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Predictions for top 10 college games of Week 12
Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be the epicenter Saturday for all those fans that are fixated on the drama surrounding which four teams will populate the first-ever College Football Playoff field. The loser of Mississippi State-Alabama could be be eliminated from playoff contention, while the winner will have an inside track toward history.
Elsewhere around this great nation, two intriguing Big Ten matchups will be the talk of America's heartland, and Florida State and Miami are set to renew their once-great rivalry.
CFB 24/7 experts Gil Brandt, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Bryan Fischer, Chase Goodbread and Mike Huguenin have provided their predictions for each game.
Season records entering Week 12:
Huguenin: 79-31
Goodbread: 78-32
Brooks: 77-33
Fischer: 75-35
Brandt: 74-36
Jeremiah: 74-36

Details: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
The skinny: The Aggies got back on the right track last week with a road win at Auburn with a new starting quarterback in Kyle Allen, a freshman. Up front, Texas A&M has had to shuffle some things to cover for an injury, moving tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (above) from the left side to the right. Ogbuehi, whose NFL draft stock is apparently slipping, could help himself with a big performance against Missouri defensive ends Shane Ray (above) and Markus Golden. Missouri will be without one of the SEC's better young cornerbacks in Aarion Penton, who has been suspended indefinitely.
Game picks:
Brandt: Texas A&M, 26-23
Brooks: Missouri, 35-32
Jeremiah: Texas A&M, 31-28
Fischer: Texas A&M, 38-35
Goodbread: Texas A&M, 30-24
Huguenin: Texas A&M, 28-23

Details: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The skinny: This is a winnable game for Arkansas, despite the fact that LSU enters with a more impressive season to its credit. It will definitely be a slugfest in the trenches, where both teams emphasize power rushing and, in turn, stopping the run on defense. LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins (above) is one of the SEC's top linemen, and he'll have an outstanding battle with Razorbacks pass rusher Trey Flowers (above). Arkansas LB Martrell Spaight is one of the league's more underrated players, and will be tasked with slowing down LSU's freshman rusher, Leonard Fournette. Arkansas counters with the potent rushing duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Eight of the last nine games in this series have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Game picks:
Brandt: Arkansas, 21-17
Brooks: LSU, 20-17
Jeremiah: LSU, 21-17
Fischer: Arkansas, 24-21
Goodbread: LSU, 20-13
Huguenin: LSU, 21-17

Details: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
The skinny: We'll figure out what happens when teams with lackluster offenses and stout defenses square off as the Utes try to reverse their recent slide with a road win on The Farm. Running back Devontae Booker (above) has been terrific the past few weeks running between the tackles and as a receiving threat but will have a tough task to gain yards on an attacking front seven led by defensive tackle Henry Anderson (above) and Co.
Game picks:
Brandt: Stanford, 24-14
Brooks: Stanford, 24-21
Jeremiah: Stanford, 28-24
Fischer: Stanford, 24-23
Goodbread: Stanford, 21-17
Huguenin: Stanford, 17-13

Details: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX
The skinny: "Running backer" Shaq Thompson (above) is back to starting on defense for the Huskies, and with good reason, as they get set to face an explosive Arizona offense. Quarterback Anu Solomon (above) has a variety of weapons at his disposal, from a number of talented receivers to a two-headed monster at tailback. Don't sleep on the Wildcats' defense either, as linebacker Scooby Wright will no doubt be disruptive in the Washington backfield. The home team has won six straight in this series.
Game picks:
Brandt: Arizona, 34-20
Brooks: Arizona, 30-24
Jeremiah: Arizona, 31-24
Fischer: Arizona, 38-27
Goodbread: Arizona, 35-24
Huguenin: Arizona, 34-24

Details: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, ABC
The skinny: Ohio State redshirt freshman QB J.T. Barrett (above) is coming off a splendid game against Michigan State in which he accounted for 386 yards and five TDs. Ohio State is at least on the periphery of the playoff discussion and can't afford to stub its toe against Minnesota; the Buckeyes lead the series 42-7 and have lost to the Gophers only once since 1981 (having won the last 12 by an average of 17 points). The Golden Gophers need a big game from TB David Cobb (above) and also need to control the clock. Talented sophomore TE Maxx Williams is a useful -- if underutilized -- weapon for Minnesota.
Game picks:
Brandt: Ohio State, 38-20
Brooks: Ohio State, 35-30
Jeremiah: Ohio State, 45-27
Fischer: Ohio State, 48-28
Goodbread: Ohio State, 45-17
Huguenin: Ohio State, 38-21

