11/15/25 11:32:00
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11/15 11:30 CST AP Top 25 poll preview: Georgia-Texas is the top game but keep
an eye on No. 16 Miami vs. NC State
AP Top 25 poll preview: Georgia-Texas is the top game but keep an eye on No. 16
Miami vs. NC State
By The Associated Press
The top three teams in The Associated Press poll --- Ohio State, Indiana and
Texas A&M --- are prohibitive favorites in their games Saturday, and most of
the attention will be on No. 10 Texas' game at No. 5 Georgia and a couple other
Top 25 matchups.
Not to be overlooked, though, is the situation in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The big change in this week's College Football Playoff rankings was the
selection committee's decision to move Miami ahead of Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets are No. 14 in this week's AP poll and the Hurricanes are No.
16.
Miami is 15th and Georgia Tech is 16th in the CFP rankings, with the committee
giving the nod to Miami because of its season-opening win over Notre Dame.
The gap between Georgia Tech and Miami in the AP poll is 105 points. It will be
interesting to see if AP voters follow the selection committee's lead and
re-evaluate those two teams, contingent on Saturday's results. The Yellow
Jackets are 16.5-point road favorites against the ACC's last-place team, Boston
College, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Miami is a 15.5-point home favorite
against North Carolina State.
Top games to watch
No. 10 Texas (7-2, 4-1 SEC, No. 10 CFP) at No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1, No. 5)
Georgia swept the Longhorns in the regular season and SEC championship game
last year, and another win here would effectively end Texas' slim hopes of
returning to the title game and CFP. The Bulldogs have won five in a row since
their three-point home loss to Alabama, and even if they lose to Texas, they
can still make the CFP. BetMGM Sportsbook: Georgia by 6 1/2.
No. 9 Notre Dame (7-2, No. 9 CFP) at No. 23 Pittsburgh (7-2, No. 22)
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi raised eyebrows this week with his comment about not
caring if Notre Dame hangs 100 points on the Panthers in this nonconference
game as long as they win the following two games against Georgia Tech and
Miami. He's right. If Pitt makes the playoff, it's only path is through the ACC
championship game. BetMGM Sportsbook: Notre Dame by 12 1/2.
No. 11 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2 SEC, No. 11 CFP) at No. 4 Alabama (8-1, 6-0, No. 4)
This is a grudge match for the Crimson Tide, whose playoff hopes ended last
year with a November loss in Norman. If the Tide gets past the Sooners and
takes care of business against Eastern Illinois of the FCS and Auburn in the
Iron Bowl, they will have run the table since that season-opening loss to
Florida State. BetMGM Sportsbook: Alabama by 6.
The undercard
No. 18 Michigan (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten, No. 18 CFP) vs. Northwestern (5-4, 3-3)
Any football game played at Wrigley Field merits attention, right? The
Wolverines must win this game and next week at Maryland to have a chance to
make the home showdown with top-ranked Ohio State for a spot in Indianapolis on
Dec. 6. Northwestern is a win away from bowl eligibility. BetMGM Sportsbook:
Michigan by 11 1/2.
No. 20 Virginia (8-2, 5-1) at Duke (5-4, 4-1)
The Cavaliers slipped up against Wake Forest last week and must win out and get
help from other teams to reach the ACC title game. Duke, if it wins out, is
well-positioned for a spot in the game based on tiebreakers. Virginia QB
Chandler Morris, who was in concussion protocol after getting knocked out of
last week's game, could play against the Blue Devils, according to media
reports. BetMGM Sportsbook: Duke by 4 1/2.
Outside looking in
Florida Atlantic (4-5, 3-3) at Tulane (7-2, 4-1)
Tulane is still alive in the American Conference thanks to its win at Memphis
last week. Jake Retzlaff threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns against the
Tigers and could do as much, or more, damage against the Owls' soft defense.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Tulane by 17 1/2.
Iowa (6-3, 4-2) at No. 17 Southern California (7-2, 5-1, No. 17 CFP)
The Hawkeyes almost certainly will be in the Top 25 for the first time since
early last season if they bounce back from their narrow loss to Oregon to beat
the Trojans. USC is churning out 500 yards per game, but Iowa has one of the
nation's top defenses. BetMGM Sportsbook: USC by 6 1/2.
___
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