What to watch for in Week 14 - Black Friday edition

Rahjai Harris rushed for 3 TDs as East Carolina defeats North Texas on November 23rd. East Carolina Athletics.

Friday

Oregon State (5-6) at No. 12 Boise State (10-1)

12:00 PM FOX

The Broncos welcome the Beavers to Boise as a heavy favorite and headed to the Mountain West Championship game. For Boise, it’s simple: win out and you’re in a great position for a 1st round bye in the CFP. Oregon State is playing for bowl eligibility after last week’s come from behind win against 8-3 Washington State. The week prior, the Beavers were shut out 28-0 by Air Force. Can the Beavers win? Yes, but it’ll take a perfect game and some Boise State miscues. The Broncos have been playing with fire lately, eking out a 17-13 win against an outmanned Wyoming team, coming from behind against San Jose State, and 28-21 win over Nevada. If Boise can get star back Ashton Jeanty loose, this will be over quickly.

Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8 Big 12) at No. 16 Colorado (8-3, 6-2 Big 12)

12:00 PM ABC

While Jeanty takes the field against the Beavers, Heisman Trophy betting favorite WR/CB Travis Hunter will greet the Cowboys of Oklahoma State in Boulder. When the Buffs lost to Kansas last week, it was a major setback for their Big 12 title (and CFP) hopes. FPI gives Coach Prime’s squad only a 10.6% chance of winning the conference. A season with CFP hopes has been a complete disaster for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will have to beat Colorado to finish 1-8 in conference after holding the 17th position in the preseason AP Poll.

Minnesota (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten)

12:00 PM CBS

This season features the 134th meeting between these two programs and is remarkable even. Wisconsin leads the series 63-62-8. Minnesota enters the game 6-5 while Wisconsin is battling for bowl eligibility at 5-6. DraftKings has Wisconsin favored by 2.5 while ESPN FPI gives Wisconsin a 50.5-49.5% edge.  

Miami (OH) (7-4, 6-1 MAC) at Bowling Green (7-4, 6-1 MAC)

12:00 PM ESPNU

Both of these schools are alive to make the MAC Championship game. The winner clinches a spot to likely face Ohio. Miami (OH) started the season 1-4 (facing Northwestern, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame) but has rattled off 6 starting conference wins to reach 7-4. Bowling Green started the season 2-4, suffering road losses at Penn State and Texas A&M, each of which were by one possession before their current 5 gamer winning streak, each by multiple scores. In fact, Bowling Green’s four losses are by a combined 26 points, a respectable stretch to open the season factoring in two road games against Top 20 teams. The Falcons have a slight edge in this one. 

Ball State (3-8, 2-5 MAC) at Ohio (8-3, 6-1 MAC)

12:00 PM CBSSN

Ohio enters this game as a win and you’re in for the MAC Championship game as a heavy favorite, with a lone conference blemish to Miami (OH). The Bobcats lean heavily on their ground game, averaging 205.1 yards per game rushing (19th in FBS) and 181.8 yards passing (116th). On defense Ohio gives up the 15th fewest points in the nation (18.5). Ohio suffered two non-conference road losses to Syracuse and Kentucky. Ball State’s defense is one of the worst in the nation, ranking 132 of 134 in points allowed per game.   

Navy (7-3, 5-2 AAC) at East Carolina (7-4, 5-2 AAC)

12:00 PM ESPN

This is a matchup of two teams trending in opposite directions. East Carolina started the season 3-4, dismissing coach Mike Houston. Interim coach Blake Harrell went 4-0 before losing the title of interim earlier this week. Navy started the season 6-0 but has gone 1-3 since, losing 35-0 and 51-14 to nationally ranked Tulane and Notre Dame. Navy would have been a big favorite a month ago but today the teams appear evenly matched.

Mississippi State (2-9, 0-7 SEC) at No. 9 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC)

3:30 PM ABC

The Egg Bowl has produced some memorable moments over the years, including the ending of the 2019 classic. Mississippi State has had a difficult season and enters this game 2-9, with five losses to ranked teams and a home blowout loss to Toledo. The Rebels have lost three games by a combined 13 points but remain in playoff contention if they win, as expected, against the Bulldogs.

Liberty (8-2, 5-2 CUSA) at Sam Houston (8-3, 5-2 CUSA)

3:30 PM CBSSN

Anything short of an undefeated season would have been a disappointment for Liberty. Back to back losses to Kennesaw State, which remains the Owls’s only win as an FBS school, and Jacksonville State make this a must win to reach the Conference USA for a title game rematch against Jackson State.

Utah State (4-7, 3-3 Mountain West) at Colorado State (7-4, 5-1 Mountain West)

3:30 PM FS1

Once in position to reach the Mountain West title game, a loss to Fresno State last week derailed those hopes. Utah State is 3-1 in its last four after starting 1-6.  

Texas State (6-5, 4-3 Sun Belt) at South Alabama (6-5, 5-2 Sun Belt)

3:30 PM ESPN+

Texas State entered the season with high expectations but is longer in contention for a Sun Belt title game appearance after 5 losses by a combined 28 points. South Alabama handed Sun Belt leader Louisiana their second loss of the season two weeks ago but is a longshot to win their division and reach the conference championship game. 

Stanford (3-8) at San Jose State (6-5)

4:00 PM CBS

San Jose State has a chance to claim a late season non conference win against ACC foe Stanford. Spartan senior wide receiver Nick Nash leads the nation in receptions (96) and touchdowns (14) and is second in yards (1,291). Stanford is 1-4 in road games this season, their first in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Georgia Tech (7-4) at No. 7 Georgia (9-2)

7:30 PM ABC

Georgia Tech is a massive underdog in a game that Georgia absolutely needs to win to make the playoff. Georgia will take on the winner of Texas and Texas A&M in the SEC title game next week.

Nebraska (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) at Iowa (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten)

7:30 PM NBC

Nebraska is bowl eligible for the first time in eight years and can clinch a winning season with a win against Iowa. Nebraska raced to a 5-1 start, lost 5 straight, appointed Dana Holgorsen offensive coordinator, and defeated Wisconsin. Iowa ranks a lowly 17th in points allowed and an elite 63rd in points scored behind the nation’s second leading rusher Kaleb Johnson. Nonetheless, Iowa has regressed from a 10-2 regular season and Big Ten title game appearance to 7-4. 

Utah (4-7, 1-7 Big 12) at UCF (4-7, 2-6 Big 12)

8:00 PM FOX

Utah, the Big 12 preseason favorite, has fallen to 4-7, with quarterback Cam Rising missing most of the season again due to injury. For the Knights, close losses have once again derailed what appeared to be a promising season. Losses to Cincinnati, Arizona State, and Iowa State by a combined 13 points. UCF held 4th quarter leads against both the Sun Devils and Cyclones, losing to the Cyclones on a touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining. Flip these results and UCF in the conference title race, as Arizona State and Iowa State are both tied for first.