Tag: NCAAF

College Football Betting Guide: 5 Best Big Game Bets – Week 13

Breaking down the five best big college football games for Week 13; including college football picks, betting odds and more

What’s going to happen in the five biggest games in Week 13 of the college football season?

– Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

It’s the week before THE WEEK when we get all the big rivalry games – or, at least, most of the big ones – all crammed into one giant final full regular season Saturday. But there are still five very, very big games …

If you’re looking to get in on the sports betting action this weekend, be sure to sign up with BetMGM to take part in any of these games or other action on the schedule.

5. UCLA at USC

Photo Credit: Melissa Majchrzak – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: USC -13.5, o/u: 65

Why You Should Bet On UCLA: Can USC stop Joshua Kelley? The UCLA running back took over last season with 289 yards and two scores in the win over the Trojans, and he’s been every bit as good over the back half of this year. The ground game has been just good enough to pound it out again on a USC defense that’s been fine, but can and will give up yards to anyone who commits to the ground attack.

Why You Should Bet On USC: He might not be Joe or Tua or Jalen, but Kedon Slovis has been as hot as any quarterback in the country over the last few games, throwing for 838 yards and eight touchdowns in his last two outings, and with 15 touchdown passes in his last four. UCLA has been hit-or-miss when it comes to getting into shootouts, but USC is far better equipped to go up and down the field in a hurry.

Prediction: Playing for its bowl eligibility life, UCLA will make this a battle and keep it within the 13.5, but USC’s passing game will take over with Slovis throwing for four touchdowns in the win.
– CFN Full UCLA vs. USC Game Preview & Prediction

4. Pitt at Virginia Tech

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Virginia Tech -3.5, o/u: 45.5

Why You Should Bet On Pitt: The Panthers have the nation’s best pass rush, and the Virginia Tech offensive line is just mediocre enough to have problems on the key downs. The run defense will be everything for Pitt – Virginia Tech is 6-0 when rushing for over 140 yards.

Why You Should Bet On Virginia Tech: There’s no real Pitt running game that can rise up and take over a game. The Hokies have a killer pass rush, too, and it should be able to get to Kenny Pickett and an inconsistent Panther passing attack that’s going to sputter way too often on the road. Virginia Tech can handle Pitt’s pass rush better than the other way around.

Prediction: Virginia Tech will run a little bit, Pitt won’t. The two defenses will take over in a fun fight, but the HOKIES will pull out the win – and cover – at home to be in a position to take the Coastal next week against Virginia.
– CFN Full Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Game Preview & Prediction

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

3. Texas at Baylor

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Baylor -5.5, o/u: 58.5

Why You Should Bet On Texas: Just how down is Baylor after its epic collapse against Oklahoma? It’s been a disappointing year for the Longhorns, but there’s still a sliver of a shot it can make the Big 12 Championship Game with a win this week. Thanks to both the legs and arm of Sam Ehlinger, Texas is among the best teams in the country at keeping the chains moving. Baylor is good on third downs, but the Longhorns have the ability to control the tempo on the road.

Why You Should Bet On Baylor: The Bears’ pass rush should be able to get to Ehlinger enough to be a big problem. There were issues getting to Jalen Hurts last week, but overall the defense is still the best in the Big 12, Charlie Brewer is still among the league’s most effective quarterbacks, and the team should be able to bomb away on a beleaguered Texas secondary, the BU D should be able to take care of the rest.

Prediction: Baylor will get over last week’s clunker and get the win it needs to not only get into the Big 12 Championship Game, but also back into the College Football Playoff picture. Brewer will have a big game as the BEARS win and cover.
– CFN Full Texas vs. Baylor Game Preview & Prediction

2. Texas A&M at Georgia

Photo Credit: John Reed – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Georgia -13, o/u: 44

Why You Should Bet On Texas A&M: This is the exact type of Georgia team that fits what the Aggies need. There isn’t a ton of pop and explosion, it likes to go a bit slow and deliberate, and it’s not going to come out and throw for 400 yards and wing it all over the yard. The A&M secondary has been amazing – no one has completed more than 46% over the last four games. Jake Fromm might be terrific, but he’s not throwing for big yards and he’s been a bit erratic this year – his receiving corps isn’t helping.

Why You Should Bet On Georgia: Texas A&M isn’t going to get any easy chances. Georgia might not be LSU when it comes to putting up the big offensive numbers, but Fromm isn’t screwing up. He threw three picks in the loss to South Carolina, and that’s it. Defensively, the Dawgs aren’t allowing anything against the run – A&M’s Kellen Mond has to be perfect. He’s been okay this year, but not good enough.

