Week 13 College Football Best Bets: We Have Your Cure For Triskaidekaphobia
While nothing will be settled until December, our Week 13 College Football Best Bets aim to bring some clarity – and possibly cure your triskaidekaphobia - ahead of the College Football Playoff. After all, 13 is the sum of 6 & 7.
In the Big Ten, it appears only the Michigan Wolverines stand between a conference championship matchup between Ohio State and Indiana. Both teams carry greater than a 90% probability of making the playoffs. And guarantee themselves a spot by winning out.
The road to the SEC title game opened wider on Saturday as Oklahoma toppled Alabama, and Georgia demolished Texas. Earlier in the day, Texas A&M rallied from a 30-3 halftime deficit to slip past South Carolina 31-30. The 10-0 Aggies failed to cover for just the 3rd time this season. Texas A&M (7-0 in the SEC) must beat Texas to ensure an SEC title game spot and best sports betting sites.
What Lies Ahead In Big Ten, Big 12 & SEC
In the Big Ten, Ohio State demolished UCLA 48-10 to score the cover on a massive 33.5-point line Saturday. Indiana? The last time Indiana reached 11-0 was during basketball season. The Hoosiers whipped Wisconsin 31-7 on Saturday. But be wary moving forward, the Hoosiers have now failed to cover in 3 of their past 5 games.
Only Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 SEC, 9-1 ATS) and Ohio State (10, 6-0 Big Team, 7-1-1 ATS) have failed to cover or push more than once this season. Thirteen FBS missed the cover or push twice this season. Neither Ohio State (see above) nor Texas Tech has yet to clinch a spot in their respective conference title games. The Red Raiders enter Week 12 with an 83% chance to make the playoffs. That number moves to 100% if they win out.
Week 13 College Football Best Bets: Odds & Picks
| DATE | MATCHUP | BEST BET | TIME / TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Missouri at  Oklahoma | OU −8.5 | 12 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Rutgers at  Ohio State | Under 56.5 | 12 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Miami at  Virginia Tech | Under 49.5 | 12 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Louisville at  SMU | SMU −1.5 | 12 p.m. (ESPN2) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Baylor at  Arizona | AZ −6.5 | 1 p.m. (TNT) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  USC at  Oregon | USC +8.5 | 3:30 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Arkansas at  Texas | TEX −10 | 3:30 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Kentucky at  Vanderbilt | UK +9.5 | 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Kansas St. at  Utah | UTAH −15.5 | 4 p.m. (ESPN2) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Michigan at  Maryland | MD +12.5 | 4 p.m. (BTN) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Oklahoma St. at  UCF | UCF −13.5 | 4 p.m. (ESPN+) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  TCU at  Houston | HOU −1.5 | 4 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Pittsburgh at  Georgia Tech | GT −2.5 | 7 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Tennessee at  Florida | FLA +3.5 | 7:30 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  BYU at  Cincinnati | UC +2.5 | 8 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sat., Nov. 22 |  Arizona St. at  Colorado | ASU −7.5 | 8 p.m. (ESPN2) |
Green = Underdog pick
Red = Favorite / Moneyline favorite
Gray = Total (Over/Under)
Week 13 College Football Best Best: Game-By-Game Picks
Saturday, Nov. 22
Missouri at Oklahoma, 12 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: Brent Venables deftly holds the reins of the Sooner Schooner and continues to guide it toward a College Football Playoff berth. The Sooners rolled into Tuscaloosa and unleashed their No. 7-in-the-nation defense on Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide in a 23-21 win that featured 17 points off 3 turnovers. The Sooners moved safely into the playoff poll discussion with 3 top-25 wins, and back-to-back road wins (and covers) at Tennessee and Alabama (+7.5). The Tigers (7-3, 3-3 SEC) own a bowl bid but have long since faded from the SEC Championship and CFB Playoff race. A 49-27 win over Mississippi State in Week 12 merely helped make this number more favorable for Oklahoma. The Sooners wreak havoc defensively. The Tigers, meanwhile, put up a fight. For maybe one half. We're not kitt'n here.
