Tide, Tigers seen as heavy favorites over ranked foes
Spartans intriguing test for Buckeyes
No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson are facing ranked opponents this weekend, but the conventional wisdom is neither will be tested.
The Crimson Tide, after running roughshod over LSU last week, return home to face No. 18 Mississippi State this afternoon. Alabama is a 25-point favorite. Later, the Tigers visit No. 17 Boston College, where they’re favored by almost three touchdowns.
The weekend doesn’t have a nickname, like Showdown Saturday, but with only four more weeks of football until the playoff field is set, every weekend is big. What you need to know for week 11:
Best game
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 24 Michigan State
For all their issues through nine weeks of the season, the Buckeyes are 10th in the playoff rankings and still in position to win the Big Ten simply runing the table. Easier said than done, but it’s there.
The Spartans present an interesting challenge. Michigan State’s offense is 116th in the country in yards per play (5.00) and has been shuffling between Brian Lewerke, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, and redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi. Seems like a good weekend for the Buckeyes to get their struggling defense (82nd in the nation at 5.82 per play) back in order.
But on the other side of the ball, Michigan State has one of the best run defenses in the country to throw at an Ohio State running game that has at times left quarterback Dwayne Haskins and the offense one-dimensional.
An Ohio State victory sets up an almost inevitable Big Ten East title game between the Buckeyes and No. 4 Michigan in a few weeks, but Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has made a career of messing up the best-laid plans for the those two teams.
Heisman watch
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
We all know a quarterback is almost a lock to the win the Heisman, and that quarterback is probably Tua Tagoaviloa of Alabama. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray or West Virginia’s Will Grier could have a say too.
Etienne is the one running back left who might be able to break into the field. His biggest issue is touches. The sophomore is averaging just under 13 carries per game, but 8.6 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns. If Boston College can mount a challenge against the Tigers in prime time, maybe they will give Etienne a few more meaningful touches and the chance to direct some Heisman attention his way.
Numbers to know 9: Touchdowns allow by Mississippi State this season, fewest in the country. 21: Consecutive games won by No. 11 Central Florida. The Knights try to make it 22 against slumping Navy. 162-30: The combined score of the past three games Michigan played against Rutgers, all won by the Wolverines. No. 4 Michigan is at Rutgers today. 0-9: No. 16 Fresno State’s record at Boise State. The Bulldogs visit the blue turf today.
1984: The last time Kentucky won at Tennessee. The 12th-ranked Wildcats try to make it victories in consecutive seasons against the Volunteers today.
Off the radar
In just its second season after restarting its football program, UAB (8-1, 6-0) has won a program record seven straight games, and can clinch the C-USA West by beating Southern Miss today at home.