Prediction: A&M stays in the game for a full four quarters to cover the 13, but Georgia gets ahead early and never trails.
– CFN Full Texas A&M at Georgia Game Preview & Prediction

1. Penn State at Ohio State

Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Ohio State -18.5, o/u: 57

Why You Should Bet On Penn State: The pass rush has to get to Justin Fields early, and it has to be relentless. The Buckeyes have faced a better schedule than it’s getting credit for. It dealt with a terrific Wisconsin defensive front and won easily, but it had problems keeping the Badgers out of the backfield. The Nittany Lions come in waves to get behind the line and will easily be the biggest test yet for a Buckeyes offense that hasn’t had to deal with even the slightest bit of adversity.

Why You Should Bet On Ohio State: Ohio State already had the No. 1 defense in college football, and now it gets back a rested and ready Chase Young off of his two-game bull(bleep) suspension. On the other side, the Nittany Lions secondary – even helped by the great pass rush – isn’t doing anything special. Minnesota, Pitt and Iowa were all able to throw without a problem, and Fields will be able to bomb away.

Prediction: This is where the Buckeyes flex a little muscle. Penn State is good, but it doesn’t have the consistent offensive pop to keep up. Ohio State pulls away in the second half to cover. 
– CFN Full Penn State vs. Ohio State Game Preview & Prediction

Now that you know what you need to know, head over to BetMGM and get some action in any — or all — of these games for Week 13 of college football.

For more coverage on Week 13’s College Football slate of sports betting action, be sure to check out CollegeFootballNews.com. And for more sports betting tips and picks, be sure to access SportsbookWire.com.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Can undefeated LSU, Ohio State and Clemson win out?

As the only unbeaten teams left, they’re headed toward perfect regular-season records.

College football is down to just three undefeated teams going into Week 13: LSU, Ohio State and Clemson. Minnesota and Baylor dropped off the list last week with losses to Iowa and Oklahoma, respectively, so now we’re left with this trio.

Although we’ve looked at just the upcoming week’s opponents for unbeaten teams, it’s late enough in the season to expand that a little to the end of the regular season and the conference championship games. (We’ll also dig deeper into that in a few weeks.)

Will any of the three undefeated teams lose in Week 13? Probably not, especially considering one of them is off. And it’s looking increasingly likely that all three will enter bowl season with perfect records.

So here are our predictions for how the three remaining undefeated teams will play in Week 13 and beyond. They’re based on their upcoming opponents, how they’ve played so far, the College Football Playoff rankings and ESPN’s Football Power Index projections.

(All games are on Saturday unless otherwise noted.)

No. 1 LSU Tigers 10-0

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Wins: Georgia Southern, Texas, Northwestern State, Vanderbilt, Utah State, Florida, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss
Chance of winning out: 44.4 percent
Week 13 game: Arkansas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Undefeated after Week 13: Yes

LSU closes out its regular season against Arkansas and then Texas A&M, two teams it shouldn’t have trouble beating. The Razorbacks have yet to win an SEC game this season, and they’re certainly not going to do it against the top-ranked team in the nation as 42.5-point underdogs. The Tigers have 98.7 percent chance to beat Arkansas and an 84.7 percent chance to take down the Aggies, both of which sound about right.

What is a little puzzling is that LSU still only has a 44 percent chance to of winning out, according to ESPN’s FPI. It’s a metric that includes conference championship games when they’re applicable, so for the Tigers, it goes beyond the next two weeks. Georgia clinched the SEC East last week with a win over Auburn, and if LSU can win this week, it will lock up the SEC West. Presumably, the Tigers’ relatively low chance to win out is because of this likely conference matchup, but it’s not exactly clear why.

LSU’s high-powered offense is led by Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow, who leads the nation with a 78.6 completion percentage and has 38 touchdowns compared with just six interceptions. As a whole, the Tigers’ offense is second in the country to Oklahoma with an average of 556.0 yards per game and second to Ohio State with an average of 47.8 points. Sure, Georgia’s defense is only giving up 267.2 yards per game (No. 6 nationally), and the Bulldogs have some excellent wins on their schedule. But all this is to say it seems like the Tigers should have a higher chance to win out at this point — at least slightly more than 50 percent, even if they are headed toward a game against the No. 4 team.

