Week 11 of the college football season does not offer the same lineup of ranked versus ranked matchups as Week 10, but the schedule is still filled with tricky tests for College Football Playoff hopefuls and national championship contenders. With parity across the sport as strong as ever, potential upsets loom everywhere.
The featured game on Saturday is a Big Ten showdown on CBS, with Indiana hosting USC. The Hoosiers, 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play, have escaped with close wins all season and have lost only once. They now face a 7-2 USC team that knocked off Ohio State before taking a bye in Week 10.
The stakes are significant for both sides. Another marquee victory would send USC's playoff odds soaring, while Indiana's case for inclusion would look considerably weaker. The Hoosiers' best win so far is over either Northwestern or Nebraska, and only mediocre Washington and Purdue remain on their schedule after this week. Lines for Week 11 are out, and here is how oddsmakers see the biggest games, with odds via SportsLine consensus.
Georgia is a 14-point favorite at home against Missouri. The Bulldogs are the last SEC team with fewer than two losses in league play, putting them in the driver's seat to reach the SEC Championship Game, and they are the clear national title favorites at plus-240 at FanDuel after dismantling Ole Miss 42-7 in Week 10. It is worth noting, however, that an AP top-two team has lost in five consecutive weeks. Missouri arrives after some bad breaks in a 34-20 loss to Texas, though the Tigers looked like an even match for the Longhorns and have been strong in stretches this season.
LSU is a 4-point favorite against visiting Texas. The three-loss Tigers may not be completely out of the playoff picture, since back-to-back wins over Texas and Tennessee, the latter on the road, followed by a finale at struggling Arkansas could revive their hopes. LSU still rates well in predictive metrics and has two major resume-building opportunities over the next two weeks.
Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite over USC. Five of the Hoosiers' six Big Ten games have been decided by one possession. The Trojans are riding high after their Week 9 home win over Ohio State but must now prove they can beat an elite opponent on the road following cross-country travel. A victory would dramatically brighten the outlook for Trojans coach Lincoln Riley and leave Indiana's playoff resume in tatters, though betting against Indiana coach Curt Cignetti at home after a bye has rarely been wise.
Utah is a 2.5-point favorite at Arizona in a spot that looks ripe for chaos. The Utes, one of just two unbeaten teams left in the FBS, are coming off an emotional rivalry win and must travel to face a capable Wildcats squad. Arizona got an extra day of rest after a Friday night win over TCU in Week 10 and is eager to prove it belongs among the Big 12's elite after earlier losses to BYU and Texas Tech.
UCLA is an 8.5-point favorite at home against Illinois as the Bruins aim to reach 10-0 under first-year coach Bob Chesney. Standing in the way is a surging Illinois team that has won four straight Big Ten games after a 2-3 start, a remarkable turnaround for coach Bret Bielema's club, which already owns 11-point wins over Oregon and Nebraska.
Miami is a 14.5-point favorite against Duke, one week after the emotional letdown of a big comeback that ended in defeat at Notre Dame. The Blue Devils have outscored their last two ACC opponents 88-5 as running back Nate Sheppard continues to tear through the league. Miami's pass defense is typically more vulnerable than its run defense, and the Hurricanes cannot afford a letdown after a high-intensity trip to face the Fighting Irish.
Among the other notable Week 11 lines: Wake Forest is a 2.5-point favorite at SMU, Ohio State is favored by 10.5 against Northwestern, Alabama by 19.5 at Vanderbilt, Oregon by 10.5 against Michigan, Notre Dame by 30.5 against Boston College, Boise State by 10 against Oregon State, South Carolina by 7.5 at Arkansas, Tennessee by 2.5 at Texas A&M, Iowa by 16.5 against Purdue, Kentucky by 3.5 against Florida, Ole Miss by 2.5 at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State by 3 against Texas Tech, and Houston by 10.5 at Colorado.
