College showdowns: Ohio State-Indiana, OklahomaOklahoma State top a big slate.
What to watch in Week 12 of the college football season. Game times and networks subject to change:
No. 10 Indiana at No. 3 Ohio State
Saturday, noon ET, Fox Danny Sheridan’s line: Ohio State by 21
One would have predicted the Buckeyes (3-0, 3-0 Big Ten) to be involved in a first-place showdown in the Big Ten East. OSU’s opponent in such a matchup would have come as a considerable surprise, but here are the Hoosiers (4-0, 4-0), having already dispatched usual suspects Penn State and Michigan and setting their sights on the defending league champs.
The Buckeyes got an unexpected week off with their game at Maryland canceled. QB Justin Fields will try to pick up where he left off, having thrown for 11 TDs through three games. Most of those scoring tosses have gone to WR Chris Olave or TE Jeremy Ruckert, who will put the coverage skills of Indiana LB Micah McFadden and S Devon Matthews to the test.
Hoosiers QB Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been as efficient, but he makes the plays when needed and gets plenty of support from RB Stevie Scott III. The Buckeyes’ defense, featuring LBs Tuf Borland and Pete Werner, has given up some points but mainly when the opposition is in comeback mode.
Prediction: Indiana’s rise to its highest ranking in decades has been one of the most compelling storylines of the season. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, this week’s opponent is on another level.
Ohio State, 45-21
Appalachian State at No. 18 Coastal Carolina
Saturday, noon ET, ESPN2
Danny Sheridan’s line: Coastal Carolina by 6
The day’s first viewing window is crowded, but this key Sun Belt clash is well worth keeping an eye on. The rapid rise of the Chanticleers (7-0, 5-0) has been one of the best stories of the unusual 2020 college football season. The Mountaineers (6-1, 4-0), of course, followed a similar path from underdog giant killer to Sun Belt power and now want to stay on top.
CCU QB Grayson McCall certainly hasn’t looked like a freshman, throwing for 16 TDs with just one pick thus far. His primary targets are WR Jaivon Heiligh and TE Isaiah Likely. Appalachian State QB Zac Thomas has 12 scoring passes himself, but the Mountaineers’ attack is more effective when the ground game is humming behind RBs Daetrich Harrington and Camerun Peoples.
Prediction: The Chanticleers got a big win at Louisiana-Lafayette a few weeks ago. They’ll keep it rolling with another close victory.
Coastal Carolina, 37-34
No. 12 Wisconsin at No. 20 Northwestern
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC Danny Sheridan’s line: Wisconsin by 7 1⁄
2
The Badgers (2-0, 2-0) ap
peared none the worse after their COVID-induced two-week hiatus and remain on track to win the Big Ten West. But the Wildcats (4-0, 4-0), off to their first 4-0 start in conference play since 1996, are now poised to challenge for the division themselves. Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz has been outstanding through his first two career starts. It helps that he can count on support from a punishing ground attack that makes use of TBs Nakia Watson and Jalen Berger and even gets WR Danny Davis involved.
They’ll all test their mettle against the Wildcats’ linebacker trio of Chris Bergin, Blake Gallagher and Paddy Fisher that is among the top units in the game. The Northwestern offense is similarly built for power with RBs Drake Anderson and Isaiah Bowser doing most of the heavy lifting, but QB Peyton Ramsey will air it out just enough to keep LB Leo Chenal and the Badgers’ stout defense honest.
Prediction: If you’ve enjoyed those Southeastern Conference track meets we’ve seen this year, this might not be the game for you. If you like old-school, hard-hitting football, pull up a chair. That isn’t to say there won’t be big plays, but the Badgers will make a few more of them.
Wisconsin, 27-19
No. 7 Cincinnati at Central Florida
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET,
ESPN
Danny Sheridan’s line: Cincinnati by 5 1⁄
2
The Bearcats (7-0, 5-0 AAC) face the first of three road contests to finish the regular season as they look to complete a sweep of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights (5-2, 4-2), who ruled the roost in the league not so long ago, hope to make a statement that they’re not far from returning to the top.
Bearcats QB Desmond Ridder continues to pile up the touchdowns. He has accounted for 23 in all this season, including nine on the ground, giving UCF S Richie Grant another concern as he patrols the secondary. Knights QB Dillon Gabriel can put up a big score as well, with WRs Marlon Williams and Jaylon Robinson taking most of the aerial deliveries. The UC defense, featuring LB Jarell White and CB Coby Bryant, is the best in the AAC surrendering just 12.4 points per game but has yet to encounter a unit with this much firepower.
Prediction: The Bearcats’ defenders will come away with more stops then the Knights. It will be a struggle on the road, but UC will keep it rolling.
Cincinnati, 38-34
No. 14 Oklahoma State at No. 17 Oklahoma
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC Danny Sheridan’s line:
Oklahoma by 7
The annual “Bedlam” showdown has Big 12 title implications if not national playoff relevance. The Cowboys (5-1, 4-1 Big 12) might still have a path to the national semifinal, albeit a convoluted one, but a second loss would remove that slim possibility.
The Sooners (5-2, 4-2), already with two league losses, are more interested in keeping their conference championship streak alive.
Both teams were off last week, a welcome break for all parties as they rested various injuries.
Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders has been battling through a bad ankle for much of the season and could finally be near full speed, while Sooners QB Spencer Rattler sustained a hip pointer in his most recent outing against Kansas but should also be good to go.
Prediction: The Sooners have a bit more momentum entering the contest, riding a fourgame winning streak after starting out 0-2 in the conference. They’ll get the Cowboys’ best shot, of course, but OU will keep the streak going.
Oklahoma, 49-38