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 10-0

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Wins: Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, Indiana, Miami (Ohio), Nebraska, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers
Chance of winning out: 56.4 percent
Week 13 game: Penn State (Noon ET, FOX)
Undefeated after Week 12: Yes

The Buckeyes close out the regular season against No. 8 Penn State and No. 13 Michigan, two of the toughest teams on their schedule. However, nothing suggests they won’t plow over both teams like they’ve done against every other opponent so far this season. They’re 18.5-point favorites at home against the Nittany Lions with an 83.9 percent chance to win this weekend. They also have a 77.4 percent chance of beating Michigan on the road. And for the record, their chance of winning out seems awfully low too.

With the nation’s No. 1 defense (216.4 yards/game, 3.52 yards/play) and the No. 4 offense (541.7 yards/game, No. 6 with 7.26 yards/play), Ohio State is looking like the most balanced team in the country. And with quarterback Justin Fields, running back J.K. Dobbins and defensive end Chase Young — who returns to the field after a two-game suspension from the NCAA — the Buckeyes have three of the best and most explosive players in college football on their roster.

However, they might not be able to lose to either team — or eventually in the Big Ten championship game — and still make the College Football Playoff. But that doesn’t seem likely anyway with a team of this caliber — though they do have the most challenging remaining schedule of the the teams on this list.

No. 3 Clemson Tigers 11-0

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Wins: Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Syracuse, Charlotte, North Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, Boston College, Wofford, NC State, Wake Forest
Chance of winning out: 88.5 percent
Week 13 game: Bye
Undefeated after Week 13: Yes (duh)

Clemson is off in Week 13 before closing out the season against South Carolina, a 4-7 team that upset Georgia in October and lost to Appalachian State in November. So really, who knows what could happen here?

Following a rocky start to the season, the Tigers have found their groove and are absolutely destroying every opponent in their path, and they currently have a 92.6 percent chance to beat South Carolina. This could be a blowout — it will probably be a blowout — or the Gamecocks could flirt with pulling off another stunner. Either way, Clemson should still win the ACC without much difficulty.

[jwplayer GT1LfJnn-q2aasYxh]

[opinary poll=”will-lsu-win-the-national-championship_f” customer=”forthewin”]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

Penn State vs. Ohio State: Can either team lose and still make the CFP?

Ohio State is a big favorite at home against Penn State in Week 13.

Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football show where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.

In the highly anticipated Big Ten showdown this week between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 8 Penn State, which team needs the win more? Which team could take a loss and keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive? Both? Neither?

The Nittany Lions, somewhat unexpectedly, lost earlier this month to then-No. 17 Minnesota, but they still have a chance to be a one-loss Big Ten champion, which would almost certainly lead to a playoff invitation this year.

James Franklin, Ryan Day (USA TODAY Sports)

However, lose to Ohio State and it’s probably over for them, barring some catastrophic meltdown in multiple other conferences. The playoff committee has never included a two-loss team, and for that to happen for the first time, that team would probably have to be a two-loss conference champ. If Penn State falls to the Buckeyes, that’s likely the end of its playoff hopes.

Even though Ohio State enters this game with a perfect 10-0 record, it probably can’t afford to lose either. Losing to Penn State would keep the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game, meaning they’d likely be fighting for that fourth playoff spot against other one-loss teams, which might have a conference championship card to play.

So perhaps it’s possible that, despite their difference records, neither team could survive a loss an still make the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State is an 18.5-point favorite at home against Penn State on Saturday (Noon ET, FOX).

[opinary poll=”which-team-will-win-on-saturday_forthewi-qWC8″ customer=”forthewin”]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

WATCH: LSU LB Michael Divinity absent from team because of ineligibility

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

LSU is the best college football team in the country, sitting atop the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, and the College Football Playoff rankings. But the Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

The Monday before LSU visited Alabama, Tigers (10-0, 6-0 SEC) head coach Ed Orgeron announced that Divinity had left the team “for personal reasons.” On the SEC conference call Wednesday in Week 12, Orgeron confirmed that the athlete was simply not allowed to play by athletic department rules.

“He is unable to play, and it will be a while until he’s able to play. He will not be eligible,” Orgeron said.

Ineligibility can stem from academic issues and from team rules violations, such as multiple positive drug tests. USA Today confirmed with multiple sources that Divinity tested positive for a fourth time for marijuana just before the Nov. 4 announcement that he would not play versus the Crimson Tide (9-1, 6-1 SEC).

