Week 12 game previews: Josh Pate predicts marquee matchups in college football

Teams are running out of time in the 2025 college football season, needing to make moves. This makes the Week 12 slate so much more entertaining, putting together some games that can determine fates depending on results.

Josh Pate decided to preview four of them, doing so on Tuesday’s Josh Pate’s College Football Show. Predictions were baked in there, including one game he added to the Ramen Noodle Express.

Texas at Georgia

Pate believes multiple factors go into this game, mainly tackling in space and yards after catch. But one thing stands out more than anything else — Georgia playing at home. Texas has struggled on the road this season, while Kirby Smart does not usually drop games inside Sanford Stadium.

“I think homefield is going to matter here,” Pate said. ” … Now, Bama went in there and they took care of business earlier in the year. They were razor-sharp on third down. It was the most efficient performance they’ve had all year. They still only won by three. I don’t think Texas can go in there and be that efficient against Texas.”

Oklahoma at Alabama

“I think Alabama is going to win the game by double-digits on Saturday,” Pate said. ” … People are terrified about this game. I don’t feel that way. I think Alabama is going to win the game and end up handling it.”

Ty Simpson is the player to watch here, in Pate’s opinion. Not having the best game against LSU, he believes opportunity will be there against Oklahoma’s secondary if given enough time in the pocket. Where Simpson left some points/yards on the field last Saturday, the opposite turns true for a comfortable Alabama victory.

Iowa at USC

USC avoids the fate of Oregon, getting to play Iowa in Los Angeles in November. A lot is at stake here for the Trojans, needing a win to set up the rest of the season. The College Football Playoff is still alive as well. Given the factors, Pate is taking the Trojans to win by more than expected.

“I’m going to ride with Lincoln Riley,” Pate said. “I’m going to take USC to win, I’m going to take USC to cover, and I think they’re going to do it playing a physical style of football. The likes of which you have not seen Lincoln Riley teams playing in the past. Except they did it against Michigan, they did enough of it against Nebraska. I think they’ll do it here.”

Notre Dame at Pitt

“I have to see Pitt do this to believe it,” Pate said. “I think Notre Dame is playing some really good ball… I just visualize, if I simulate it 100 times, I just see Notre Dame comfortably winning a lot more than this thing going down to the wire.”

The key to victory Pitt is quarterback Mason Heintschel. If he is able to put together a good performance, that’s the lone road to this one being a fourth-quarter game in Pate’s eyes. He still expects Notre Dame to handle to storm, and even force some turnovers. The Irish are his pick.