Top 5 Games Week 12 Breakdown
#15 Nebraska at #19 Michigan
Consider it an elimination game in the race for the Big Ten Legends Division title. Both the Cornhuskers and the Wolverines stand one game behind Michigan State in the standings. To be honest, Michigan can pretty much forget about playing for the conference championship since a Spartan win over lowly Indiana on Saturday would eliminate the Maize-and-Blue. Nebraska is well-versed on how to win on the road in a tense environment after its emotional victory last week at Penn State. The key for the Huskers is keeping explosive Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson in check. Robinson’s sprained right wrist, plus his recent penchant for turning the ball over and Nebraska’s stout run defense, will help. Score: Nebraska 32, Michigan 23
SMU at #9 Houston
Another day, another bevy of records for Case Keenum. The latest in Houston’s history of prolific quarterbacks, Keenum is set to add two more records to his glittering resume – he is seven completions away from the all-time mark and he is one 300-yard game from tying former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang’s record. But Keenum is far from the only story. Sophomore running back Charles Sims takes advantage of the open spaces created by the Cougars’ wide-open passing attack. He ran for a career-high 207 yards in last week’s 73-17 demolition of Tulane. SMU upset a top-25 team last month when it won at TCU, but the Mustangs have been in a tailspin since and they do not figure to find their footing against Keenum’s crew. Score: Houston 55, SMU 36
#5 Oklahoma at #25 Baylor
The Sooners sat on their duffs last Saturday and yet were one of the day’s biggest winners. Losses by Boise State and Stanford elevated Oklahoma back into the national championship picture and now, coming off a bye, the Sooners can improve their position even more with a quality road win at Waco. Going against the high-scoring Bears (No. 1 offense in the Big 12) and do-everything quarterback Robert Griffin, OU will need to be ready to do some serious scoring. But that task was made harder by the season-ending ACL tear suffered by NCAA career receptions leader Ryan Broyles in the Sooners’ last game. Fortunately for Oklahoma, it can fall back on its strong defense, which limited Griffin to 124 passing yards in last year’s 53-24 rout. The Sooners will improve to 21-0 all-time against Baylor. Score: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 30
#21 USC at #4 Oregon
Ahh, the dreaded trap game. Fresh off its humungous win at Stanford, and with bitter rival Oregon State next week in the annual “Civil War” game, Oregon seems primed for a fall, especially given that USC has quietly become one of the scarier teams in the country. So should we be buying stock in Trojan Upset Inc.? Probably not. While USC has improved its run defense this year, it still has an ugly history of trying to stop the Ducks’ LaMichael James. The Heisman Trophy contender and nation’s leading rusher has run for 422 yards and four touchdowns in two meetings with the Trojans. With a postseason game out of the question, the Trojans might view this as a de facto bowl game. Nevertheless, Oregon is fighting for a spot in the biggest bowl game of them all – the BCS National Championship Game – and it does not figure to stumble here. Score: Oregon 37, USC 31
#16 Kansas State at Texas
Tim Tebow is winning games (if not believers) in the NFL, and his clone in the college ranks is enjoying equal success. Kansas State’s Collin Klein was at his dual-threat best in last week’s wild 53-50 four-overtime win over Texas A&M, throwing for a career-high 281 yards while adding 103 yards with his feet and producing six touchdowns. He leads the FBS with 24 rushing scores as he follows the do-whatever-it-takes-to-get-the-job-done template that Tebow created at Florida. Klein gave Texas a big helping of his unorthodox style in last year’s 39-14 K-State win when he ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns. The Longhorns love to keep it on the ground, too (15th in the FBS in rushing), but they might find the going tougher now that Fozzy Whittaker is done for the season with a knee injury. Top rusher Malcolm Brown and backfield mate Joe Bergeron are also nursing injuries and might not be able to play. Adding to the Horns’ woes, receiver Jaxon Shipley has a knee injury and might be sidelined. Add it all up and Klein should be able to carry the Cats to their fourth straight win in the series. Score: Kansas State 30, Texas 27