According to LSU’s Athletic Department Assistance Program’s Substance Abuse Policy, a fourth failed drug test warrants “a suspension from 50% of countable contests,” including postseason games.

Orgeron said Wednesday that the only game that there is even a chance that Divinity returns for would be the National Championship Jan. 13.

“If there’d be a championship game, maybe he may be eligible for that,” Orgeron said. “Up until then, Mike will not be eligible to play.”

LSU LB Divinity absent from team because of ineligibility, not a personal decision to leave

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

Can Alabama make the College Football Playoff without Tua Tagovailoa?

Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending injury, which means Alabama has to turn to backup Mac Jones to close out the season.

Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football show where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field with a hip injury in the second quarter of the Crimson Tide’s blowout win over Mississippi State on Saturday. The Heisman Trophy candidate had successful surgery Monday, and “he’s in good spirits and he’s doing well,” coach Nick Saban told reporters Wednesday.

Tagovailoa’s injury is a huge loss for Alabama and college football fans (whose teams don’t play the Crimson Tide), so how will that impact the team’s shot at making the College Football Playoff for a sixth straight year?

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Despite losing their starting quarterback, the Crimson Tide’s chance to make the playoff actually went up a little. According to ESPN’s Playoff Predictor, they have a 44 percent chance to make the playoff, which is up from 40 percent last week and fourth-highest after Ohio State (86 percent), LSU (85 percent) and Clemson (84 percent).

However, they’re still No. 5 on the latest CFP rankings behind Georgia, but the Playoff Predictor, which gives the Bulldogs a 39 percent chance to make it, is likely anticipating a loss in the SEC championship game, which would then drop the team out of the top four.

Alabama sophomore quarterback Mac Jones is expected to take over for Tagovailoa. Jones started late last month in the Crimson Tide’s 48-7 win over Arkansas while Tagovailoa was recovering from an ankle injury, but that game, plus a handful of other plays in blowout wins, doesn’t seem like a large enough sample size to judge how well Jones could play against a team like Auburn, which is looking to play the spoiler in Alabama’s season.

This season, Jones has completed 45-of-65 passes (69.2 percent) for 566 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Against the Razorbacks, he went 18-for-22 for 235 yards and three touchdowns, but it’s hard to judge his performance and potential from one game against a team that’s currently 0-6 in the SEC.

Alabama has an all-star group of receivers in DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, not to mention insanely athletic running back Najee Harris, who can help Jones as he transitions into that starting spot. But it’s still unclear whether he can lead the Crimson Tide to wins against Western Carolina on Saturday and Auburn in the regular-season finale.

If Alabama wins out and finishes 11-1, it needs to hope LSU wins the SEC championship game while other contenders, such as Oklahoma, Oregon or Penn State, lose again.

[opinary poll=”will-lsu-win-the-national-championship_f” customer=”forthewin”]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

Photographer knocked out during Georgia-Aurburn is okay, shares photo she got just before hit

Chamberlain Smith reported shes okay.

There was a frightening scene at Saturday’s Georgia game against Auburn involving photographer Chamberlain Smith, who was knocked unconscious after Bulldogs running back Brian Herrien accidentally rammed into her after he ran out of bounds.

Smith was taken from the field in a stretcher and brought to a hospital. But she sent a Twitter update a day later to inform everyone that although the incident was “very scary,” she ended up with “nothing more than a concussion and some bruises.”

On Tuesday, she decided to share the photo she snapped with her camera right before the collision, and it’s a good one!

Also, it’s worth mentioning Herrien has been a complete class act about the incident:

[jwplayer uY4p5Eg9-q2aasYxh]

Trevor Lawrence met his TikTok doppelgänger before Wake Forest game

Lawrence caught up with the 16-year-old girl who went viral for how much they look alike.

Not too many people can play football like Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but there’s actually a handful who look like him. And that recently led to multiple doppelgängers sharing videos on TikTok highlighting just how much they look like the Tigers’ star.

Lawrence thinks it’s funny, and his reaction to one video was: “She does look like me.”

He was watching a video of Bella Martina — a 16-year-old girl from Alpharetta, Georgia, The Athletic reported — imitating different photos of him while wearing a Clemson jersey and headband, just like he does. And she really nails the impression.

Well Saturday ahead of the Tigers’ game against Wake Forest, Lawrence and Bella finally met.

