Essential Week 13 betting notes for college football’s top games
Searching for some quick-hitting betting notes to help you cap Saturday’s top college football games? Look no further. We break down all the need-to-know facts and figures for Saturday’s Top 25 NCAAF contests.
(8) Ohio State Buckeyes at (12) Michigan Wolverines (PK, 47)
* The Buckeyes have had the edge in recent meetings with Michigan, going 6-2 in the last eight overall and 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings at Michigan.
* Wolverines QB Jake Rudock has torched opposing defenses in the month of November as he’s thrown for over 250 yards in each of the last three games and hopes to continue his late-season surge by leading Michigan to its first win over Ohio State since 2011.
(1) Clemson Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks (+17, 55)
* The Tigers have won seven consecutive games by double digits, matching the longest streak in program history, but they are just 3-4 ATS in those games.
* The Gamecocks have lost five of six under interim coach Shawn Elliott since Steve Spurrier abruptly resigned last month. They have gone 3-3 ATS in those games, however.
Colorado Buffaloes at (25) Utah Utes (-16, 49)
* The Buffaloes, who haven’t finished above .500 since 2005, are coming off their worst offensive showing of the season, managing only a field goal in last Saturday’s 27-3 loss at Washington State. Redshirt freshman quarterback Cade Apsay is making his second career start in place of the injured Sefo Liufau and is coming off a 26-of-40, 238-yard, two-interception performance last week in Pullman.
* Two weeks ago, Utah was an 8-1 and sitting atop with the South at 5-1, but narrow losses to Arizona (37-30 in double overtime) and UCLA (17-9) have followed, cutting the Utes out of a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
(17) Northwestern Wildcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (+3.5, 42)
* With victories against Illinois and in a bowl game, this year’s edition of the Wildcats could be the first in school history with 11 wins, something coach Pat Fitzgerald has made sure his team knows. “I’m not afraid to talk about the realities of situations,” Fitzgerald told reporters. “Maybe it’s counter to the way some people think, but we understand the opportunity we have in front of us.”
* While there’s a lot of talk around him by the media and others, Illinois interim coach Bill Cubit is doing what he can to become the fourth first-year coach at Illinois to reach six wins in the last 100 years. “I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t think about it,” Cubit told reporters. “Other people outside probably worry about it a lot more than I do. Maybe my wife does and maybe my children do, but I just feel lucky that I’m able to do what I’m doing right now.”
Penn State Nittany Lions at (6) Michigan State Spartans (-10.5, 46.5)
* Christian Hackenberg endured perhaps his worst game of the season against the Wolverines, throwing for 137 yards on 41.9 percent completions in a 28-16 defeat. “No one really can question Christian Hackenberg’s mental or physical toughness,” coach James Franklin told reporters, “and we have got to get our protection and our run game more consistent to help him out.”
* The Spartans have allowed a total of 21 points in their last two games after giving up at least 21 points in each of their previous five contests. The Under has hit in Michigan State’s last two games.
(23) UCLA Bruins at USC Trojans (-3.5, 62)
* UCLA has won nine of its last 10 conference road games and is 7-3 ATS in those games.
* USC has owned more time of possession than its opponent five times this season – all since Clay Helton took over as interim coach in the sixth game of the season.
(11) North Carolina Tar Heels at North Carolina State Wolfpack (+5.5, 65.5)
* The Tar Heels are tied for fifth in the nation in turnover margin (plus-11) and have yet to have a RB lose a fumble.
* NC State is trying to better its win total from last regular season (seven) and had no trouble ripping the Tar Heels 35-7 in last season’s meeting, covering as 6.5-point pups.
(2) Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers (+14.5, 48.5)
* Alabama is just 1-4 ATS in the previous five meetings at Auburn.
* The last game played at Auburn in 2013 featured one of most famous endings in college football history as Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown as time expired to give the Tigers a 34-28 victory.
Connecticut Huskies at (24) Temple Owls (-13, 41)
* The Huskies hope to avoid a letdown after shocking previously undefeated Houston last week. UConn fans stormed the field after the 20-17 victory, which made them bowl-eligible.
* The Owls’ defense has allowed just five touchdowns in five home games, with three of them coming in a loss to Notre Dame. The Owls are 4-1 ATS in those five home games this season.
(19) Ole Miss Rebels at (22) Mississippi State Bulldogs (+1, 64)
* The Rebels lead the SEC in passing yardage (3,768), one spot ahead of the Bulldogs (3,479), and the teams are the only two in the conference averaging more than 300 yards passing per game (Ole Miss 342.5; Mississippi State 316.3).
* Dak Prescott earned SEC offensive player of the week honors after becoming the only quarterback in league history to account for 550 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in a game, and his 21 total touchdowns in the past five games leads the nation.
(4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (12) Stanford Cardinal (-3.5, 56)
* Notre Dame is 6-3 SU and ATS against Pac-12 opponents since 2012, including a 41-31 triumph over USC as 6-point faves on Oct. 17.
* Christian McCaffrey bolstered his Heisman campaign with a Cardinal-record 389 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Cal as Stanford scored at least 30 points for the 10th straight game.
(14) Florida State Seminoles at (9) Florida Gators (+2.5, 43)
* Florida State has won four of the last five meetings (3-2 ATS), but the Gators lead the series 34-23-2 overall.
* Florida has limited opponents to 14 or fewer points eight times and is tied for third in the nation at 14.5 per game against.
(5) Oklahoma Sooners at (10) Oklahoma State Cowboys (+7, 68)
* The Sooners are averaging 51 points during their six game winning streak and got quarterback Baker Mayfield back at practice this week after the junior passed concussion tests. Mayfield threw for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns against TCU before leaving last week’s game and is building a convincing Heisman Trophy resume with 33 touchdown passes and five interceptions to go with six rushing scores.
* The Cowboys’ own hopes for a spot in the Playoff were likely dashed last week with a 45-35 home loss to Baylor, though an impressive win over Oklahoma and some help from around the country could push them into the top four.