Wise is the fan who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense predictions before watching this weekend’s games.
Throughout the 2025 college football season, I give you my just-for-fun picks for contests involving the best teams in the West across five conferences.
Those teams include Arizona, ASU, BYU, Colorado, and Utah in the Big 12; Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in the Pac-12; Cal and Stanford in the Big Ten; Oregon State and WSU in the Pac-12; and all the teams in the Mountain West.
I went 6-4 in the 10 games I previewed for Week 11. That brings my overall record to 76-37 on the season, good for 67%.
This week, I make picks for the following 10 games:
– Minnesota at Oregon
– Arizona at Cincinnati
– West Virginia at Arizona State
– Iowa at USC
– Utah at Baylor
– Utah State at UNLV
– UCLA at Ohio State
– Wyoming at Fresno State
– TCU at BYU
– Boise State at San Diego State
You will also want to read my previews of ACC and Pac-12 games, Stephen Vilardo’s preview of the Mountain West and Big Ten matchups, and Dane Miller’s previews of the Big 12 contests.
As always, my selections come with my best game-score guesses and just enough commentary to keep me from drinking too much coffee here in the South Shore District of Seattle.
I’m already on my second cup, so let’s get on with the picks!
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Minnesota at No. 8 Oregon
Friday, November 14
6:00 PM PT, FOX
Oregon notched an epic win against Iowa last week, but they must be cautious against Minnesota. The Ducks are the better squad, but they’re entering this matchup on a short week, and both of their recent opponents play a physical style.
UM’s defense ranks 29th in points allowed per game. UO should consider going deep in their depth chart to avoid potential injuries.
On the field, the Golden Gophers are gonna have to score some points. Minnesota has only tallied more than 23 points twice against FBS opponents.
They struggle in both passing and running the ball. Their passing attack is the stronger unit, ranking 93rd in passing yards per contest. Their best players on offense are Drake Lindsey and Darius Taylor.
Oregon should easily be able to outscore Minnesota, but they’re still limited at wideout. This could affect a unit that ranks third in EPA per play. They were missing their top three receivers against Iowa last week.
If Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. can’t play, they’ll only have four scholarship wideouts available for this matchup. This should benefit the Gophers’ secondary, which ranks 74th in coverage grade according to PFF.
Really, though, UO isn’t about to lose to UM. The Gophers lack sufficient offense to compete.
There are Ducks on the pond.
Oregon 42, Minnesota 14
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Arizona at No. 25 Cincinnati
Saturday, November 15
9:00 a.m. PT, FS1
When Quincy Craig dashed 24 yards into the end zone last Saturday, all was well with my picks. At that point of the day, I was 6-1, but somehow my Fearless Predictions finished 6-4.
Craig’s touchdown run secured a 10-point comeback victory and made UA eligible for a bowl game. If the Wildcats are going to win in Cincinnati, however, they’ll need to play better.
This should be a fun matchup to watch because both quarterbacks are stanky, in a good way. Brendan Sorsby has had a phenomenal year, throwing for 2,064 yards, 21 touchdowns, and two interceptions.
He’s also added 453 yards on the ground and eight TDs. It should be interesting to see how he performs against an Arizona defense that ranks seventh nationally in passing yards allowed per game.
The Wildcats have Noah Fifita, a veteran playmaker who can take over a game at any moment. He needs just one more touchdown pass to set the career record at UA and break the current three-way tie.
The Bearcats’ secondary is pedestrian, ranking 83rd nationally in passing yards allowed per game, so he should be able to make some plays.
The W-Cats will also need to find a way to block Dontay Corleone; he’s a dangerous pass rusher and good against zone rushing schemes.
I want to pick Arizona, but they didn’t look so hot last week; they freeze in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati 31, Arizona 28
[ads_hr hr_style=”hr-fade”]West Virginia at Arizona State
Saturday, November 15
10:00 a.m. PT, TNT
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This game is a “find out” moment for both squads. If the Sun Devils lose this matchup, they’ll find themselves back in the middle of the Big 12 standings. For West Virginia, a win does the opposite, moving them up the middle of the pack.
A primary key is whether Jeff Sims can throw the football. The Mountaineers should try to make Sims beat them with his arm.
In the Sun Devils’ win against Iowa State, he rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He struggled to throw the ball, passing for 177 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
WVU has been solid against running quarterbacks this year, which could bode in their favor. They have not allowed a signal caller to rush for more than 100 yards against them.
Another critical factor in this matchup is ASU keeping Diore Hubbard in check. Scotty Fox Jr. is probably their best player on offense, but they’re a lot tougher to beat when Hubbard starts feeling himself. He had 158 total yards against Colorado last week.