In a story detailing how Martina realized she looks like Lawrence all the way to her experience going viral, she told The Athletic:

“I don’t know what I would say to him (if we ever met) because I don’t know how he would react,” Martina said. “I’d be like, ‘Hi! My name is Bella. You’ve seen my TikToks. We have the same face.’ I’d be so overwhelmed. I might just squeal.”

Martina told The Athletic that a friend told her about her striking resemblance to Lawrence in their history class, adding: “Everybody was like, ‘Oh my gosh. It’s kind of scary the accuracy.’”

It really is.

[jwplayer r4HQlGiy-q2aasYxh]

[vertical-gallery id=869963]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

Chip and Joanna Gaines joined Lee Corso with Baylor headgear on ‘GameDay’

The “Fixer Upper” couple made a big entrance on a tracker with Chip behind the wheel.

Lee Corso and ESPN’s College GameDay crew were joined by two guest pickers in Week 12 who are practically as synonymous with Waco, Texas as Baylor is.

Fixer Upper couple and Baylor alumni Chip and Joanna Gaines showed up to Saturday’s broadcast, ahead of No. 10 Oklahoma’s game against undefeated No. 13 Baylor, in style on a tractor to make their picks. Unsurprisingly, Chip was super excited to be behind the wheel of that thing.

The Sooners are 10.5-point favorites on the road, and while Corso made his famous headgear pick, he did one of his classic fake-outs, first going with Oklahoma in what he called “an easy pick.”

But he quickly changed his mind in favor of Baylor, and Chip and Joanna joined him with some Bears headgear of their own.

Here’s a look at Chip and Joanna’s grand entrance to GameDay as well:

Their fandom for Baylor is well documented on HGTV’s Fixer Upper.

In 2017, former Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III appeared in an episode about renovating the house of a Vietnam War veteran. Griffin’s Family of 3 foundation partnered with the Gaines couple to make the project happen, and Chip geeked out over simply being in the general vicinity of Griffin.

The Oklahoma-Baylor game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

[jwplayer r4HQlGiy-q2aasYxh]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

College Football Betting Guide: 5 Best Big Game Bets – Week 12

Breaking down the five best big college football games for Week 12; including college football picks, betting odds and more

What’s going to happen in the five biggest games in Week 12 of the college football season?

– Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

There’s no LSU vs. Alabama on the slate, but there is a whole slew of massive games that will shape the final few weeks of the season and, potentially, the College Football Playoff.

If you’re looking to get in on the sports betting action this weekend, be sure to sign up with BetMGM to take part in any of these games or other action on the schedule.

5. Michigan State at Michigan

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson leads the Wolverines against Michigan State. Tommy Gilligan – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Michigan -13.5, o/u: 44.5

Why You Should Bet On Michigan State: The Spartans are way, way, way overdue for something positive. They’ve had a rough run, they collapsed against Illinois, and they’re far better than they’ve been playing. The offensive line is good enough to handle the tough Michigan defensive front, and the run defense has been nasty against everyone but Ohio State and Wisconsin. But …

Why You Should Bet On Michigan: The Michigan State passing game has gone bye-bye. Brian Lewerke is struggling, he’s not accurate, and the offense is way too inconsistent. Ever since halftime of the Penn State game, Michigan has been fantastic defensively, going on a great 10-quarter run to get back into the hunt for a New Year’s Six game. Shea Patterson has settled down behind center, the running game is OK, and overall, Michigan is playing well. Michigan State isn’t.

Prediction: The rested Wolverine team will be a little bit sluggish out of gate, but the defense will take over as the game goes on. The Spartan O will stall, the Wolverine attack will go on a few late first half scoring drives, and Michigan will win by more than two touchdowns.
– CFN Full Michigan State at Michigan Game Preview & Prediction

 

4. Navy at Notre Dame

Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry will try to give Notre Dame fits this weekend. David Butler II – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Notre Dame -8.5, o/u: 53.5

Why You Should Bet On Navy: The Navy ground game is working at a whole other level. It’s leading the nation averaging 358 yards per game — a whopping 34 yards more than No. 2 Air Force — and everything else flows from there. QB Malcolm Perry (who’s really a running back behind center) has been brilliant, the offense is getting better and better as the year has gone on. The team should be able to control the tempo and the clock for at least 35 minutes. However …

Why You Should Bet On Notre Dame: Navy played one team that can throw the ball reasonably well, and lost. Memphis was able to pull off the 35-23 win with Brady White hitting 78% of his passes with three scores as the Tiger offense took control of the game. That’s what the Irish have to do. Ian Book might not be all that accurate lately, but he connected on 82% of his throws in last year’s win over the Midshipmen. He doesn’t have to throw for 330 yards again, but he has to be sharp.

