College Football HQ makes our final predictions for the biggest games on the Week 11 schedule as they begin across the country.

And what a week it could be, with postseason implications not only for potential automatic bid contenders, but also for those teams looking to take a significant step forward in the crowded field for one of the at-large playoff spots.

Alabama visits LSU in a battle of SEC rivals that will likely serve as an elimination game of sorts with both teams hovering near the bottom of the top 12 of the first College Football Playoff standings.

Georgia debuted at No. 3 in the first CFP rankings, but is projected as the current No. 2 playoff seed and faces a critical route test against No. 16 Ole Miss that could spell the end for the Bulldogs or the start of the Rebels. in the fight for the playoffs at the end of the season.

As the Week 11 college football schedule begins across the country, let’s set our final predictions for the biggest games.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt

SI Picks: South Carolina | Vandy has played inspired football at home this season, to say the least, but one notable weakness is the offensive line play, ranking among the worst units in the country in pressure allowed, and the Gamecocks are providing a lot of weight from the line defensive.

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Virginia in Pittsburgh

YES Picks: Pittsburgh | The Cavaliers started 4-2, but have lost their last three in a row and head into a road date against an angry Pitt team that is coming off its first loss of the season and can play aggressive defense.

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Colorado at Texas Tech

SI selections: Colorado | It’s up to Colorado to prove it can improve its defensive game in a road test against a Texas Tech offense that can put up some points, but the Buffs should have the decisive advantage moving the ball against a Red Raider defense that ranks 119th. national level in allowed points. .

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Utah State in Washington State

SI Picks: Washington State | Utah State is second-worst nationally in scoring defense, allowing nearly 42 points per game. Advantage, the Cougars’ offense, led by quarterback John Mateer and ranking in the top 15 nationally in scoring.

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Clemson at Virginia Tech

YES Picks: Clemson | All of the Hokies’ losses this season have been by 7 points or less, but now quarterback Kyron Drones is dealing with an injury while Clemson plays one of the best defenses in the country and is coming off a loss to Louisville that It affected their playoffs. odds.

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Army in North Texas

SI selections: Army | The status of star quarterback Bryson Daily is an open question, and while the Black Knights should dominate on the ground against a North Texas run defense that ranks 104th nationally, this UNT offense can throw the ball and score serious points.

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Iowa State in Kansas

SI Picks: Iowa State | Kansas has played some close games this season and the Cyclones are coming off their first loss of the season, but they should have enough offense to avoid a second.

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Nevada in Boise State

SI Picks: Boise State | Expect more from Ashton Jeanty, college football’s best individual running back, facing a Nevada defense that ranks 93rd nationally in yards per carry surrendered.

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Florida State at Notre Dame

YES Picks: Notre Dame | Back in August, this was supposed to be a game filled with playoff implications. The only intrigue now is speculating how much the Irish will beat the 1-8 Seminoles, who rank second-worst nationally.

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Michigan in Indiana

SI selections: Indiana | Michigan simply doesn’t have enough offense to match the Hoosiers’ scoring, and last week’s loss to Oregon shows that the Wolverines will eventually give in to an offense that can spread things around like Indiana does.

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Mississippi State in Tennessee

SI Selections: Tennessee | The Bulldogs’ defense, which allows nearly 80 percent completion against SEC quarterbacks, isn’t much of a hindrance right now, and Tennessee’s strong defensive front should control things from start to finish.

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Washington at Penn State

SI Picks: Penn State | Expect this to be closer than the point spread indicates, given the Huskies’ relative strength on defense, at least on a per-play basis, combined with Penn State’s comparative problems scoring points of late, but the Nittany’s front seven Lions should get the best. of Washington’s vulnerable offensive line.

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Florida in Texas

Selections YES: Texas | All eyes are on injured quarterback DJ Lagway. His presence has been a stabilizing force for the Gators’ offense, but with him potentially off the field, this Texas defense should dominate as Quinn Ewers and his receivers get behind Florida’s back seven.

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Miami at Georgia Tech

Selections YES: Miami | Tech’s defense is coming off some of its worst play of the season recently, and while Haynes King’s potential return to the offense is important against a Hurricanes defense that has struggled at times, Cam Ward is tough to match up to that makes a mistake.

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Purdue at Ohio State

SI Picks: Ohio State | Purdue owns the worst scoring margin differential in college football and has not scored more than 21 points in Big Ten play, barring one outlier game. Ohio State could take its foot off the gas after last week’s emotional win at Penn State, which could result in the Boilers covering a whopping 38-point deficit, but otherwise, this is all Buckeyes.

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BYU in Utah

YES selections: BYU | Utah would love nothing more than to ruin BYU’s perfect season and might have enough defense to make that a realistic possibility playing at home and after an open week, but the Cougars should be able to overcome a ranked Utah offense 109 in scoring.

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Maryland in Oregon

SI selections: Oregon | The Big Ten teams have had a tough time playing in these cross country games this season, and in any case, it’s hard to see the Terrapins matching the Ducks’ offense.

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Alabama at LSU

YES Picks: LSU | LSU will struggle to run the ball consistently against Alabama’s front seven and Jalen Milroe should be able to sufficiently exploit a Tigers defense that has struggled against mobile quarterbacks, but LSU has the protection and outside weapons working the perimeter teamed with Garrett Nussmeier to get it done at home.

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Georgia at Ole Miss

SI selections: Georgia | Carson Beck has thrown 6 interceptions in the last two games and that unselfishness with the ball could prove costly in the future, but the Rebels’ offensive line has proven vulnerable against good pass rushers and now doesn’t have running back Henry Parrish to balance things out. .

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