Triple Option

By Michael Maynard

Published 11/7/19 @6:30 PM CT

This is the week that everything has built up to in college football. The much anticipated SEC West showdown will feature #2 vs. #3, while one other unbeaten will for sure be taken down in the Big Ten. Those two games are the headliners, but there are many more interesting matchups and important games in shaping conference standings, and Bowl-eligibility, and there’s also a very lovable board in second weekend in November. I’ll touch on as many games as I can.

Weekday Slate

Writing a little too late to cover the MACtion, but there are two games tonight and two tomorrow, none with incredible significance. Louisiana is getting two touchdowns in Conway. Coastal has been improved, and the matchup with Monroe is probably a play-in for the Arizona Bowl. However, Louisiana-Lafayette has been really good. With a win tonight, they probably win ten games in 2019, a nice accomplishment in Billy Napier’s second season.

Meanwhile, Temple-USF has been been a pendulum in the spread. Temple was a short favorite but late money on USF moved it to a pickem. USF has a tough stretch to end the season. They looked awful for the first month of the season, but has picked it up of late–enough where they can be considered even in a matchup vs. Temple.

Tulsa will not be going bowling for a third consecutive year, but they have been competitive, and as a home dog should be motivated to play UCF, who is still the AAC superpower it has been. A down year in Orlando is finishing with a loss, and UCF is two close losses in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati away from that same status. Those were games they found ways to win last year. Nonetheless, the road beatdown of Temple show the team is still motivated, and 10-2 feels probable if they can avoid a letdown in Tulsa, likely meaning a Birmingham or Independence Bowl berth.

But the game of the day Friday is in Corvallis. Never thought I would be saying that until baseball season, but Oregon State has taken some steps forward after a prolonged period the Pac 12 basement. With three conference wins, the Beavers only need to split their remaining games to finish not only with a bowl game but a winning record in the Pac 12.

Washington has been a major disappointment, at least in terms of their peak in the last three years–Playoff, Fiesta, Rose. Now with four conference losses-including two in a row, the Huskies face a tough spot on the road where they are more talented, but the other team is hot. -10 feels appropriate for the spread, because Washington could dominate up front and make this a blowout early. However, if Oregon State hangs around, both teams could continue their current two-game streaks.

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