Prediction: Somehow, it’ll be a sellout at the last possible moment to keep the 273-game streak going. The Irish have improved their rushing defense in recent weeks. They’ll have problems with the Navy offense, but they’ll be balanced enough to survive and cover on a late score.
– CFN Full Navy vs. Notre Dame Game Preview & Prediction

 

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

3. Minnesota at Iowa

Tanner Morgan will try to keep Minnesota unbeaten this weekend against Iowa. Jesse Johnson – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Iowa -2.5, o/u: 44.5

Why You Should Bet On Minnesota: It’s time to start giving the Minnesota offense — especially the passing game — a whole lot more credit. Tanner Morgan is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (behind the one-name stars Jalen, Tua and Joe) with a loaded receiving corps to work with. Iowa doesn’t have a big-time offense, but Minnesota does, with receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson talents who’ll soon be off to the NFL.

Why You Should Bet On Iowa: This is a steady Iowa team with the defense that’s been a brick wall against the run all year against everyone but Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. The offense has the veteran quarterback in Nate Stanley who should be able to hit a few big plays against a good — not amazing — Gopher secondary that gave up 340 yards to Penn State. Just don’t expect Stanley to throw the picks that Nittany Lions QB Sean Clifford did.

Prediction: It’s time to start giving Minnesota credit for winning close games. As the underdog on the road, the Gophers will pull out a thrilling, tight win with a big late stop.
– CFN Full Minnesota vs. Iowa Game Preview & Prediction

 

2. Oklahoma at Baylor

Charlie Brewer and his Baylor Bears have a tall task ahead of them in the Oklahoma Sooners. Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Oklahoma -10.5, o/u: 67.5

Why You Should Bet On Oklahoma: The offense has the ability to blow the doors off the Bears. There might be several issues, but Oklahoma continues to roll behind a brilliant year from Jalen Hurts — he’s playing better than Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray did, and with few mistakes. Baylor needs to win on turnover margin, and the Sooners don’t give the ball away with just 10 turnovers so far.

Why You Should Bet On Baylor: The pass rush is strong enough to keep Hurts from being comfortable. This is the best defense overall that OU has dealt with, with the disruptive ability to jump all over the backfield like nothing else the high-powered attack has dealt with. On the other side, the Sooner defense is starting to buckle again. It couldn’t handle Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson and the running game, it couldn’t handle Brock Purdy and the Iowa State passing attack, and now it’s going to try to keep Baylor’s Charlie Brewer from continuing to be his steady, cool self.

Prediction: It this a repeat of Minnesota-Penn State when the unbeaten team rises up at home when it get its shot? Not quite. Oklahoma will win, but Baylor will be just good enough to keep this closer than double digits.
– CFN Full OU vs. Baylor Game Preview & Prediction

 

1. Georgia at Auburn

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart (left) and quarterback Jake Fromm are facing yet another big game in the SEC. Matt Stamey – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Georgia -2.5, o/u: 40.5

Why You Should Bet On Georgia: Georgia does what Auburn likes to do, only better. The Auburn lines are great, but Georgia’s are better. Auburn has a fantastic defense, but Georgia’s is better. It’s Jake Fromm vs. Bo Nix, and it’s the Bulldog run defense that’s not giving up a thing. Nix is going to have to rock to pull this off, and he didn’t hit 42% of his throws in his three big games against Oregon, Florida and LSU.

Why You Should Bet On Auburn: There’s not enough of a Georgia downfield passing game for Auburn to worry about. This isn’t a Bulldog team that — as good as it is — is going to crank up 50 points and put the game away. This is going to be a low-scoring, tough battle, and this could be the Oregon game all over again — stays close, stays close, stays close, and then Auburn rises up when it has to.

Prediction: Go with the under as both defenses take over, but Georgia will be a wee bit better. The Bulldogs -2.5 is right at where the line should be, but go with a focused and more talented Georgia team.
– CFN Full Georgia at Auburn Game Preview & Prediction

 

Now that you know what you need to know, head over to BetMGM and get some action in any — or all — of these games for Week 12 college football.

For more coverage on Week 12’s College Football slate of sports betting action, be sure to check out CollegeFootballNews.com. And for more sports betting tips and picks, be sure to access SportsbookWire.com.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]