It's Friday, it's Rivalry Week - and you know what that means: You know darn well, we're making some college football picks!
This week we'll do things a little bit differently though.
The bottom line is, it's Black Friday, it's Week 12 and at this point, there is nothing I can tell you about these teams that you don't already know.
So rather than do deep dives, where we spend hundreds of words at a time trying to figure out every little details of every game, what we'll do is quick hitters on some of the biggest games.
Here are thoughts on Michigan-Ohio State, Florida-Florida State, the Iron Bowl and more.
As always, the picks are presented by Betfred Sportsbook.
Bet $50 on any game in the Betfred Sportsbook and you automatically get $200 in free bets courtesy of Betfred.
Now, to the Week 12 slate.
Florida at No. 18 Florida State (OVER 58) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Florida State has quietly turned into a really solid football team with four straight wins, scoring at least 38 points in each. They run the ball exceptionally well, and the Florida run defense currently ranks 92nd nationally.
Florida - despite laying a total egg against Vanderbilt last week - put up 38+ points in their two games prior to last week's loss, and also run the ball really well. For the most part, the offense has clicked since the second half of the Georgia game coming out of the bye.
I expect a Florida State win. But more importantly, I expect a lot of points - which is why you should take the OVER.
Michigan (+7.5) at Ohio State - Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, FOX
I promised to be quick here, so let me just say this: The Ohio State narrative reminds me an awful lot of the Alabama narrative a few months back.
That narrative? Remember when we kept saying, "Well, Alabama hasn't figured it out yet - but, when they figure it out... WATCH OUT!" And then Alabama never figured it out, and now they're 9-2 and will probably play in the Sugar Bowl?
Well truthfully, that's kind of how I feel about Ohio State. We keep saying, "Well, if they ever figure it out - look out" but we have an 11-game sample size and they still haven't figured it out yet. They easily could've lost a few weeks ago at Penn State and Maryland had the ball with one minute to go and a chance to win last week as well.
So, if they haven't figured it out yet, what makes us think they'll magically flip a switch this week?
I don't love Michigan here. But I know who they are. It's Week 11, and I still don't know who the Buckeyes are.
Michigan wins its second straight against Ohio State.
South Carolina at No. 8 Clemson (OVER 52) - Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Spencer Rattler had the game of his life (at least at the college level) last week against Tennessee. And while he won't replicate that insane performance, he will be throwing against a Clemson defense whose weakness is stopping hte pass.
Clemson doesn't throw the ball well, but runs the crap out of it, and will be facing a South Carolina defense which ranks 110th nationally in rush defense.
This one ends up with more points than expected, but Clemson wins to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Louisville (+3) at Kentucky - 3:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network
For all the criticism of Scott Satterfield through the years (and I certainly include myself in the group who has gone after him), he quietly has Louisville playing really good football this season, with five wins in their last six games.
Kentucky fought hard against Georgia last week, but has basically struggled with everyone since they came off a bye a month ago.
It might pain Big Blue Nation to hear this, but Louisville might just be the better team right now.
I'm taking the Cards.
Auburn (+22) at No. 7 Alabama - Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
As mentioned above, Alabama has never, at any real point this year put it together and played up to their immense potential. Maybe late in the Ole Miss game, but that's really it.
This feels like the type of game Utah can literally call nothing but runs and still win 4g from this group that makes me think they cover the spread.
Alabama wins. Auburn covers.
No. 14 Utah (-29.5) at Colorado - Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Put simply, I'm just sad that I won't have the chance to bet against this Colorado team after this season. They've played three straight ranked teams and lost all those games by at least 29 points.
This feels like the type of game Utah can literally call nothing but runs and still win 42-3.
I'm taking the Utes as a big favorite here.
No. 15 Notre Dame at No. 6 USC (-5.5) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
I'll just say this: All year long we've been waiting for USC to falter, and outside of a game where they lost by one, on the road against Utah, in a game that was marred by some, umm questionable refereeing they've found a way to win.
Beyond that, while everyone says Notre Dame has the blueprint to beat USC (run the ball right at them) doesn't USC have the blueprint to beat Notre Dame too? Isn't that blueprint, "Get up early, make Notre Dame play from behind and beat you with this pass."
I think so, and I think USC wins something in the neighborhood of 38-28 here.
Stay aways:
No. 5 LSU (-10) at Texas A&M - Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Part of me feels like "Man, A&M has been close in a bunch of games, I could kind of see them keeping this one close." Then I remember actually watching A&M this year, and just can't actually put any of my hard-earned money on them.
No. 10 Tennessee (-14) at Vanderbilt - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Poor Tennessee. We all know what the last week has been like, and I just see no way to accurately handicap this game without Hendon Hooker available.
A reminder: The picks are brought to you by Betfred Sportsbook. New users can get $250 when they bet $50 on any game this weekend - good in Arizona, Colorado and Iowa only
Comments