Best Bet: Oklahoma -8.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam
Rutgers at Ohio State, 12 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: The Buckeyes could make this score whatever they wish. We saw that Saturday against UCLA, when the second, third, and fourth stringers ran wild over the bewildered Bruins in a 48-10 rout. This week, Ryan Day, Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes’ all-world defense, Heisman House resident Eddie George, Jack Nicklaus, and every person who has ever stepped foot in Ohio stand eyes fixed toward next week’s game, The School Up North at Ann Arbor. Their version of a “trap game” here means a victory by fewer than 32.5 points. Ohio State may call off even the intramural squad this week, with Michigan carrying all the darkness of an F5 tornado just past the horizon. But Matt Patricia's defense never quits.
Best Bet: Under 56.5 Points (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
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Miami at Virginia Tech, 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: Coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes will be watching the ACC Championship Game from Coral Gables. But the Hurricanes remain a long shot for a possible College Football Playoff berth. At 8-2, Miami needs to win out, then hope some other pieces fall into place. The ‘Canes won’t be left high and dry in Blacksburg this week. Tech plays out the string with the interim coach and players whose focus has turned toward the portal. Can Miami deliver a 3-score cover on the road against an ACC foe? We’ll take the under here, given that Miami needs to hold some of its offensive powder for a visit to Pitt next week.
Best Bet: Under 49.5 Points (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam
Louisville at SMU, 12 p.m. (ESPNU)
Buzz: Louisville’s kicking game dealt a triple deuce in Week 12. The Cards missed 2 field goal tries and a PAT during a 20-19 loss to Clemson as 2.5-point favorites. That iced any slim hopes in the Cards for a College Football Playoff berth or ACC title shot. All that’s left to play for here is pride and a berth in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Mustangs own just one loss since joining the ACC last season and come off the bye.
Best Bet: SMU -1.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Kansas at Iowa State, 12 p.m. (FS1)
Buzz: A four-game losing streak left the Cyclones’ season in shambles. That slide finally ended with a hard-fought 20-17 win at TCU before the bye. Kansas must carry on, wayward son, and win one of its final 2 games to clinch a bowl berth. The Jayhawks face No. 13 Utah next week. This week, a rebalanced Iowa State team off the bye at home leaves Kansas past the “point of know return.”
Best Bet: Iowa State – 3.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam
Baylor at Arizona, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Buzz: Both teams have been erased from the Big 12 and College Football Playoff picture. The 7-3 Wildcats have won 3 straight in conference. The Bears need one more victory to be bowl eligible. But Arizona clearly remains on a much better trajectory to get the win – and more - here.
Best Bet: Arizona -6.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
USC at Oregon, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Buzz: USC and Oregon each need a win to keep their long-shot Big Ten championship hopes alive. They're each 6-1 in conference play. The College Football Playoff picture remains much less murky for these schools. USC must the table, given its 2 losses, to remain alive. Oregon, meanwhile, has room for one more defeat. Lincoln Riley’s Trojans displayed their aquatic side Saturday, out sloshing Iowa in the rain at home 26-21, but missing on the 6.5-point line. The Ducks quacked up Minnesota 42-13 (-26.5) Friday night. But USC has the athletes and coaching to keep this one close.
Best Bet: USC +8.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Syracuse at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Buzz: The Irish backed up the College Football Playoff Section Committee’s lustful gaze by delivering a convincing 37-15 knockout of host Pitt on Saturday. It marked Notre Dame’s 2nd win over a ranked opponent. And assured the Irish of a playoff spot if they win out here and at Stanford. Still, with 2 losses, the Irish need to stack points given the number of two-loss teams that will likely be snubbed at their expense. The Orange have dropped 6 straight, their widest loss being a 35-point defeat at the hands of Duke. We’re not sure Syracuse sees the end zone more than once here. Notre Dame scores for 60 minutes whenever it has the chance. Its 49-10 win over Navy offers all the proof you need to back the favorites here.
Best Bet: Notre Dame -35.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
Arkansas at Texas, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: Those Warby Parkers could prevent Arch Manning from seeing double when it came to Georgia’s defense in Week 12. The Longhorns absorbed a 35-10 beating between the hedges. That loss ended any hope of the ‘Horns returning to the SEC title game. It also downgraded their probability of reaching the College Football Playoff to just 25%. The Horns close the season against Texas A&M next week. They can’t afford anything resembling a “trap game” here. Texas lacks the firepower to stack points even against mediocre foes. But the Razorbacks are several levels below that. The home team Longhorns, score a bounce-back cover on a discounted line.
