It’s rivalry weekend in College Football, and several games are set to determine plenty for the upcoming playoffs. Perhaps no game is bigger than the one in Columbus, Ohio.
Michigan and Ohio State will clash in the game of the weekend. One of the two will be in the postseason. One of the two will have a real chance to win the NCAAF Title in January.
The Iron Bowl and the battle between Notre Dame and USC will also steal the show this weekend.
These are the NCAAF Week 13 Odds and Predictions
(3) Michigan Wolverines at (2) Ohio State Buckeyes
- NCAAF Week 13 Point Spread: Ohio State Buckeyes -6.5
- Game Total: 44.5
- Stadium: Ohio Stadium, in Columbus, Ohio
- Game Time: Saturday, November 26, 2016 | 12:00 PM ET
- TV Info: ABC
The game we all have been waiting for in the Big Ten is finally here. The winner between Michigan and Ohio State will likely have a spot in the playoffs. Both come in with one loss, but the Buckeyes are the favorites in the pay per head sportsbooks. What’s the main reason? Besides playing at home, Ohio State has looked better all season. Michigan’s schedule could be questionable, at best.
The Wolverines bounced back from an unexpected 14-13 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes by beating the Indiana Hoosiers 20-10 during a blizzard last week. Michigan is 5-6 against the spread this season. They have covered the spread only once in their last five outings.
Michigan scored 42.1 points per game, which is 10th best in the nation. The problem is their offense is nowhere as good as those numbers say. The Wolverines average 215.8 passing yards per game and 235.3 rushing yards. Both faces on offense are good, but not great. They need to do better when facing a tremendous Ohio State defense.
To make it worse, Michigan’s starting QB Wilton Speight (shoulder) is unlikely to play on Saturday. He practiced Saturday, but there isn’t news about his ability to start.
“It’s accurate, yes. They both practiced. It was Tuesday. Today’s a new day. It was a good day yesterday for us. Our ballclub had a very good Tuesday practice and will look to come back today and practice well again”, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said about Speight this week.
If Wilton Speight can’t go, John O’Korn will be the starter. O’Korn completed seven of 16 passes for just 59 yards against Indiana. He didn’t throw touchdowns or interceptions.
Don’t expect the online bookie software to make an adjustment based on the starting quarterback. The College Football betting odds for this game are pretty much set up.
Any of these two QB will take on the scary Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes allow only 13.0 points per game. They have won the last four games in a row, including a nail bitter against Michigan State last week.
Unlike Michigan, Ohio State does have an established quarterback. JT Barrett is a long shot in the Heisman Trophy odds, but he has good numbers. Barrett has thrown 2304 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just four interceptions this season. He has added another eight rushing scores.
Barrett should be the difference maker in this game, and he’s why the Buckeyes are the play. Ohio State is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Michigan and 7-2 ATS in its last nine games when playing the Wolverines.
NCAAF Week 13 Predictions: Ohio State -6.5
(13) Auburn Tigers at (2) Alabama Crimson Tide
- NCAAF Week 13 Point Spread: Alabama -17.5
- Game Total: 47
- Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Game Time: Saturday, November 26, 2016 | 3:30 PM ET
- TV Info: CBS
The Iron Bowl has seen better matchups in the past. Even so Auburn will try to give its best against the best team in the country. The Tigers have won seven of their last eight games. But the loss against Georgia two games ago leaves plenty of doubts of what they can show this Saturday.
Here’s where the Auburn is hard to buy. The Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games in November, and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Their defense is solid, don’t get wrong. Their defense is the only reason the pay per head bookies didn’t make them more underdogs.
The Tigers allow only 14.3 points per game; the number is the 7th best in College Football.
What Auburn needs to know if they are about to face a team filled with NFL talent. Alabama is 11-0 overall and 7-0 inside the SEC. They are 8-3 ATS this season and have a point differential of +28.9 every game.
Bama allows just 11.4 points per game, second-best in the nation. Their offense is good, but their defense is the reason they are unbeaten.
Keep in mind the College Football betting trends say the Crimson Tide is 6-0 ATS in their last six games following an ATS loss, 5-0 ATS in their last five conference games, 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games, 7-1 ATS in their last eight games in November and 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
NCAAF Week 13 Picks: Bama -17.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (12) USC Trojans
- NCAAF Week 13 Point Spread: USC -17
- Game Total: 57.5
- Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, in Los Angeles, California
- Game Time: Saturday, November 26, 2016 | 3:30 PM ET
- TV Info: ABC
Remember when USC lost three of their first four games and looked like a dumpster? It seems like so long ago. They have won seven games in a row, including a 36-14 victory over UCLA last week.
What changed? Clay Helton stroke gold when he put Sam Darnold as their starting QB. He has thrown 2428 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The bookie business is about adjusting to change. USC improved, and the price per head services sees them as a good side once again.
USC has scored 37.1 points per game in their last seven wins. They have allowed 17.4. The Trojans are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a favorite, 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record, 4-0 ATS in their last four games in November, and 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.
Notre Dame is a train wreck. They are coming off a 34-31 defeat to Virginia Tech and have been an awful bet this season. The Irish is 4-7 ATS this season and 1-3 ATS on the road.
The Fighting Irish are 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games in November.
NCAAF Week 13 Predictions: USC -17.5.