Arizona State ranks 34th nationally against the run, so they should be alright, but Rich Rodriguez’s rushing schemes are unique. West Virginia ranks 39th nationally in rushing yards per game.
Jordyn Tyson is also out for this contest, which should help the Mountaineers immensely.
There are a lot of things that point to an upset here, but Sims ain’t gonna let it happen.
The desert roads take the Sun Devils home.
Arizona State 27, West Virginia 17
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No. 21 Iowa at No. 17 USC
Saturday, November 15
12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network
This is a light-heavyweight battle between two teams hoping to stay relevant throughout the remainder of the season.
Iowa enters this contest after a heartbreaking loss against Oregon last week, while USC comes into this matchup riding a two-game win streak.
One thing to watch in this matchup is which team can control the tempo. The Hawkeyes prefer a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair, while the Trojans rank seventh nationally in points scored per game.
SC might struggle to get UI off the field. They rank 122nd in the nation with a 47.6% rushing success allowed. This could prove problematic against Iowa’s Top 50 rushing offense, which averages 176 yards per contest.
If the Trojans can find a way to contain the Hawkeyes’ run game, it could allow their pass rushers to make some plays. The USC pass rush ranks 16th nationally with a 7.9 percent sack rate.
Defensive ends Kameryn Crawford and Braylan Shelby have combined for seven sacks this year.
Flipping the field, UI must find a way to limit Jayden Maiava, who has had a phenomenal campaign, ranking eighth nationally with 2,614 passing yards. His favorite target, Makai Lemon, is a game-wrecker. Iowa must have him in their laser vision.
USC also boasts an underrated rushing offense, ranking 22nd nationally in yards per game.
No puns for this one, Iowa’s still beat up, and USC takes advantage.
Good timing for the Trojans.
USC 35, Iowa 21
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No. 13 Utah at Baylor
Saturday, November 15
4:00 p.m. PT, ESPN2
This game’s super important for Utah. After a subpar inauguration in the Big 12, the Utes have a chance to make things right this season. If they defeat Baylor, they’ll be in a good spot to walk away with a 10-win campaign.
Their final two contests are against the Kansas schools. The key to this matchup will be whether BU can slow down the U of U’s rushing attack. Utah averages 5.92 yards per carry, which keeps them in good down-and-distance situations.
Neither of their halfbacks is a trailblazer, but they’re both solid.
If Baylor’s defensive line can play neutral with Utah’s hogmollies up front, they’ll likely be able to limit Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers. It won’t be easy, though, because the Utes rank third nationally in rushing yards per game.
Another key factor in this matchup will be whether the Bears’ wide receivers can win one-on-one matchups against the Utes’ secondary. BU has a lot of talent at receiver, and the Utes play a lot of man-to-man defense.
Sawyer Robertson’s also a baller. Robertson has thrown for 2,780 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He’s also added two touchdowns on the ground.
It should be interesting to see if he rises to the occasion against Utah’s secondary, which is sixth nationally in passing yards allowed per game. Baylor may be smart, but the Utes are rugged.
The people of the mountains win.
Utah 38, Baylor 24
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Utah State at UNLV
Saturday, November 15
4:00 PM PT, CBS Sports
These two teams share many similarities. Both squads have a new head coach, fan bases that are expecting success, and essentially had a new team at the beginning of the year.
This matchup is expected to be an offensive explosion. Both teams struggle on defense, but boast top-30 scoring units.
One player to watch in this contest is Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes. He has seen pretty much everything, but he’ll need to protect the ball against the Rebels.
Barnes is a vet, but UNLV’s an opportunistic defense. The Rebels rank seventh in the nation with 12 interceptions, 10th in turnover margin at plus eight, and have three defensive touchdowns.
Something’s gotta curve here because he has only thrown three interceptions this year. And he’s coming in hot, having thrown for 288 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions a week ago.
Both passing units rank in the Top 40 in yards per game, with the Aggies ranking 28th, and LV 10 sports behind.
UNLV will also be looking for another solid outing from its defense. They played well against Colorado State, but got tormented by New Mexico the week prior, allowing 532 total yards.
Both teams have proven running backs in Jai’Den Thomas and Miles Davis. Thomas is the superior player, though. In a battle of similarity, the home field should make the difference.
We don’t gamble on picks.
UNLV 35, Utah St 31
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UCLA at No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, November 15
4:30 PM PT, NBC
This preview wouldn’t be here if UCLA hadn’t upset Penn State, but I’ve learned I don’t know anything.
From a logical standpoint, there’s no way the Bruins should compete in this contest. The Buckeyes are favored by 31 and a half points.
If LA’s gonna pull it off, they’ll need Nico Iamaleava to play the best game of his life. They’ll also need to disrupt the rhythm of Julian Sayin.
