It was only a week ago when the so-called “Separation Saturday” didn’t quite live up to its name. Sure, some teams in the top 25 College Football Playoff rankings suffered defeats, but the teams that actually competed for the College Football Playoff remained largely unscathed. So let’s go ahead and call it Separation Saturday II: Electric Boogaloo. That’s a fair description when there are two top 10 matches on board, including one to kick off the day’s festivities.
No. 10 Penn State hosts a No. 3 Michigan program embroiled in controversy. Will the Wolverines overcome coach Jim Harbaugh’s absence (due to a suspension) and continue their march toward the CFP, or will the Nittany Lions bounce back from their tough loss to Ohio State and create the possibility of a three-way tie in the Big? Ten East?
The evening’s slate is led by No. 2 Georgia, which looks to continue its three-point goal while hosting a No. 9 Ole Miss team that is sure to be the Bulldogs’ toughest test of the season. Brock Bowers is expected to return to boost the Dawgs’ offense, while coach Lane Kiffin undoubtedly has some issues the Rebels want to throw at Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s defense.
There are plenty of high-profile contests surrounding these games, including No. 14 Missouri vs. No. 13 Tennessee in a big SEC East matchup on CBS and two real Pac-12 split games where No. 18 Utah takes on undefeated No. 5 Washington and unranked USC are looking for a big boost over No. 6 Oregon.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage starting with the opening game. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best plays in Week 11.
Odds via SportsLine Consensus | Always east
No. 13 Tennessee and No. 14 Missouri
3:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — This one will be a thrill. Both teams have dynamic offenses, so Brady Cook and Joe Milton should lead their teams up and down the field in what will look like college football’s version of a ping-pong game. Tennessee’s pace will ultimately give the Volunteers the advantage. The sheer number of plays will wear down the Tigers’ defense and the Vols’ rushing attack will dominate the final five minutes to secure a decisive road win. Pick: Tennessee -1 – Barrett Sallee
No. 18 Utah at No. 5 Washington
3:30 p.m. | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — The Utes dealt a major blow to almost every one of their opponents, but struggled to keep up with a feisty Oregon team. The Huskies are closer to the Ducks in terms of talent and should be able to physically outplay the struggling Utes at home. Michael Penix Jr. needs a good game against a good defense, and Washington should be able to find some scoring against Utah’s top unit. Pick: Washington -9.5 – Shehan Jeyarajah
No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia
7 p.m. | ESPN, fubo (Try it for free) — Ole Miss’ path to victory on the road against the two-time defending national champions is a narrow one, and Lane Kiffin knows it. Therefore, expect the Rebels to be aggressive and forgo punts and field goals in order to keep their offense on the field in risky situations to keep and track every possible point. It’s the mindset required to pull off a massive surprise, but it can also backfire. Once things get too intense against a team like Georgia, it can be difficult to get back on track. Look for the Bulldogs to pull away in the second half after Kiffin’s creativity runs out. Pick: Georgia -11 – David Cobb
USC at No. 6 Oregon
10:30 p.m. | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — I know that number seems outrageous, but 74 total points seems like a given considering the impact of these two offenses. Like last week against Washington, it’s the type of game where three or four touchdowns can be scored in just a few minutes, so you don’t want any part of the big spread (although the underdogs there would be the Trojans). ). Take control and buckle up for a wild night ride. Selection: Over 73.5 – Chip Patterson
No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State
lunch | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — I have no doubt that this will be the toughest game of the season for Michigan’s offense. Forget the overall strength of their schedule, as the Wolverines didn’t have nearly as good a defense as Penn State’s. (Few teams have done that.) I fully expect the Nittany Lions to slow down Michigan just like they did at Ohio State. The problem for Penn State is how many points it can realistically score against Michigan. Ohio State’s defense stifled the PSU offense and put constant pressure on quarterback Drew Allar. Michigan’s defensive line might be better than Ohio State’s, and while Penn State has Olu Fashanu, the rest of its offensive line hasn’t been great. Penn State also has one of the least explosive offenses in the country, and no one is capable of putting together long shots against Michigan. Pick: Michigan -4.5 – Tom Fornelli
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 11 and which underdogs will clearly win? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all using a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit over the last seven-plus seasons – and find out.