Rock M Pick ‘Em: Week 11

Week 11 of the College Football season features five ranked matchups by the CFP rankings — including No. 22 Mizzou’s tall task at No. 1 Georgia. Let’s make some picks on the Saturday slate (odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook).

No. 22 Missouri Tigers at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (-15.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)

Sammy Stava: Feels like a weird game here. Mizzou is (probably) going to lose here, but I don’t feel the Tigers are going to get blown out, either. Missouri has fight in them, but it’s also the worst thing that Georgia lost to Auburn at home earlier. Let’s go with a weird score here, 37-26 UGA.

Matthew Gustafson: The Tigers will need to play a near-flawless game against Georgia if they want to pull off the road upset, and Mizzou simply hasn’t come close to that standard when playing away from home this season. I’ll take the top-ranked Dawgs, 31-21.

Josh Matejka: Can the Tigers find a way to pull an Auburn and keep the chaos of this season alive?

No. Mizzou could still play really well on Saturday, but… yeah, no. UGA sleepwalks to a lazy 33-17 win.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 18 USC Trojans at No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers (-8.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on CBS)

Sammy Stava: USC has talent, but the coaching advantage goes to Curt Cignetti in this one and the Hoosiers are playing at home. 28-24 IU.

Matthew Gustafson: Ohio State’s embarrassment at the hands of Oregon showed the Buckeyes’ prior loss to the Trojans was a lot more about the absence of Julian Sayin than anything else. To be fair, it’s not like the Hoosiers have particularly impressed this season, either, but I’ll take Curt Cignetti in a matchup like this any day. Indiana escapes another tight matchup with a win, 24-21.

Josh Matejka: Curt Cignetti is pissed off these days, and I’m sure he’s translating a lot of that energy into the Hoosier locker room. I think that’ll be enough to get them through another tight game. Indiana wins 27-24.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 2 Utah Utes (-2.5) at No. 23 Arizona Wildcats (6:30 p.m. CST on FOX)

Sammy Stava: Tricky game on the road for Utah as the Utes are coming off an emotional rivalry win over BYU, but Morgan Scalley has proved he’s a good coach and Devon Dampier is a top-tier quarterback. 30-24, Utah.

Matthew Gustafson: With the Utes coming off a massive rivalry win in the highly anticipated Holy War, I think it’s fair to wonder if Saturday presents a potential trap game. That being said, Arizona has failed both of its major tests this season. The difference this week, though: the Wildcats will have a home crowd behind them instead of fighting for a road upset. The nation’s second-ranked team will again fall to an upset as Arizona wins this one 35-31.

Josh Matejka: The Utes are the best story in college football right now (sorry, UCLA) and I’d love to see them get one of those byes. They’re saddled with the No. 2 ranking right now and happen to be on the road this week. But I think they’re good enough to avoid that No. 2 curse… at least for now. Utes win 28-21.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 6 Texas Longhorns at No. 21 LSU Tigers (-3.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)

Sammy Stava: Arch Manning and the Longhorns have shown maturity this season. Yes, they have lost to Oklahoma and Florida — but they have also picked up big-time wins over Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Mizzou. Steve Sarkisian finds a way to get it done on the road — even in a tough atmosphere in Death Valley at night. 24-20, Horns.

Matthew Gustafson: With matchups against Arkansas and Texas A&M remaining after this week, I think the Longhorns will see the light at the end of the tunnel and know exactly what’s at stake on Saturday. Death Valley at night is a house of horrors for visiting teams, but this year’s LSU squad simply looks like it’s a tier below the top of the SEC. I’m choosing Texas, 30-24.

Josh Matejka: LSU’s season is cooked and everyone is mad at Lane Kiffin, but this is still a really good team. And they’re welcoming a very good, but very flawed Texas team to the most intimidating atmosphere in college football. Texas is due for a little karmic retribution after last week’s win over Mizzou… no, I’m not bitter. Why do you ask? LSU topples the Longhorns, 29-24.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders at No. 25 Oklahoma State Cowboys (-3.5) (8:15 p.m. CST on ESPN)

Sammy Stava: I don’t trust Oklahoma State in Year One under Eric Morris — especially after the losses to Tulsa and Iowa State. Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys will put up points, but Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders have the CFP on their minds. 47-40, Texas Tech in a shootout.

Matthew Gustafson: The Pokes are undefeated in Stillwater this year, and a very late kickoff should have that stadium rocking. Texas Tech has some quality wins but also hasn’t run into a team of Oklahoma State’s caliber on the road yet. Give me the Cowboys in a shootout, 49-42.

Josh Matejka: Ah, the weekly installment of “two good teams I couldn’t care less about.” Do I pick the team that tried to snub their noses at all of college football by playing a rule-breaker at QB, or do I pick the team that tanked their season in Week 1 by losing to Tulsa? I’ll say Texas Tech wins 48-45 because it’s the first thing that came to my head.

Jaden Lewis: