Well folks, here we are again. As the end continues to creep closer and closer for college football fans, the stakes get higher every game. While some teams look to impress playoff selectors, others look to avoid falling back into losing habits.
As always, the Northern Star Sports staff made stake-less predictions for five games set to take place in Weeks 12 and 13.
South Florida @ Navy
11 a.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 15 | ESPN2
Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor (31-24): South Florida — Both teams are 7-2, but not all wins are created equal.
Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter (37-18): South Florida — Friendship ended with Parker Navarro, now Byrum Brown is my best friend.
Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter (36-19): South Florida — As much as I respect the Navy and all branches of the American military, there is no way the Midshipmen stand a chance against South Florida.
Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter (26-29): South Florida — Both of these teams are currently 7-2, but South Florida has taken down better teams. The Bulls will remain offensively dominant, and the Midshipmen will 8-2 see it.
Eric Avila, Sports Reporter (32-23): South Florida — My cousin Ramon let me down last time. Also Flo Rida is from Florida, “Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle baby.”
Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter (31-24): South Florida — Unfortunately for Eric’s cousin Ramon, the Bulls have had the more impressive offense all season, so I have South Florida winning this matchup.
Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter (28-22): South Florida — They’re just better, they may have fallen off the top 25 multiple times but they’ll come back strong!
Lily Camargo, Sports Reporter (13-7): South Florida – I have a cousin who lives in Florida, and she is the reason South Florida will win, give me the Bulls!
No. 10 Texas @ No. 5 Georgia
6:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 15 | ABC
Schaefer: Texas — I grew up rooting for Peyton Manning, which may be clouding my judgement here, but I have to root for the Mannings, despite what Segreti says in his pick down there.
Kisellus: Georgia — My boss tried waking me up at 6:20 a.m. on a Saturday because she had a dream about college football picks, so I’m feeling petty. I need the Longhorns to lose by 20 and Arch Manning to ugly cry while Georgia fans bark at him.
Segreti: Georgia — Texas has fraud written all over them, they have crumbled to pieces every time they’ve played a team that wasn’t completely inept at the game of football. Also, Arch Manning is riding his uncle’s coat tails and is throwing 2+ interceptions in this game.
Valenti: Georgia — Both of these teams are good, and they’re both on winning streaks. I’m picking Georgia literally only because they have one more win this season.
Avila: Georgia — My cousin Oscar is from Georgia, and since my cousin Ramon let me down with Navy last week, and I think Oscar will give me a better chance, let’s go Bulldogs!
Whittington: Georgia — The Bulldogs have a way better ground game than the Longhorns, with a relatively similar passing attack. Georgia should have an advantage in this game.
Naranjo: Georgia — They’re just the better team.
Camargo: Texas — Georgia is favored for this match up, but Texas has a shot to win so give me Longhorns.
Kennesaw State @ Jacksonville State
7 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 15 | ESPNU
Schaefer: Kennesaw State — I know absolutely nothing about either of these teams so I just picked one!
Kisellus: Kennesaw State — This program was simply unstoppable that last time I played Road to Glory in “College Football 25,” so surely that applies to real life. Also, it’d be funny to bury Segreti with a Kennesaw State pick, of all things.
Segreti: Jacksonville State — I don’t have much concrete reasoning behind this pick, but I’m going to go with Jacksonville just because Skyler picked Kennesaw State, so if I’m right, I can gain a game back on him in the overall standings.
Valenti: Jacksonville State — I’ve been told this is a 50/50, so I just picked one.
Avila: Jacksonville State — I know Kennesaw State has been great this season but I only have one thing to say, “I’m sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real. Never meant to make your daughter cry I apologized a trillion times, I’m sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real. Never meant to make your daughter cry. I apologized a trillion times.”
Whittington: Jacksonville State — The Gamecocks have not lost at home all season and I expect that to continue. Give me Jacksonville State.
Boise State @ San Diego State
9:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 15 | CBS Sports Network
Schaefer: San Diego State — Last week’s 6 points against Hawai’i was an anomaly for the San Diego State offense, and now they have a chip on their shoulder. Give me the Aztecs.
Kisellus: San Diego State — Maddux Madsen is still out for Boise State, and the backup QB made most of us look like schmucks two weeks ago. Yeah, I’m not falling for that one again.
Segreti: San Diego State — Despite getting absolutely embarrassed last week, I still have much faith in the Aztecs. Plus, they beat NIU this season, which is something Boise cannot say.
Valenti: San Diego State — The Aztecs let me down last week, but I’m pretending that didn’t happen!
Avila: San Diego State — Rey Mysterio is from San Diego, and that is my reason for the week!
Whittington: San Diego State — Only one of these teams beat the elite NIU Huskies. If that’s not enough, Boise has lost 9 of its last 10 games as an underdog, so give me the Aztecs.
Western Michigan @ NIU
6 p.m. CT | Tuesday, Nov. 18 | TBD
Schaefer: Western Michigan — As much fun as I had watching UMass set off fireworks for a field goal, I fear that’s going to be the Huskies against the conference leaders.
Kisellus: Western Michigan — Unlike NIU’s last opponent, Western Michigan isn’t a team that has to shoot off pity fireworks. But if Jalen “The Maconator” Macon can repeat his scoring performance against the Broncos, I certainly wouldn’t complain.
Segreti: Western Michigan — Last week was fun for NIU, but the fun is going to stop when Western Michigan rolls into town and stomps the Huskies on their home turf. Hopefully I’m wrong on this one, but the Broncos have been one of the more formidable teams in the MAC this season.
Valenti: Western Michigan — NIU beat UMass last week, but Western Michigan will quickly rain on that parade.
Avila: Western Michigan — Well ladies and gentlemen, I think NIU has about as much of a chance as I do at this point. They keep trying and trying but they get nothing. We disregard last week because it was UMass. My pick for this week is the Broncos.
Whittington: Western Michigan — I don’t think I need to give a reasoning for this pick.
