College Football 2019: Your complete Week 12 binge-watching guide
By Zach Bigalke
No. 23 Navy at No. 16 Notre Dame (2:30 pm ET – NBC)
One of three battles between ranked teams in just this time slot, the 93rd meeting between the Midshipmen and the Fighting Irish offers an early opportunity to flip over to a new game if one of the early contests is getting out of hand. This is something of an elimination game fo the New Year’s Six. No. 23 Navy has a chance to get a signature win as they try to stay alive in the Group of Five race. No. 16 Notre Dame can also play their way into a major bowl (likely the Cotton Bowl) if they win out. The Irish are a seven-point favorite — but that has fallen from an opening line of Navy +10 as people bet on the Midshipmen. Could there be an upset in the works in South Bend?
PREDICTION: The Midshipmen pull off a surprising win over Notre Dame, winning by double digits in South Bend for the first time since 1963.
No. 4 Georgia at No. 12 Auburn (3:30 pm ET – CBS)
The showdown with the biggest College Football Playoff implications will take place on the Plains this week, as No. 4 Georgia heads west to take on No. 12 Auburn in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The Bulldogs can keep themselves in the Playoff discussion with a win, while Oregon and (gasp!) Alabama will both be rooting for a Tigers victory. Auburn is a three-point underdog at home, but we have seen them pull off some craziness in this annual showdown against the Bulldogs before…
PREDICTION: Auburn pulls away late to win by double digits over Georgia and throw the SEC hopes of a second Playoff bid entirely into Alabama’s hands.
No. 8 Minnesota at No. 20 Iowa (4:00 pm ET – FOX)
Minnesota is ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1962, and they vaulted up to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings this week after opening at No. 17 in the selection committee’s estimation. Their back-loaded schedule takes the Golden Gophers to Iowa City to face the No. 20 Hawkeyes in another big test for Tanner Morgan and company. Iowa is a three-point favorite at home despite having two more losses, and they will be motivated to hold on to the Floyd of Rosedale for another year.
PREDICTION: Minnesota keeps their name in the College Football Playoff discussion and hauls the bronze pig back to Minneapolis after a close victory against the Hawkeyes.