NCAAF · 2 hours ago

Ranking the Top 10 Potential Upsets for College Football Week 11

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

10. Utah at Arizona
Utah at Arizona
- Date: November 14 | Time: 7:30 | TV: FOX
- Records: Utah: 9-0 | Arizona: 7-2
- Stadium: Casino Del Sol Stadium | Location: Tucson, AZ
This is a classic dangerous letdown spot for the Utah Utes. After an emotional win in the first-ever top ten Holy War, the Utah Utes have to hit the road to play the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona is incredibly capable, and Noah Fifita is a good quarterback who could test the Utes’ secondary more than Bear Bachmeier did. The Wildcats have scored 29 points or more in six of seven games, with the one exception being 26 in a close loss at Texas Tech.
1. Memphis at South Florida
Memphis at South Florida
- Date: November 12 | Time: 8:00 | TV: ESPN
- AP Rank: NR
- Records: Memphis: 7-2 | USF: 6-3
- Stadium: Raymond James Stadium | Location: Tampa, FL
The Memphis Tigers are 7-2 and coming off a bye week, but they need to be very wary as they try to keep pace with UTSA and North Texas for a shot at the American Athletic Conference Championship. The Tigers, led by quarterback Marcus Stokes, hit the road to take on the South Florida Bulls. Brian Hartline’s Bulls are 6-3, and the offense has generally struggled. In losses, USF scored 13, 24, and 17. The defense has been a strength, though, and they have the athletes required to match up with Memphis’ attack and hand the Tigers a damaging second league loss.
2. Illinois at UCLA
Illinois at UCLA
- Date: November 13 | Time: 9:00 | TV: FOX
- AP Rank: UCLA #8
- Records: UCLA: 9-0 | Illinois: 6-3
- Stadium: Rose Bowl | Location: Pasadena, CA
The UCLA Bruins keep on rolling, and they sit at 9-0 with a perfect 6-0 Big Ten record. The Bruins continue to prove doubters wrong, but they need to be careful this Friday night as they battle the Illinois Fighting Illini. Don’t look now, but Bret Bielema’s squad has won four in a row, and the defense looks remarkably better since firing the defensive coordinator. The four-game winning streak includes wins over Michigan State, Oregon, Maryland and Nebraska. Quarterback Katin Houser is back and knocked some rust off last week. Illinois is playing well and could be a worthy challenge for the unbeaten Bruins.
3. Duke at Miami
Duke at Miami
- Date: November 14 | Time: Noon | TV: ABC
- AP Rank: #1 Miami
- Records: Miami: 8-1 | Duke: 7-2
- Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium | Location: Miami Gardens, FL
It’s a long shot to call Miami to lose a second straight contest, but the Hurricanes have a lot of injuries, and the Duke Blue Devils have been dominant over the past two weeks. In addition, there is no game Duke head coach Manny Diaz wants to win more than this one after his acrimonious departure from Miami before Mario Cristobal took the reins. Nate Sheppard is a special player who should get more attention, and he’s capable of keeping his team in the game in South Beach.
4. Northwestern at Ohio State
Northwestern at Ohio State
- Date: November 14 | Time: Noon | TV: FOX
- Records: Ohio State: 6-3 | NW: 6-3
- Stadium: Ohio Stadium | Location: Columbus, OH
This game looked a whole lot better before last weekend’s results. FOX chose the Northwestern Wildcats visiting the Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big Noon game. Still, Northwestern fell to Iowa with Aiden Chiles out, and Ohio State was beaten soundly at the Horseshoe by the Oregon Ducks, now with three losses. The Buckeyes fired offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and I imagine they’d love to grab Chip Kelly from the opposing sideline. There is hope that Chiles returns this Saturday, while we know Julian Sayin will remain sidelined. If Chiles can play, Northwestern is a dangerous opponent for a defense that currently lacks confidence.
5. Wake Forest at SMU
Wake Forest at SMU
- Date: November 14 | Time: Noon | TV: ESPN
- Records: WF: 8-1 | SMU: 7-2
- Stadium: Gerald Ford Stadium | Location: Dallas, TX
It’s kind of a shame that this contest is buried at noon because Wake Forest deserves some attention. The Demon Deacons are ranked 16^th and sit at 8-1 with recent wins of 41-7 (Cal), 51-7 (Virginia) and 77-0 (Merrimack, so that hardly counts). Jake Dickert is a fantastic coach, and Gio Lopez has his offense humming. The winner of this game becomes the very heavy favorite to square off with Miami in the ACC Championship Game, and SMU just beat Virginia Tech 51-28. Both teams have a lot of firepower; Wake’s defense seems more trustworthy, but the favored Demon Deacons have to travel to Dallas to take on the Mustangs.
