Fans Weekend Guide - Week Eleven

The Conference Title is on the Line When…
Oklahoma St. Visits Texas Tech (November 8, 8:00, ABC): When Graham Harrell connected with Michael Crabtree, the Red Raiders took the baton from the Longhorns and they are now the team to beat in the Big 12. Will they still be after Saturday? That is in doubt, as they play host to the Oklahoma St. Cowboys, who have proven their mettle with a win at Missouri and a hard-fought loss at Texas. No team may be more road-tested than the Pokes. They also have a deadly passing combination of their own in Zac Robinson to Dez Bryant. The sophomore wide out has more receiving yards (1,054 to 921) than Crabtree, matching the 2007 Biletnikoff Award winner touchdown-for-touchdown with 15 each. Get your popcorn…

Don’t Call it an Upset When…
Clemson Visits Florida St. (November 8, 3:30, ABC): The Seminoles are ranked No. 22 in the BCS Standings and are led by Bobby Bowden, who has 381 wins under his belt. The Clemson Tigers were playing so well, they fired their head coach (Bobby’s son Tommy Bowden) and are now led by Dabo Sweeney, who won his first game as a head coach last week. Quarterback Cullen Harper, coming off shoulder surgery, told CFI this week that this is the healthiest he’s been all season and tailback C.J. Spiller (55 rushing yards on eight carries, 105 receiving yards on six receptions, 18 yard punt return, 64 yard kick return) is coming off his best game of the season. This may not the “Bowden Bowl”, but expect it to be intense, as only one game separates the two teams in the ACC Atlantic Division standings.

The Team That Can’t Afford to Look Ahead is…
Penn St. Visiting Iowa (November 8, 3:30, ABC): Most of talk this week surrounding the Nittany Lions is about their chances of making the BCS Championship game. Now that they have knocked off the Buckeyes, it appears they have an open path, even with Texas Tech leapfrogging them in both the BCS standings and the AP rankings. However, before Penn St. makes it to Miami undefeated, Joe Paterno’s crew must win a few more football games beginning with their trip to Iowa this week. Iowa ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring offense (29.1 points per game) and second in scoring defense (13.2 points per game). In Shonn Greene (1,257 yards, 11 touchdowns), they have a difference maker.

The Team on the Cusp is…
Minnesota Hosting Michigan (November 8, 3:30, ABC): With a win in Ann Arbor, the Gophers not only claim the Little Brown jug, but should jump back into the land of the ranked.

Photo Credit: Texas Tech Athletics