Welcome to the Skull Session.
No more sleeps.
Brotherhood.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 16, 2023
Fight. Trust. Rise.
It's time to rise.
Season 2023, Vol. 11 starts Saturday.pic.twitter.com/YUPCGnaSAw
Let's have a good GAMEDAY, shall we?
GREASY, GRIMY GOPHER GUTS. For the No. 2-ranked, 10-0 Ohio State Buckeyes to defeat the unranked, 5-5 Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, Ohio State must, one, not look ahead to Michigan and, two, take care of the football.
That's it. That's the agenda.
Stay Focused
Last season, Ohio State traveled to College Park, Maryland, to face a 6-4 Terrapins team the week before The Game on Nov. 19. The Buckeyes escaped SECU Stadium with a 43-30 win thanks to a Zach Harrison deflection and Steele Chambers pick-six on their second-to-last defensive possession. The reason it was close, I believe, is because Ohio State was caught peeking ahead to its massive, top-four battle with Michigan the following Saturday.
This season, Ohio State welcomes Minnesota to Columbus and the Shoe the week before The Game. While the 2023 Golden Gophers aren't as talented as the 2022 Terrapins, Minnesota is one win from a bowl game. That makes them a dangerous opponent should the Buckeyes lack patience for "Hate Week" for the second consecutive year.
At 4 p.m., Ohio State needs to start fast, steal the oars from Minnesota's boats and leave the Gophers dead in the water.
Take Care of the Football
After he was picked off in consecutive weeks vs. Wisconsin and Rutgers, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord played mistake-free football vs. Michigan State and completed 24 of 31 passes (77%) for 335 yards and three touchdowns. At the same time, Ohio State's ballcarriers – TreVeyon Henderson, Xavier Johnson, Chip Trayanum, Evan Pryor and (for one attempt) Marvin Harrison Jr. – also kept the ball off the turf.
Minnesota's defense ranks near the top in the Big Ten in forced turnovers. Its 11 interceptions (nine vs. Power Five opponents) are the third-most in the conference, and safety Tyler Nubin, someone Ohio State head coach Ryan Day called a player to watch on his radio show this week, has accounted for four of them.
McCord needs to be locked in vs. the Gophers. I'd love to see a lot of short passes (especially over the middle) that can connect with athletes like Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and Cade Stover in stride. Those kinds of simple throws could keep McCord's momentum rolling as Ohio State enters its battle with Michigan in Ann Arbor. As for the running backs, it's a two-hands-on-the-ball kind of week.
McCord: Be smart.
Running backs: Don’t hold the ball like a loaf of bread.
This week, I believe Ohio State will be smart. I believe McCord and Co. will take care of the football. I believe we will see a repeat of last week. Ohio State gets up big, gives the starters one drive in the third quarter and gets them out of there so they can be healthy for "That Team Up North."
Prediction: Ohio State 41 - Minnesota 10
THE MENU. The Week 12 college football slate lacks the entertainment value of recent weeks. Still, there are a handful of contests that could be worth a watch: No. 3 Michigan at Maryland (Noon, FOX), No. 1 Georgia at No. 18 Tennessee (3:30 p.m., CBS) and No. 5 Washington at No. 11 Oregon State (7:30 p.m., ABC) among them.
