College Football Week 11: What to Watch on Saturday’s Loaded Slate

Week 11 of the college football season is the kind of Saturday that makes you cancel plans. The second College Football Playoff rankings put Georgia back at No. 1, and the schedule is stacked with ranked-versus-ranked drama, revenge storylines and a few spots where a trap game could ruin someone’s playoff path. Here is where to point the remote (all times Eastern) and which games are worth rearranging your afternoon around. Rankings below are the College Football Playoff committee’s, released Nov. 10.

Texas at LSU: Death Valley Gets a Heavyweight (7:30 p.m., ABC)

Start with the nightcap, because the biggest noise of the day will be in Baton Rouge. No. 6 Texas (7-2) visits No. 21 LSU (6-3) at Tiger Stadium, and LSU is a 4-point home favorite with a total around 45.5 to 46.5 at BetMGM and other books. It is the first-ever SEC meeting between the two in Death Valley.

The Longhorns come in having shaken off back-to-back October losses with three straight wins, including a 34-20 road win at Missouri. That resume gives Steve Sarkisian’s team something no other SEC squad can match: the committee points to a nation-leading four ranked wins, which gives Texas margin for error as an at-large candidate. LSU, meanwhile, is licking its wounds after a 31-13 home loss to Alabama and still has Tennessee waiting next. Expect a defensive tone, a loud crowd and a game that swings on a few possessions.

If you are watching for fun, keep an eye on whether Texas can get its pass rush home early, because a rattled quarterback in Death Valley is how upsets get started.

Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 PM	Spread	Money	Total
Texas Longhorns	+5 (-110)	+163	O 46.5 (-106)
LSU Tigers	-5 (-113)	-176	U 45.5 (-109)

Utah at Arizona: Can the Unbeaten Utes Survive Tucson? (7:30 p.m., FOX)

If you want a second screen at the same time, No. 2 Utah (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) travels to face No. 23 Arizona (7-2, 4-2). Utah is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 54.5, and the moneyline sits at Utah -140 and Arizona +115, which tells you the books see a coin flip with a slight lean. Utah has won 15 straight, and Arizona has beaten the Utes in each of the last two meetings.

The fun comes from the quarterbacks. Utah’s Devon Dampier is a dual-threat playmaker who has made the Heisman conversation by running, throwing and even catching a touchdown pass. Arizona’s Noah Fifita is completing about 73 percent of his throws and is closing in on 3,000 yards, and the Wildcats convert half of their third downs. Utah has been pushed late in recent weeks, surviving a four-turnover BYU game by one score and rallying past Houston, so this one is built for a wild fourth quarter.

USC at Indiana: Riley Meets Cignetti (3:30 p.m., CBS)

The afternoon’s marquee showdown pits No. 18 USC (7-2) against No. 9 Indiana (8-1), the defending national champions, in Bloomington. Indiana opened as a 7.5-point favorite and has moved to as much as 8.5 at some books, with a total between 49.5 and 50.5. Lincoln Riley against Curt Cignetti is a coaching duel worth the price of admission on its own.

Indiana is coming off a bye and a five-spot drop in the rankings that, by the committee’s own admission, had nothing to do with anything it did on the field. The Hoosier defense is the story, allowing 12.4 points a game. USC arrives off a statement win over Ohio State and has one of the more explosive offenses in the Big Ten. This is the first Big Ten meeting between the two, and the Trojans have a playoff argument to make if they can win on the road.

Missouri at Georgia and the Rest of the Menu

At the same 3:30 window on ABC, No. 1 Georgia hosts No. 22 Missouri as a roughly 16-point favorite with a total of 47.5. The Bulldogs have won 10 straight in the series and have looked dominant since their lone loss at Auburn, with quarterback Gunner Stockton and receiver Talyn Taylor (four catches, 140 yards and three touchdowns at Ole Miss) leading the charge. Missouri’s defense forces turnovers, so the question is whether the Tigers can make it uncomfortable for a while.

Fill the gaps with a few more storylines. Tennessee is a small favorite at Texas A&M at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN, and the Vols have been far better at home than on the road. Duke visits No. 7 Miami at noon on ABC with a revenge angle, since the Hurricanes have former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah. At 9:30 p.m. on ESPN, No. 12 Texas Tech visits No. 25 Oklahoma State in a Big 12 title-race game that should be a shootout, with Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker leading the nation in touchdown passes. And Friday night, UCLA (9-0) hosts Illinois if you want a head start.

This Week’s Best Bets

If you want a little action to go with the viewing party, these are the lean-and-enjoy plays based on the current numbers. Lines move, so check the current price before you bet, and only wager what you can afford to lose.

• Texas at LSU: Texas +4. Getting more than a field goal on the road in a game with a total under 47 points points to a one-possession finish.
• Utah at Arizona: Arizona +2.5. The Wildcats have beaten the Utes twice in a row and Utah keeps playing close games.
• USC at Indiana: Under 49.5. Indiana’s defense travels, and a physical game keeps the clock moving.
• Missouri at Georgia: Georgia moneyline in a parlay leg only, because a 16-point spread is steep.

Whatever you choose, this is the week the playoff picture gets a lot clearer, so pick your couch spot early and get the snacks ready. For a refresher before you bet, our college football betting guide covers spreads, totals and moneylines, and you can compare lines on the NCAAF odds page.