Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET
Odds: Texas (-1) / Over Under 56.5
A matchup to get your black Friday going like no other. Iowa State is on the brink of clinching a spot in the Big 12 championship for the first time in program history with a win. Texas has to have a win to stay alive for their opportunity in the championship game.
Both of these teams come in averaging 437 yards of offense. They both have incredibly balanced offenses and put up a lot of points. This is nothing out of the ordinary for any Big 12 matchup. This could be on of those games where whoever has the last possession will win the game.
Iowa State will have an advantage on the defensive side of the ball. The Cyclones are one of the better defensive teams in this offensive heavy conference. Texas has struggled on that side of the ball giving up an average of 401 yards a game.
The Cyclones will rely on their beyond balanced offense to have the Longhorns guessing all game. Quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall will rely on each other all game to get the other one going just as they have all season.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger is the leading rusher for the Longhorns, and he will have to keep up that pace for this matchup. Outside of Oklahoma State's Chubba Howard the Cyclones haven't let an opposing running back run for over 50 yards in any game this season. It would be easy to assume that Texas will be pass heavy during Friday's matchup, but they will need to be able to have some ground game against this defense in any way they can.
Prediction
This is going to be a high scoring affair, there is no reason it wouldn't be. Despite the Cyclones better defense Tom Herman and Texas know how to put up points. Iowa State will be able to put up more though. The Longhorns will not be able to slow down this ultra balanced offensive attack the Cyclones have been riding on all season.
For the Cyclones, this is one of the biggest games in school history with what is in front of them. A chance to be in the Big 12 championship and a shot to beat Oklahoma two times this year. Texas is poised to fail in this situation because that's all they do, it comes with the territory. This Iowa State team is poised and ready and I like them by a score or two.
Iowa State 42
Texas 31
Iowa State (+1)
Over 56.5
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
Odds: Notre Dame (-6) / Over Under 69.5
This is going to be a good one. Notre Dame is coming into Chapel Hill as the #2 in the country in their one year pit stop in the ACC. North Carolina could probably have top 10 ranking if it wasn't for their horrid lose to Florida State earlier this season. The Irish have the top defense in the conference, while the Tar Heels have the top offense. It's another best versus best matchup.
Notre Dame is no slouch on offense though. The Fighting Irish are actually tied in rushing yard with the Tar Heels averaging 233.5 yards a game, good enough for 14th in the country and second in the ACC behind Virginia Tech.
North Carolina has the edge in the passing game though, which is where they are going to have to get the majority of their yards in this game. Notre Dame is giving up less than 100 yards a game on the ground behind their stout defensive line.
The big problem in this game is that North Carolina gives up a lot on the defensive side of the ball. The Tar Heels are allowing over 30 points a game and around 413 total yards. The Tar Heels have been in a lot of shootouts this year in which they have been able to win, but Notre Dame is far better than any other team they have faced this year.
Prediction
This is very tough, I am a big fan of North Carolina and a huge hater of Notre Dame. A lot of people are betting on North Carolina based on their offense being able to keep up all game, but I just don't know about that. I think Notre Dame is on pace to score maybe 50 points in this game, and while North Carolina has the quarterback and weapons too as well, I just think the Fighting Irish have a good enough defense to limit them.
I have to go with Notre Dame (-6) here even though it pains me to do it. The Irish are legit this year and have dominated the ACC and have every aspect of a championship team. North Carolina just doesn't have enough.
Notre Dame 52
North Carolina 35
Notre Dame (-6)
Over 69.5
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