Allen Bored
Check Sports on Your Television for the full national schedule.
Week 11 Featured Games
Thursday
#3 Oregon at #5 Stanford, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN
Spread: Oregon -10
Announcers: Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, David Pollack
All-Time Series: Stanford leads 42-30-1
Last Meeting: 11/17/2012 Stanford 17, Oregon 14
Reason to Watch: Without even looking it up this has to be the first Thursday night ever with two top 10 games but I can only feature one game it will be the top 5 game and the one with probably the bigger BCS implications long term. The only time Oregon has been held to under 20 points since 2011 was last year against Stanford which was also their only loss in their last 25 games. Stanford has essentially the same defense as they did last year although they’ve now lost standout defensive end Ben Gardner for the season to a torn pectoral muscle. Oregon is still Oregon on offense but they now also have a very good defense to against a sputtering Stanford offense. If Stanford is to win this game they pretty much need an exact replica of last year’s game. If not this game could get out of hand around halftime.
Back Up Game: #10 Oklahoma at #6 Baylor, 7:30/4:30 PM, FOXS1
Friday
#20 Louisville at Connecticut, 8:30/5:30 PM, ESPN2
Spread: Louisville -27.5
Announcers: Carter Blackman, Danny Kannell
All-Time Series: Louisville leads 5-4
Last Meeting: 11/24/2012 Connecticut 23, Louisville 20
Reason to Watch: Couldn’t we have moved either the Oregon/Stanford or Oklahoma/Baylor game to Friday instead of being subjected to this? If Louisville runs the table they have a good shot of finishing in the top 14 of the BCS which would make them eligible for an at large bid but they have no shot of actually getting invited to a BCS game. Their hopes rest on UCF losing two games and winning the AAC outright. As for this game, watch Teddy Bridgewater play but somehow try to not watch UConn attempt to play football. Maybe watch the game with one eye open.
Back Up Game: Air Force at New Mexico, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPNU
Early Saturday
#9 Auburn at Tennessee, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPN
Spread: Auburn -7
Announcers: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese
All-Time Series: Auburn leads 26-21-3
Last Meeting: 10/3/2009 Auburn 26, Tennessee 22
Reason to Watch: Since the SEC split into two divisions back in 1992 these two schools have only played each other eight times with two of those games coming in the SEC Championship. Partly because of that Tennessee hasn’t beaten Auburn this century and that probably won’t change this year. Auburn has been one of the biggest surprises in the country and absolutely no one thought they’d be a Top 10 team. Including quarterback Nick Marshall, they have four players with 450+ rushing yards this year. Tennessee is 4-5 but they have played an insanely tough schedule and this will be their fifth straight ranked opponent. Note that Kansas State/Texas Tech is the best game in the early timeslot but its regional coverage only on ABC so didn’t list it as the featured game. If the game is televised in your area I give you permission to watch it instead of Auburn/Tennessee.
Back Up Game: Penn State at Minnesota, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPN2
Mid-day Saturday
BYU at #24 Wisconsin, 3:30/12:30 PM, ESPN
Spread: Wisconsin -7.5
Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Rod Gilmore
All-Time Series: BYU leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 9/20/1980 BYU 28, Wisconsin 3
Reason to Watch: It’s an odd match-up like this between two good teams that would almost make me prefer that more schools were independents. You don’t see too many non-conference games like this in November anymore that aren’t a rivalry game or an SEC body bag game. This game also features two fan bases that are on opposite ends of the alcohol consumption spectrum. Wisconsin has a good shot at running the table and putting themselves in position for a BCS at-large bid but they currently are getting no love at all in the BCS rankings. Last week they beat a decent Iowa team on the road but they didn’t budge from their #24 ranking and were jumped by Notre Dame who barely survived at home against Navy. The drawback of being an independent like BYU is short of getting a BCS bid your bowl destination is locked in. They already know they’ll be fighting hunger in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in late December.
Back Up Game: Nebraska at Michigan, 3:30/12:30 PM, ABC
Primetime Saturday
#13 LSU at #1 Alabama, 8:00/5:00 PM, CBS
Spread: Alabama -13
Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson
All-Time Series: Alabama leads 46-24-5
Last Meeting: 11/3/2012 Alabama 21, LSU 17
Reason to Watch: Given the gravitas of this game the last few years it almost seems to be overlooked this time around due to the Thursday night slate. There’s also a sense that unlike their recent meetings this game has the potential to be a blowout. Over their last six games Alabama has outscored their opponents by a combined 200 points. 200. In six games. Nick Saban is a serial killer. No not in terms of Alabama’s domination, just that he probably has killed several people. LSU has two losses, both coming on the road by a field goal. This has been a bizarre year for them as it’s been a very good offense that is carrying a mediocre defense. But Les Miles is at his most dangerous when you think LSU can’t win.
Back Up Game: Houston at #21 UCF, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN2
Late Night Saturday
#19 UCLA at Arizona, 10:00/7:00 PM, ESPN
Spread: UCLA -1
Announcers: Joe Tessitore, Matt Millen
All-Time Series: UCLA leads 20-14-1
Last Meeting: 11/3/2012 UCLA 66, Arizona 10
Reason to Watch: This has the potential to be the most entertaining game on Saturday. Against teams not named Oregon and Stanford, UCLA is averaging just over 45 points a game. They still technically have Rose Bowl hopes as they can win the Pac-12 South if they run the table. Really though the South champion have only faintest of chances of winning the title game. Arizona has very quietly put together a 6-2 record but the reason why no one has really noticed is that they haven’t beaten anyone of note, although they did beat Utah (sad trombone sound for Stanford).
Back Up Game: San Diego State at San Jose State, 10:30/7:30 PM, ESPNU
Week 11 Game Rankings
1. Oregon at Stanford (Thur.)
2. LSU at Alabama
3. Oklahoma at Baylor (Thur.)
4. BYU at Wisconsin
5. UCLA at Arizona
6. Kansas State at Texas Tech
7. Nebraska at Michigan
8. Houston at UCF
9. Vanderbilt at Florida
10. Arizona State at Utah
11. Auburn at Tennessee
12. Virginia Tech at Miami
13. Penn State at Minnesota
14. Mississippi State at Texas A&M
15. Texas at West Virginia
16. Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
17. Arkansas at Mississippi
18. Syracuse at Maryland
19. Illinois at Indiana
20. Florida State at Wake Forest
21. Missouri at Kentucky
22. Colorado at Washington
23. TCU at Iowa State
24. N.C. State at Duke
25. Virginia at North Carolina
26. SMU at Cincinnati
27. USC at California
28. Utah State at UNLV
29. San Diego State at San Jose State
30. Tulane at UTSA
31. Kansas at Oklahoma State
32. Nevada at Colorado State
33. Iowa at Purdue
34. Fresno State at Wyoming
35. Arkansas State at Louisiana-Monroe
36. Tulsa at East Carolina
37. Troy at Louisiana-Lafayette (Thur.)
38. Western Kentucky at Army
39. Hawaii at Navy
40. Air Force at New Mexico (Fri.)
41. UAB at Marshall
42. Louisville at Connecticut (Fri.)
43. UTEP at North Texas
44. Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
45. FIU at Middle Tennessee
46. Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech
47. Boston College at New Mexico State
