AP Top 25 Picks: Time to whittle field of contenders

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Time to start whittling down the college football field as November begins with 11 undefeated FBS teams.

There were three undefeated teams at this point in the season last year. While that makes this season seem unusual, it’s mostly just a function of a back-loaded schedule.

That schedule starts producing huge games this week:

— No. 4 LSU at No. 7 Alabama

— No. 17 Florida State at No. 3 Clemson

— No. 5 TCU at No. 12 Oklahoma State

The Big 12’s schedule is so stacked with late-season game matching contenders that even the loser in that undefeated matchup in Stillwater, Oklahoma, could rally, win the Big 12 and reach the playoff.

The losers in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Clemson, South Carolina, probably won’t recover.

The picks:

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

No. 2 Baylor (minus 17) at Kansas State

Bears turn to freshman QB Jarrett Stidham to save their season … BAYLOR 42-28.

No. 24 Mississippi State (minus 8) at Missouri

Tigers are one of the most imbalanced teams in the nation — sixth nationally in total defense and 126th in total offense … MISSISSIPPI STATE 20-17.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

No. 23 Temple (minus 13) at SMU

Short week, road game; sets up as a tricky game for the Owls … UPSET SPECIAL, SMU 35-24.

TRYING TO STAY UNBEATEN

Minnesota (plus 23) at No. 1 Ohio State

No safety net for Buckeyes QB Cardale Jones this week … OHIO STATE 38-13.

No. 17 Florida State (minus 12 1/2) at No. 3 Clemson

Seminoles have won three straight in what has become one of the best rivalries in the country, but this is the first year the Tigers have the better team … CLEMSON 27-16.

No. 4 LSU (plus 6 1/2) at No. 7 Alabama

This is the seventh time since 2005 that the Tide and Tigers play with both in the top 10 … ALABAMA 24-17.

No. 5 TCU (minus 5 1/2) at No. 12 Oklahoma State

The first of what could be several teams reaching 60-point games in the Big 12 this month … TCU 52-49.

No. 6 Michigan State (minus 5) at Nebraska

No. 10 Iowa (minus 7) at Indiana

Two of the three Big Ten unbeatens are on the road. At least one won’t be unbeaten after this weekend … NEBRASKA 28-24; IOWA 30-26.

Navy (plus 8) at No. 15 Memphis

Midshipmen are the American Athletic Conference’s forgotten West Division contender … MEMPHIS 35-24.

Cincinnati (plus 8) at No. 18 Houston

Bearcats QB Gunner Kiel went 15 for 15 for 319 yards and five TDs last week. Pretty good … HOUSTON 42-35.

PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

No. 8 Notre Dame (minus 9) at Pittsburgh

Fighting Irish last played a regular-season game that kicked off at noon Eastern time on Sept. 24, 2011 — at Pitt … NOTRE DAME 31-20.

No. 9 Stanford (minus 16) at Colorado

Cardinal lead the Pac-12 in time of possession (34:56) and fourth-down conversions (87.5 percent) … STANFORD 42-21.

No. 13 Utah (plus 1 1/2) at Washington

Huskies have the top defense in the Pac-12 by yards per play (4.79) … UTAH 21-17.

Arkansas (plus 11) at No. 19 Mississippi

Razorbacks are last in the SEC in pass defense; Rebels are tops in pass offense … OLE MISS 36-23.

CONFERENCE CALLS

Duke (plus 7 1/2) at No. 21 North Carolina

If the Tar Heels take care of business, the Coastal is all but theirs — and last week’s fiasco in Durham, North Carolina, won’t affect the ACC title game … NORTH CAROLINA 27-16.

Auburn (plus 7 1/2) at No. 25 Texas A&M

Aggies QB Kyler Murray had 379 total yards in first start last week … BEST BET, TEXAS A&M 38-24.

MISMATCHES

Vanderbilt (plus 21 1/2) at No. 11 Florida

Gators have already clinched the SEC East … FLORIDA 31-7.

Iowa State (plus 26) at No. 14 Oklahoma

Four of the Cyclones five losses are to unbeaten teams … OKLAHOMA 45-17.

Rutgers (plus 24 1/2) at No. 16 Michigan

Not sure there is enough sleep, whole milk, water and steak to help the Scarlet Knights get past Jim Harbaugh’s team … MICHIGAN 34-7.

No. 22 UCLA (minus 17 1/2) at Oregon State

Beavers upset the Bruins last season … UCLA 42-14.

TWITTER REQUESTS

California (plus 4) at Oregon — Schrock_And_Awe

Bears have lost three straight and are on the verge of giving away their great start … OREGON 42-28.

Texas Tech (plus 8) at West Virginia — TDCityWV

Mountaineers looking to snap four-game skid after running the gauntlet of at Oklahoma, at Baylor, Oklahoma State and at TCU … WEST VIRGINIA 38-33.

South Carolina (plus 17) at Tennessee — ORourkeJonathan

Volunteers are finishing strong … TENNESSEE 37-14.

Penn State (plus 2 1/2) at Northwestern — DCAbloob

Nittany Lions QB Christian Hackenberg has thrown 12 touchdowns and no INTs last six games … PENN STATE 20-16.

Ohio (plus 21) at Bowling Green — emarktaylor

Falcons can all but lock up the MAC East title … BOWLING GREEN 48-24.

___

Last week’s record: 15-5 straight; 4-15 vs. spread.

Overall: 138-46; 88-89-3.

Upset specials: 3-7.

Best bets: 3-5.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP. AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org

FILE- In this Oct. 10, 2015, photo, Baylor running back Shock Linwood (32) gets past Kansas cornerback Marnez Ogletree (25) as the runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan. The College Football Playoff committee will release its first rankings of the season Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. Teams can overcome a weak schedule by being dominant against that lesser opposition and Baylor has definitely done that, outscoring opponents by 36 points per game. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/11/web1_106859382-15c79252081f43adb808469a80af0a73.jpgFILE- In this Oct. 10, 2015, photo, Baylor running back Shock Linwood (32) gets past Kansas cornerback Marnez Ogletree (25) as the runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan. The College Football Playoff committee will release its first rankings of the season Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. Teams can overcome a weak schedule by being dominant against that lesser opposition and Baylor has definitely done that, outscoring opponents by 36 points per game. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

By Ralph D. Russo

AP College Football Writer

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