6. Tennessee at Texas A&M
Tennessee at Texas A&M
- Date: November 14 | Time: 3:00 | TV: ESPN
- Records: Tennessee: 7-2 | Texas A&M: 4-5
- Stadium: Kyle Field | Location: College Station, TX
How have most teams fared this season after winning big games? What has occurred when they’ve been asked to summon the same energy and fire two weeks in a row? For those that have not been paying close attention, the answer has generally been that they have fared poorly. Tennessee faces that task again as they travel to College Station, fresh off a beatdown of Kentucky. The Aggies battled South Carolina, and while the offense has struggled, Texas A&M’s players have not let go of the rope yet. They are still battling and playing hard for Mike Elko. A top-ten team invading College Station needs to be on alert, even if Texas A&M has been incredibly disappointing.
7. USC at Indiana
USC at Indiana
- Date: November 14 | Time: 3:30 | TV: CBS
- Records: Indiana: 8-1 | USC: 7-2
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium | Location: Bloomington, IN
Indiana keeps escaping and finding ways to win, but the Hoosiers, by pretty much any metric measuring offense or special teams, are struggling. The quarterback position is a major question mark; they cannot effectively run to the right side, and every facet of special teams (beyond kickoffs) has been subpar. How much can a bye week really fix? That’s what we’ll find out as Indiana now hosts the USC Trojans. While Lincoln Riley’s teams have been poor on the road, his squad will be desperate to get a signature win, and it’s very possible they can snag it in Bloomington.
8. Ole Miss at Oklahoma
Ole Miss at Oklahoma
- Date: November 14 | Time: 4:15 | TV: SEC Network
- Records: Ole Miss: 6-3 | Oklahoma: 5-4
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium | Location: Norman, OK
The Ole Miss Rebels’ season is now on life support after getting squashed at home by the Georgia Bulldogs. Their signature win of the season was over an LSU squad that now has three losses, and both sides of the ball were overwhelmed by the Bulldogs. They now travel to Norman as favorites to play another stiff defense. Oklahoma was impressive last weekend with a big road win over Florida, and the offense looked a bit better without fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
9. Florida at Kentucky
Florida at Kentucky
- Date: November 14 | Time: 6:15 | TV: ESPN
- Records: Florida: 5-4 | Kentucky: 7-2
- Stadium: Kroger Field | Location: Lexington, KY
How do Will Stein and the Kentucky Wildcats get off the mat? UK was humbled at Neyland Stadium by the Tennessee Volunteers, extending an ignominious streak of ineptitude in Knoxville. They now return home and play another team they’ve historically struggled against as the Florida Gators come to town. The Gators are reeling, and the offense looks broken, but Kentucky is wounded, and this is one to keep an eye on.
10. Utah at Arizona
Utah at Arizona
- Date: November 14 | Time: 7:30 | TV: FOX
- Records: Utah: 9-0 | Arizona: 7-2
- Stadium: Casino Del Sol Stadium | Location: Tucson, AZ
This is a classic dangerous letdown spot for the Utah Utes. After an emotional win in the first-ever top ten Holy War, the Utah Utes have to hit the road to play the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona is incredibly capable, and Noah Fifita is a good quarterback who could test the Utes’ secondary more than Bear Bachmeier did. The Wildcats have scored 29 points or more in six of seven games, with the one exception being 26 in a close loss at Texas Tech.
1. Memphis at South Florida
Memphis at South Florida
- Date: November 12 | Time: 8:00 | TV: ESPN
- AP Rank: NR
- Records: Memphis: 7-2 | USF: 6-3
- Stadium: Raymond James Stadium | Location: Tampa, FL
The Memphis Tigers are 7-2 and coming off a bye week, but they need to be very wary as they try to keep pace with UTSA and North Texas for a shot at the American Athletic Conference Championship. The Tigers, led by quarterback Marcus Stokes, hit the road to take on the South Florida Bulls. Brian Hartline’s Bulls are 6-3, and the offense has generally struggled. In losses, USF scored 13, 24, and 17. The defense has been a strength, though, and they have the athletes required to match up with Memphis’ attack and hand the Tigers a damaging second league loss.