Week 12 Upset Alert

After the impressive slate of games last week, college football slides back into a down week of scheduling. However, there are still multiple intriguing games where upsets could be lurking.

Washington @ #13 UCLA
After a string of tough losses, the Huskies seem to be the forgotten team in the Pac12.  On the flip side, the 2 loss UCLA team is still hoping for an outside shot at a BCS bowl.  This could be a roller coaster type game from two dynamic quarterbacks that are turnover prone. The Bruins have more to play for and are at home in this one, but Washington is a very good team with the pieces to win on the road. Look for Sankey to have a good day on the ground, which will shorten the game in the Huskies favor.  However, I think Price will make more mistakes than Hundley on the road which should allow the home team to escape with a close win.

#12 Oklahoma State @ #24 Texas
This is a very intriguing game. The Longhorns are still undefeated in Big 12 play, but Ok State is the overwhelming league favorite. Texas’ defense looked to be one of the worst in the country after two straight non-conference losses, but since then the unit has been upgraded to just bad. The Cowboys offense has not been as high powered as most expected before the season, but it still has enough weapons to rack up a lot of points on Texas. Since this game is played in Austin, I expect the Longhorns to keep the game close all the way through, but it will take multiple turnovers for Oklahoma State to not be able to outscore Texas.

#25 Georgia @ #7 Auburn
Yes, I continue to have Auburn on upset alert. Yes, I have seen what they have done each week when I have put them on upset alert. And yes, I am finally starting to buy into the Tigers. Before the season I thought that Georgia would be the only team able to compete with Alabama, and potentially keep them out of the National Championship Game. Then the injury bug hit, and hit hard. The Bulldogs still haven’t recovered fully.  They still have Aaron Murray, which keeps the upset hope alive.  I am not sold on Auburn’s defense, and a team that doesn’t turn the ball over should be able to score points. Tennessee was moving the ball well, but then coughed the ball up too many times (and couldn’t tackle on special teams). The young Bulldog defense will be tested in this game, as the Tigers will look to continue their dominating run offense. I have bought into the Auburn offense, and think both Marshall and Mason have big games Saturday afternoon.  However the defense leaves little to be desired, but I don’t think Murray has enough weapons around him to continue to score with Auburn.  The Tigers will likely pull away late in the 3^rd quarter, and win a high scoring game.

#4 Stanford @ USC
This game might seem like a long shot after Stanford imposed its will on Oregon for 45 minutes, and then let off the gas for one of college football’s most impressive wins of the season.  The Cardinal already fell in one trap game this year, so it is highly doubtful they stumble again.  USC has been playing much better since Lane Kiffin was fired, and still could win the Pac 12 South.  Stanford looks like the dominant team most expected in the preseason, and I don’t think they will lose again this year.  USC hangs with the Cardinal behind a big half from Silas Redd and Marqueise Lee, but Stanford’s ground and pound offense just wears down the Trojans depth-affected defense.