long and their defense forces LSU into it.
Sportsvival prediction. Texas 27, LSU 23.
4) No. 11 Wake Forest at No. 25 SMU
Kickoff | Noon ET | ESPN | Ford Stadium
Wake Forest is 8-1, and SMU is 7-2. Each has five ACC wins, so the head-to-head result carries weight in the conference race. Wake Forest won last year’s meeting 13-12. This year’s quarterbacks give both teams a chance to put up considerably more points.
Players to watch. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 350 yards and four touchdowns against Virginia Tech last week. Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez has thrown for 2,176 yards, and wide receiver Carlos Hernandez has 945 receiving yards. Watch whether SMU can keep Hernandez from turning intermediate catches into long gains.
The deciding factor. Finishing drives. Both quarterbacks can move the ball between the 20s. Sportsvival gives Jennings and the Mustangs the edge at home when the field gets shorter.
Sportsvival prediction. SMU 30, Wake Forest 27.
5) Missouri at No. 1 Georgia
Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Sanford Stadium
Georgia moved to No. 1 with all four first-place votes after beating Ole Miss 42-7 on the road. The Bulldogs are 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC. Missouri is 6-3 and gets another shot at a top-10 opponent after taking Texas into the fourth quarter tied last week.
Players to watch. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and receiver Talyn Taylor connected for a 65-yard touchdown against Ole Miss. Bulldogs safety KJ Bolden picked off a pass in that win. Missouri needs running back Jamal Roberts to produce on early downs so quarterback Austin Simmons can use play-action and limit obvious passing situations.
The deciding factor. Missouri’s ability to sustain drives. If Georgia takes away Roberts early, Stockton and Taylor will have more possessions to test Missouri downfield.
Sportsvival prediction. Georgia 34, Missouri 17.
6) Duke at No. 5 Miami
Kickoff | Noon ET | ABC | Hard Rock Stadium
Miami fell from No. 1 to No. 5 after losing at Notre Dame, but the Hurricanes are still 6-0 in ACC play. Duke is 7-2 and has the running game to make Miami work for its first win since the loss. Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah also gets his first shot at his former team.
Players to watch. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has thrown 28 touchdown passes against two interceptions. Receiver Cooper Barkate, another former Blue Devil, caught a touchdown at Notre Dame last week. Duke running back Nate Sheppard enters with 1,189 rushing yards, giving quarterback Walker Eget a chance to work from manageable down and distance.
The deciding factor. Miami’s run defense. Duke can keep this close if Sheppard extends drives and limits Miami’s possessions. If the Hurricanes force Eget to chase points through the air, Mensah should have room to pull away.
Sportsvival prediction. Miami 34, Duke 23.
A Saturday That Could Shake Up Three Conference Races
Wake Forest and SMU open the day with the Six-Pack’s upset pick. USC at Indiana is the afternoon game to circle, and the two night games will test whether Utah and Texas can finish on the road. For the Draft Storm watch list, start with Manning’s decisions under pressure and Bolden’s range against Missouri’s play-action.
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