Details: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: If Florida State makes the playoff, Clemson is in excellent shape for an Orange Bowl berth -- assuming the Tigers win out. Clemson's Vic Beasley (above) is one of the best defensive ends in the nation, but it's his run-stopping skills that need to come to the fore against Tech's triple-option attack. Clemson LB Stephone Anthony also should be busy. Tech is third nationally in rushing offense (335.6 yards per game), and senior G Shaquille Mason is the key guy up front. QB Justin Thomas (above) has good speed and has done a nice job running the Jackets' offense in his first season as the starter.
Game picks:
Brandt: Clemson, 31-24
Brooks: Georgia Tech, 31-30
Jeremiah: Georgia Tech, 28-21
Fischer: Clemson, 37-31
Goodbread: Georgia Tech, 35-28
Huguenin: Clemson, 27-24

Details: Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: Bulldogs star Todd Gurley (above) makes his return after a four-game suspension, but he might be too late to put Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Though the Bulldogs need help to get there, their push has to begin with a win over Auburn. Auburn's defense has been spotty at best, and Cassanova McKinzy (above) will play a key role in trying to slow Gurley in his first game in more than a month. Georgia's defense, meanwhile, could struggle with Auburn's dynamic read-option rushing attack, led by Nick Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne, who is emerging as an intriguing NFL prospect. Other key NFL prospects to watch include Auburn's Sammie Coates and Reese Dismukes, and Georgia's Leonard Floyd and Damian Swann.
Game picks:
Brandt: Georgia, 41-37
Brooks: Auburn, 34-33
Jeremiah: Auburn, 38-31
Fischer: Auburn, 38-30
Goodbread: Auburn, 30-28
Huguenin: Auburn, 42-38

Details: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
The skinny: FSU has won 25 in a row, and Miami would like nothing better than to stop that streak and deal perhaps a fatal blow to the Seminoles' title hopes. FSU QB Jameis Winston (above) already has thrown 11 picks, but when he is "on," there is no better passer in college football. He and WR Rashad Greene will test Miami's secondary. Conversely, UM TB Duke Johnson (above) -- who has a string of five consecutive 100-yard games and has averaged 196.0 yards in the past three -- will test a FSU defense that has struggled to maintain its consistency. UM true freshman QB Brad Kaaya throws a nice deep ball.
Game picks:
Brandt: Florida State, 37-30
Brooks: Florida State, 33-30
Jeremiah: Florida State, 38-28
Fischer: Florida State, 42-28
Goodbread: Florida State, 31-24
Huguenin: Florida State, 30-24

Details: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
The skinny: Hopefully, this game will feature two of the best tailbacks in the nation in Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah (above) and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon (above), the nation's leading rusher. We say "hopefully" because Abdullah suffered what was said to be a minor knee injury in the Huskers' most recent game; if he isn't 100 percent, the Huskers' offense is in trouble. Neither team wants to pass. Wisconsin's defense has been surprisingly stout. In its loss to Michigan State, Nebraska's run defense was spotty and that should worry Bo Pelini. Huskers sophomore DT Maliek Collins is a rising star.
Game picks:
Brandt: Wisconsin, 31-27
Brooks: Wisconsin, 27-25
Jeremiah: Wisconsin, 28-27
Fischer: Wisconsin, 28-27
Goodbread: Nebraska, 35-27
Huguenin: Wisconsin, 28-24

Details: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
The skinny: MSU QB Dak Prescott (above) couldn't ask for a bigger stage to not only solidify the Bulldogs as the nation's top team, but make a Heisman statement as well. Jameon Lewis is back, giving Prescott a full complement of offensive weapons, which he'll need against Alabama's defense. Amari Cooper, who dropped two key passes last week against LSU, needs to rebound along with QB Blake Sims. These teams feature two of the top defensive lines in the SEC, and as such, it could be a low-scoring affair. Three matchups to watch: MSU CB Jamerson Love vs. Cooper, MSU LB Benardrick McKinney vs. Alabama's rushing attack, and Alabama LB Trey DePriest (above), who will play a key role in containing Prescott's designed runs.
Game picks:
Brandt: Alabama, 21-17
Brooks: Alabama, 20-17
Jeremiah: Alabama, 21-17
Fischer: Alabama, 30-28
Goodbread: Alabama, 28-13
Huguenin: Mississippi State, 24-20