Sayin has completed 81 percent of his passes this year, helping fuel OSU’s pass offense, which ranks 18th in yards per game. UCLA might be able to slow him down a tad. They’re 25th nationally in yards allowed through the air, but that’s a maybe.
Another key in this contest should be UCLA’s rushing attack. If they try to throw every play, the Buckeyes will destroy their line. Ohio State’s defense is historically sound, leading the nation in scoring defense, total defense, and red-zone prevention.
Balance is everything. The Bruins will also need their offensive line to protect Iamaleava. The Buckeyes are tied third nationally with 25 sacks.
OSU’s entire roster is impressive, but three players to watch are wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, safety Caleb Downs, and receiver Carnell Tate. Smith leads Ohio State with 65 catches, 862 receiving yards, and 10 touchdown receptions.
If Nico thought coming to UCLA was going to get over the Buckeyes, he’s a little silly. But there’s nothing goofy about Ohio State.
Brutus stays undefeated.
Ohio State 45, UCLA 10
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Wyoming at Fresno State
Saturday, November 15
7:30 PM PT, FS1
Believe it or not, Fresno State still has a chance to win the Mountain West Championship. This is a big turn from where they were two weeks ago.
The Bulldogs changed the narrative of their season with that win against Boise State. Wyoming enters this contest having lost to San Diego State two weeks ago.
The key to this matchup should be the development of Carson Conklin, who is starting his third game for Fresno and has struggled against the Broncos.
Even though FSU knocked off Boise, he didn’t get it done, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and throwing for just 35 yards.
The Cowboys have a good defense, so they’ll stack the box if he can’t play better. Wyoming ranks 25th nationally in passing yards allowed per game, so they should be able to handle him.
The Boys struggle to stop the run, so if he gets going, it should allow the Bulldogs to take control of the contest. On offense, Wyoming’s pretty bad, but they have a decent quarterback.
Kaden Anderson is talented but young. Anderson has thrown for 1,727 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He’ll need to be precise because Fresno State ranks 42nd in passing yards allowed per game.
If he can avoid turnovers, they should be able to hang around in this matchup. But hanging around isn’t a dub.
The Cowboys get trapped in the valley.
Fresno State 27, Wyoming 14
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TCU at No. 12 BYU
Saturday, November 15
7:15 p.m. PT, ESPN
This game is meaningful for BYU. The Cougars enter this matchup after their first loss of the year against a team who’s taken their food.
These two squads have been aligned since the old Mountain West days, and TCU has knocked off the Cougars five times in a row; the last time BYU won was 2007.
The key to this faux-rivalry should be whether BYU can make the Horned Toads one-dimensional. TCU struggles to run the ball, ranking 107th nationally in yards per game.
They’re better through the air because of Josh Hoover. But Hoover won’t be able to do it alone against a BYU defense that ranks 16th in points allowed per contest. He’s thrown for 2,690 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
The combination of Eric McAlister and Hoover is the reason why TCU is so explosive on offense, averaging 33 points per game.
McAlister ranks 9th nationally with 834 receiving yards and is tied for 8th nationally with eight touchdown receptions. He will impact the game.
For BYU, this contest is less about their personnel and more about learning from last season. The Cougars started the 2024 season 9-0 before dropping two straight contests and missing the College Football Playoff.
If they drop out of CFP contention this year, it won’t be because of TCU.
The Cougs “Crank That” Soulja Boy like it’s 2007.
BYU 27, TCU 21
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Boise State at San Diego State
Saturday, November 15
7:30 PM PT, CBS Sports
This game is pivotal for both these teams, but a third team will be watching it closely—Hawaii.
If San Diego State wins, they’ll control their destiny to the Mountain West Championship, but a loss, and the Bows take their spot.
Both squads are also looking to bounce back from their previous tough losses.
One important aspect of this contest is whether SDSU’s defense can capitalize on the Broncos’ backup quarterback. The Aztecs got shredded by Micah Alejado last week, so they’ll be looking for redemption.
Max Cutforth has limited experience, having thrown for only 186 yards and one touchdown during his collegiate career. The signal-caller situation makes this a tiger matchup.
Boise State ranks 53rd in passing yards per game with Maddux Madsen in charge, while San Diego State ranks 114th. Boise is also 34th in total offense, while SDSU is 92nd.
The Broncos will also need their front seven to stop the Aztecs’ rushing attack. San Diego State has a legit player in Lucky Sutton.
SDSU averages 180 yards per game on the ground. They might be able to exploit BSU’s defense, which is having a down year against the run. They rank 87th in rushing yards allowed per contest.
This is a fricking toss-up, but Boise almost always finds a way.
Onward and Cutforth.
Boise State 24, SDSU 17
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