Nov 12, 2026 · 29 min
Klatt sees playoff stakes shaping Week 11 picks
Week 11 Picks & Predictions: USC-Indiana, Texas-LSU, Ohio State-Northwestern, Utah-Arizona & More
Joel Klatt’s predictions hinge on how quarterback play, defensive pressure, turnovers, injuries, and home field could reshape several consequential games.
- 1Klatt backs Indiana against USC, citing consistency, defensive strength, and USC’s road and turnover concerns.
- 2He expects Ohio State and LSU to win and cover by exploiting opponent injuries, quarterback uncertainty, or protection problems.
- 3SMU and Oklahoma State emerge as high-scoring home favorites in games carrying conference and playoff implications.
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Klatt predicts Oklahoma State to beat Texas Tech 50–45 and cover in a projected Big 12 shootout.
The brief
Joel Klatt opens Week 11 by framing the slate around playoff stakes, home-field advantage, quarterback decisions, defensive pressure, turnovers, and injuries rather than simple rankings.
Utah-Arizona begins with a quarterback contrast: Devin Dampier’s fearless running and Noah Fifita’s production headline a competitive Tucson matchup with postseason implications.
Klatt picks Indiana over USC and Ohio State over Northwestern, emphasizing Indiana’s defensive consistency while questioning USC’s road form and both teams’ quarterback situations.
Texas-LSU turns on protection and pressure: Klatt sees Arch Manning improving, but expects LSU’s home defense to force turnovers and cover the spread.
The closing picks favor SMU over Wake Forest and Oklahoma State over Texas Tech, including a projected 50–45 shootout in the Big 12.
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