Best Bet: Texas -10 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: The Commodores caught the fancy of the college football fans and the betting public to open the season. They covered in 4 of 5 straight wins. Since Vandy has gone .500 on the number. The Commodores scored a 45-38 OT win over Auburn ahead of the bye, rallying from a 10-point hole but failing to cover the 6.5-point line. Kentucky, meanwhile, beat Auburn 10-3 earlier this season as 11.5-point dogs. Both teams keep this to a one-score margin.
Best Bet: Kentucky +9.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Kansas State at Utah, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Buzz: The 8-2 Utes need to win out and get some help to reach the Big 12 title game and keep their hopes alive in the College Football Playoff race. They’ll get a win this week with ease at home against K-State. The Wildcats need one more win to gain a bowl berth. That comes next week at home against Colorado. This week, Utah (8-2 ATS) notches the quick-and-easy win and cover.
Best Bet: Utah -15.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Michigan at Maryland, 4 p.m. (BTN)
Buzz: The 8-2 Wolverines remain very much alive in the chase for both a spot in the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff. Michigan barely escaped with a 24-22 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field thanks to a 31-yard field goal at the bottom of the ninth (or at the gun). Michigan missed bigly on the cover Saturday (-12.5) and has struggled on the line all season, covering just 3 times in 10 tries. Don’t kid yourselves, everyone who bleeds maize and blue from Tom Brady to Dave Portnoy, to the entire population of Ann Arbor, has moved on to Ohio State. The Terps are 5-5 ATS despite their 4-6 overall record. This one has “Big Ten Home Backdoor Cover” sprayed in both end zones.
Best Bet: Maryland +12.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Oklahoma State at UCF, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
Buzz: A hot and humid late autumn climate awaits Oklahoma State (0-9 against FBS teams) inside the Bounce House. UCF’s home venue doubles as an Easy-Bake Oven for visiting teams that fail to properly hydrate. The Pokes covered in their past 2 games (against Kansas and Kansas State), but this number suits UCF. In terms of comps, Houston and Cincinnati beat UCF by a total of 14 points. Those same two teams combined to whip OSU by 54.
Best Bet: UCF -13.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam
TCU at Houston, 4 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: TCU threw in the towel against BYU Saturday in a 44-13 loss – its 2nd straight conference loss. The 2025 Letdown Tour continues for the Horned Frogs this week at 8-2 Houston. A 10-2 Houston finish won’t crack the College Football Playoff rankings. But the Cougars don’t know that.
Best Bet: Houston -1.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: The Panthers limp into Bobby Dodd Stadium on three paws following a devastating 37-15 loss at home to Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets keep buzzing toward a dual berth in the ACC Championship and College Football Playoff. A win this week clinches said conference title game entry – and path to the postseason regardless of what happens next week against Georgia. Haynes King and the Jackets grab the cover with points to spare.
Best Bet: Georgia Tech -2.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
Tennessee at Florida, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: Florida’s defense sparked a home win over Texas. It aided the Gators in scoring covers away from Gainesville against Georgia and Ole Miss. The Gators, however, keep finding ways not to win. Tennessee dropped 2 of 3 SEC games before a scrimmage win over New Mexico State. The Vols are stuck between the Liberty Bowl and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Florida continues to pursue Lane Kiffin and Jon Gruden. The Gators flex one last time at home during the Billy Gonzales Era.
Best Bet: Florida +3.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
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BYU at Cincinnati, 8 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: Six teams, including BYU and Cincinnati, remain in the mathematical chase for the 2 berths in the Big 12 title game. Expect the fur to fly with these felines. This game deserves its “must-win” moniker. Cincinnati sputtered at home in a 30-24 loss to Arizona on Saturday. BYU, meanwhile, rolled past TCU in Provo. Still, it’s hard to envision any Scott Satterfield-coached team losing 3 conference games in a row, including two straight at home. Take the points here.
Best Bet: Cincinnati +2.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
Arizona State at Colorado, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Buzz: The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) sit among a half-dozen teams alive in the quest to reach the Big 12 title game. Those hopes will remain alive with a win over the Buffaloes. ASU QB Jeff Sims has performed admirably in replacing Sam Leavitt. Kenny Dillingham won’t let his team look ahead toward Arizona next week. Right?
Best Bet: Arizona State -7.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
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