Each week, The Game Haus will preview every college football game featuring teams in The Associated Press Top 25. We’ll also give an expanded look at three Week 12 Top 25 matchups especially worth watching.
Here we go with our Week 12 Top 25 previews (all times Eastern):
Key Games
No. 5 Georgia (8-1) at No. 13 Auburn (7-2), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Scouting the Bulldogs: Winners of three straight, with shutouts in two, they are now fourth in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Georgia has the inside track to the SEC title game, but this also has the potential to be a physical, demanding contest.
Scouting the Tigers: Auburn finally gets a ranked team at home, and the challenge is massive. But, the Tigers have had two weeks to prepare and could have the services of key defenders Marlon Davidson and Jeremiah Dinson available to slow down the Bulldogs.
Winner: Auburn
No. 7 Minnesota (9-0) at No. 23 Iowa (6-3), 4 p.m., Saturday
Scouting the Golden Gophers: Last week’s win over Penn State was one of the biggest in program history, but this might be an even bigger challenge for the Gophers. Minnesota has lost four in a row to the Hawkeyes, and last won at Iowa in 1999.
Scouting the Hawkeyes: The time is now for Iowa, which is 0-3 against Top 25 teams this season. Perhaps more frustrating, it lost all three by a combined 14 points. Iowa’s defense has not allowed more than 20 points at home this year, but Minnesota is averaging 37.6.
Winner: Iowa
No. 10 Oklahoma (8-1) at No. 12 Baylor (9-0), 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Scouting the Sooners: The marquee matchup among the Week 12 Top 25 previews, is also the biggest game of the year for Oklahoma. The Sooners’ defense has allowed 89 points in the last two games, however, they can still score.
Scouting the Bears: They’ve allowed only one team to reach 30 points (Texas Tech) this season, so the hosts seem to have what it takes to take down Oklahoma. Something Baylor has not done since 2014.
Winner: Oklahoma
The Rest
Michigan State (4-5) at No. 14 Michigan (7-2), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: The Wolverines are looking to win three in a row. The Spartans are trying to avoid a fifth straight defeat. Michigan State has won four of five at Ann Arbor, but is a team in disarray at the moment.Â
Winner: Michigan
No. 4 Alabama (8-1) at Mississippi State (4-5), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: Alabama took a hit in the CFP rankings by dropping to fifth. With two other SEC teams ahead of the Tide in those rankings, they will need help. However, the focus this week must be on recording a 12th straight win over Mississippi State.
Winner: Alabama
No. 11 Florida (8-2) at Missouri (5-4), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: The Gators just posted their third shutout of the season with a 56-0 rout of Vandy. Missouri, meanwhile, totaled 21 points while losing three straight – all on the road. But, the Tigers return home where they are 5-0, and will try for a third straight win over the Gators.
Winner: Missouri
No. 15 Wisconsin (7-2) at Nebraska (4-5), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: The Cornhuskers have little room for error in terms of bowl eligibility. They also must contain Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 250 yards against Iowa last week. He’s run for 470 in two games versus Nebraska.
Winner: Wisconsin
Kansas (3-6) at No. 25 Oklahoma State (6-3), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: Oklahoma State is part of the Week 12 Top 25 previews as a ranked team following wins over Iowa State and TCU. Kansas coach Les Miles began his head coaching career at Oklahoma State in 2001, but don’t expect the Cowboys to be kind to him Saturday.
Winner: Oklahoma State
No. 24 Indiana (7-2) at No. 9 Penn State (8-1), Noon, Saturday
The Skinny: Penn State will be hungry following its loss at Minnesota, and that doesn’t bode well for the Hoosiers. Indiana is ranked for the first time in 25 seasons, but that likely won’t help it from falling to 0-14 at Beaver Stadium.
Winner: Penn State
No. 21 Navy (7-1) at No. 16 Notre Dame (7-2), 2:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: It’s the first time since 1978 that Navy and Notre Dame are meeting as ranked teams. The Midshipmen last beat a ranked Irish team back in 2009, but this group of Middies is looking for a sixth consecutive victory.
Winner: Notre Dame
Wake Forest (7-2) at No. 3 Clemson (10-0), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: Wake is having a nice season, but it’s coming off a 36-17 loss at Virginia Tech. This task is much more difficult. The Tigers, now third in the CFP rankings, have totaled 263 points and not allowed more than 14 over their last five contests.
Winner: Clemson
No. 18 Memphis (8-1) at Houston (3-6), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: It’s been two weeks since Memphis topped a ranked SMU squad, and it faces another Texas team. Led by quarterback Brady White (2,511 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, four interceptions), the Tigers eye a fourth straight win over Houston.
Winner: Memphis
No. 22 Texas (6-3) at Iowa State (5-4), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: The Longhorns are part of the Week 12 Top 25 previews as a ranked team again after edging No. 20 Kansas State. However, they have not won consecutive games since early October and dropped three straight versus Iowa State.
Winner: Iowa State
No. 2 Ohio State (9-0) at Rutgers (2-7), 3:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: As the Chase Young saga unfolds at Ohio State and Rutgers nears bringing back Greg Schiano to run the program, the reality of the moment is that the Buckeyes will continue to roll. Ohio State has outscored Rutgers 271-27 while going 5-0 as Big Ten opponents.
Winner: Ohio State
No. 1 LSU (9-0) at Mississippi (4-6), 7 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: It’s LSU’s football world and the rest are just living in it. With their win over Alabama, the Tigers are 4-0 against top-10 teams in 2019. We don’t expect a stumble here, but it might not be a rout, either.
Winner: LSU
No. 17 Cincinnati (8-1) at South Florida (4-5), 7 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: At No. 17 in the CFP rankings, the Bearcats sit the highest among the Group of Five teams. Recording an eighth consecutive victory might not be easy, but we think they will find a way to pull this one out.
Winner: Cincinnati
UCLA (4-5) at No. 8 Utah (8-1), 8 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: The resurgent Bruins are aiming for a fourth straight win. Of course, Utah has not lost since Sept. 20, and will be trying for a 10th consecutive home victory. The Utes have outscored their opponents 160-33 while going 5-0 at home in 2019.
Winner: Utah
New Mexico (2-7) at No. 19 Boise State (8-1), 10:15 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: After surviving Wyoming in overtime, the Broncos remain the only Mountain West team undefeated in league play at 5-0. That should continue this weekend against a Lobos’ squad that last won a conference game on Oct. 6, 2018.
Winner: Boise State
Arizona (4-5) at No. 6 Oregon (8-1), 10:30 p.m., Saturday
The Skinny: Sixth in the CFP rankings, Oregon, along with Utah, has hope of earning a top-four spot should things play out in either’s favor. The Ducks have allowed 90 points in the last three games, but totaled 173 in the last four. Arizona has yielded an average of 47.3 during its four-game slide.
Winner: Oregon
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