4 College Football Games to Watch That Aren’t Penn State: Week 11

(#2)LSU at (#3)Alabama
3:30 p.m., ABC

Here we go, the latest Game of the Century. This time around deserves much of the hype though, as a top three regular season match-up is a rare occurrence.

This game will end up impacting the SEC Championship, playoff spots, and the Heisman. The quarterback dual features two of the top candidates in Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa entered the season as a top candidate, no one could envision Burrow making the staggering leap as a senior. Burrow has arguably been the nation’s best player after two months of the season, completing 78.8 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns already to just four interceptions. Burrow has been outstanding in each game this season, but can he continue to play at a high level against a Tide defense stocked with NFL talent?
Prediction: LSU-31, Alabama-28

(#18)Iowa at (#13)Wisconsin
4 p.m., FOX

Depending how Minnesota holds up against the most difficult portion of the schedule, this game could very well determine the Big Ten West. Both teams currently have two losses in Big Ten play, and will get a shot at Minnesota to make up further ground later this month. The Badgers are in a bit of a free fall, coming in with consecutive losses- a shocking upset at the hands of Illinois, followed by a blowout loss the to Buckeyes. However, the Badgers were off last week while Iowa was busy shutting out Northwestern, 20-0. This should be a classic Big Ten game in frigid conditions with plenty on the line - one of those games just made to enjoy from the comfort of your couch while ignoring the falling leaves and snow outside.
Prediction: Iowa- 23, Wisconsin-20

(#19) Wake Forest at Virginia Tech
3:30 p.m. ACC Network

While it may be mostly due to the ACC schedule, Wake Forest has been one of the more pleasant surprises of the season. The only thing that separates Demon Deacons from an unbeaten record is a 62-59 loss to Louisville (guess I should have included that game on this list a few weeks back??). Virginia Tech is coming off a last-second loss to Notre Dame and the difference in this game will be if they come out determined or defeated. A Wake Forest win would set the stage for a huge game with undefeated Clemson next Saturday.
Prediction: Wake Forest-28, Virginia Tech-27

Appalachian State at South Carolina
7 p.m., ESPN

This would be a more high-profile game had Appalachian State not suffered its first loss of the season last week to Georgia Southern. The Mountaineers are looking to continue an impressive upward trajectory since moving to FCS, and a road win in SEC territory would definitely help that cause. While South Carolina currently has a losing record, they also have one of the best wins of the college football season by taking down Georgia on the road. While the prime time schedule is anticlimatic following a huge day of college football, this should be a hard-fought, entertaining game that goes down to the wire.
Prediction: South Carolina-20, Appalachian State-17