Here is the complete schedule for Saturday:
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Michigan at Maryland | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Michigan State at Indiana | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Purdue at Northwestern | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Abilene Christian at Texas A&M | 12:00pm | SECN+/ESPN+ |
| Chattanooga at 8 Alabama | 12:00pm | SECN+/ESPN+ |
| Coastal Carolina at Army | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| East Carolina at Navy | 12:00pm | ESPNews/ESPN+ |
| 10 Louisville at Miami (FL) | 12:00pm | ABC |
| Rutgers at 12 Penn State | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| Sacred Heart at UConn | 12:00pm | WFSB |
| SMU at Memphis | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Southern Miss at Mississippi State | 12:00pm | SECN+/ESPN+ |
| 24 Tulane at Florida Atlantic | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| ULM at 13 Ole Miss | 12:00pm | SECN |
| 14 Oklahoma at BYU | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| UMass at Liberty | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Appalachian State at James Madison | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Hawaii at Wyoming | 2:00pm | Spectrum PPV |
| Kent State at Ball State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Louisiana Tech at Jacksonville State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Rice at Charlotte | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UTEP at Middle Tennessee | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati at West Virginia | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| 22 Utah at 17 Arizona | 2:30pm | P12N |
| Duke at Virginia | 3:00pm | The CW |
| Nevada at Colorado State | 3:00pm | MWN |
| North Texas at Tulsa | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Temple at UAB | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas State at Arkansas State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Illinois at 16 Iowa | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| 1 Georgia at 18 Tennessee | 3:30pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Louisiana at Troy | 3:30pm | NFLN |
| NC State at Virginia Tech | 3:30pm | ACCN |
| 20 North Carolina at Clemson | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| Sam Houston at WKU | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UNLV at Air Force | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| Wake Forest at 19 Notre Dame | 3:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| Baylor at TCU | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UCLA at USC | 3:30pm | ABC |
| Minnesota at 2 Ohio State | 4:00pm | BTN |
| New Mexico State at Auburn | 4:00pm | SECN |
| 23 Oklahoma State at Houston | 4:00pm | ESPN2 |
| 6 Oregon at Arizona State | 4:00pm | FOX |
| Marshall at South Alabama | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCF at Texas Tech | 5:00pm | FS2 |
| Old Dominion at Georgia Southern | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| California at Stanford | 6:30pm | P12N |
| North Alabama at 4 Florida State | 6:30pm | The CW |
| Boise State at Utah State | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| 21 Kansas State at 25 Kansas | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| FIU at Arkansas | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| Florida at 9 Missouri | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| Kentucky at South Carolina | 7:30pm | SECN |
| Nebraska at Wisconsin | 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| 5 Washington at 11 Oregon State | 7:30pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| Georgia State at 15 LSU | 8:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Syracuse at Georgia Tech | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| 7 Texas at Iowa State | 8:00pm | FOX |
| New Mexico at Fresno State | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| San Diego State at San Jose State | 10:30pm | CBSSN |
MY PICKS. Last week, I collected a fourth consecutive 2-1 week ATS.
The wins? Missouri (+1.5) vs. Tennesee and Utah (+9.5) vs. Washington, as the Tigers defeated the Volunteers 36-7 in Columbia and the Utes covered the spread in a 35-28 loss (H/T to Washington defensive back Alphonzo Tuputala). The loss? Texas (-10) vs. TCU, as Quinn Ewers and the 'Horns escaped Noblesville with a 29-26 win.
2023 RECORD: 19-11
That's pretty good!
Here are three matchups and spreads I have placed Eleven Warriors Bucks (Monopoly Money) on this weekend:
- No. 1 Georgia (-10.5) at No. 18 Tennessee: The Vols are somehow still ranked in the top 20 despite their 29-point loss to then-No. 15 Missouri last week and their best win being... *checks notes*... South Carolina? Texas A&M? Kentucky? On Saturday, Tennesee doesn't stand a chance. It will not compete with the No. 1 team in America. Give me UGA.
- No. 20 North Carolina (+7) at Clemson: After Clemson's 31-23 upset of Notre Dame, Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney told me to purchase all the Clemson stonks available. I didn't. I haven't. I won't. I don't know if North Carolina will beat Clemson on the road, but I like the Tar Heels' chances to cover. I'll take UNC quarterback Drake Maye and Co. here.
- No. 5 Washington at No. 11 Oregon State (-2.5): Never before have five Power Five teams reached 11-0 in the same season. Therefore, I'll pick against the 10-0 team with the hardest matchup this week. Washington quarterback Michael Penix and leads one of the best offenses in America, but their defense has fallen behind as the Huskies navigate a demanding Pac-12 schedule. Running back Damien Martinez and the Beavers are well-suited to take advantage of that defense in front of a packed Reser Stadium. I'll take the Beavs.
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES (KIND OF). This section features Ohio State-related news. It's not about the Buckeyes; it's about "That Team Up North." It's the best video Ohio State fans can watch to kick off their weekend with a hearty chuckle.
Remember when Michigan threatened war? pic.twitter.com/r2CAp7VyQf
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) November 17, 2023
If "war" meant Michigan would accept Jim Harbaugh's three-game suspension from the Big Ten and fire linebackers coach Chris Partridge, that's a bold strategy, Cotton — let's see if it pays off for them (it won't).
SONG OF THE DAY. "Thunderstruck" - AC/DC.
CUT TO THE CHASE. It's been a rough week for QBs of Ohio NFL teams... The Titans, Nissan taking naming rights to new stadium under 20-year deal... F1 roars into Las Vegas with parties, concerts, celebrities and, eventually, an actual race... The Leonids meteor shower has been spectacular... Teen basketball star sinks nine half-court shots in a row to break record.
