Texas and Oregon face rivalry threats
The top-ranked Texas Longhorns enter their rivalry game against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl as 7.5-point favorites, but the Sooners see a chance to reverse a disappointing season. Oklahoma needs a strong performance from quarterback John Mateer, who has underperformed so far. Texas' defense has been dominant since the fourth quarter against Ohio State, including a 10-sack showing in a win at Tennessee. After dropping four straight to Oklahoma, the Longhorns have taken three of the last four meetings by an average of 32.3 points per game.[S1][S2]
Oregon, ranked No. 11, hosts UCLA as an 11.5-point favorite, but the Bruins arrive unbeaten and confident. UCLA leads the Big Ten in rushing, while the Ducks are explosive on offense. Both teams had an open date to prepare. The Bruins hold a 38-35 advantage in the all-time series, yet Oregon has won five straight since 2018 and 11 of the last 12 meetings. Oregon will start Dylan Raiola at quarterback after Dante Moore was ruled out with a concussion.[S1]
Iowa, Indiana and Missouri on the road
No. 20 Iowa travels to Washington as a 3.5-point underdog on Friday night. Husky Stadium will be loud, and Washington is desperate for a win after narrow Big Ten losses to Minnesota and USC. The Hawkeyes must contain Demond Williams. Last week, Iowa failed to stop Jeremiah Smith in a 31-14 loss to Ohio State, and letting another top playmaker dominate would hurt Kirk Ferentz's team.[S1]
No. 7 Indiana puts a 21-game winning streak on the line at Nebraska, where the Cornhuskers are 7.5-point home underdogs. Nebraska has lost all nine games under Matt Rhule against ranked opponents and has not beaten a top-25 team since 2016. However, the Huskers' strong run defense could challenge an Indiana ground game led by Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr., who have combined for over 1,000 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. The Hoosiers have not faced a quarterback as dynamic as Anthony Colandrea, who replaced Dylan Raiola. Indiana already failed to cover against a Big Ten opponent at home this season, making this a potential breakthrough spot for Nebraska.[S1]
No. 14 Missouri hosts Texas A&M as a 3.5-point favorite after a blowout win over previously unbeaten Florida. The narrow line suggests oddsmakers see a trap game. Texas A&M is desperate to salvage its season, and urgency can make an inconsistent team dangerous. Coach Mike Elko continues to support quarterback Marcel Reed, whose flashes hint at untapped potential. If Reed protects the ball and forces Missouri to defend his running ability, the game could become uncomfortable. Eli Drinkwitz said his team's focus is on blocking out noise and improving weekly.[S1]
