College Football Top 25 Best Bets And Week 14 Rivalry Games
Summary
The final weekend of the regular season features major rivalry games, including six Top 25 matchups. High-stakes contests involve top SEC teams and undefeated Big Ten teams, Ohio State and Indiana, who are the current favorites to win the national championship according to futures odds.
Several best bets are highlighted. For the Ohio State-Michigan game, the Buckeyes are favored to win decisively. In the Iron Bowl, Alabama is expected to cover the spread against Auburn. Another key SEC matchup sees Tennessee favored over Vanderbilt in what is predicted to be a high-scoring offensive showdown. These games carry significant implications for conference championships and the College Football Playoff.
The final weekend of the regular season includes the top rivalry games and dozens of other rivalry games that are among the most-watched and wagered games of the college football season ahead of the College Football Playoff. There are six Top 25 matchups in Week 14 across Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, with some best bets to consider for your watch and wager entertainment.
The biggest games include the top SEC teams in the College Football Playoff and conference championship game chase. Two undefeated Big Ten teams, Ohio State and Indiana, are trying to complete an undefeated season and spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and opening round bye during the College Football Playoff. BetOnline futures odds show the Buckeyes (+175) and Hoosiers (+475) as the two current favorites to win the national title and College Football Playoff championship game.
College Football Best Bets Week 14
Big games and picks on Friday ahead of Saturday’s college football contests and best bets include:
- Mississippi State (+7) over Ole Miss
- Texas (+2.5 / 3) over Texas A&M
- Arizona State (+1.5) over Arizona
Sat., Nov. 29
- Ohio State (-10) at Michigan
The stakes are high in the Big Ten rivalry games and scenarios for four teams to make the Big Ten Championship Game. None bigger than The Game between the Buckeyes (11-0) and Wolverines (9-2), who are both defensive dominators, and the Buckeyes allowing a nation-low 8.4 points per game. Defending national champion Ohio State didn’t even make the Big Ten Championship game last season, and they want this game like blood, having lost to Michigan each of the last four years, three times as TD+ favorites, including last season as a 20-point home favorite. Ohio State’s top-2 wide receivers are game-time decisions, but Michigan may be without three captains, including their leading tackler. Wolverines freshman QB Underwood gets his first taste of this heated rivalry, and he’s likely to make some mistakes with costly turnovers in play against this dominant Buckeyes defense. “Fun is kicking ass, and that’s what we want to do this Saturday,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Ann Arbor. Buckeyes bury Big Blue in the Big House.
- Alabama (-5.5) at Auburn
Alabama (9-2, 6-1 SEC) has more on the line with a spot in the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff if they get this victory in the Iron Bowl. Auburn (5-6, 1-6 SEC) is playing the rivalry ‘Dog role at home, trying to get a 6th win for bowl eligibility and also ruin their rivals’ season. The pointing and play on The Plains got uglier Nov. 1 when the Tigers lost to Kentucky 10-3 and then fired head coach Hugh Freeze. War Eagle failed to take flight and fight with all their might under Freeze, and the Tigers’ offense failed to score more than 24 points in 17 of 22 SEC games. The Crimson Tide has failed to surpass 400 yards of offense in any of their four road games this season, and three SEC road wins were by 3, 3, and 7 points when they had to rally with a pair of late touchdowns to beat South Carolina. Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson’s 278 passing yards per game lead all quarterbacks projected to make the College Football Playoff. He’s thrown 10 TDs in five games vs ranked opponents this season and has a 22-to-4 TD-INT ratio overall. Auburn has allowed an SEC-worst 41 sacks of its quarterbacks, and those could turn into turnovers for the ‘Tide as Ashton Daniels plays in just his fourth game for the Tigers and his first taste of the Iron Bowl.
- Vanderbilt at Tennessee (-2.5)
The strength and depth of the SEC is evident beyond just the top teams chasing a College Football Playoff berth. Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC) still has a shot at the CFP, having now won 9 games for the first time in program history. This is also the first time the Commodores and Volunteers have met with both teams ranked in the Top 25, and incredibly, Tennessee is playing the rivalry role of spoiler. Tennessee (8-3, 4-3 SEC) has won the last six meetings over Vanderbilt, each time as the favorite with no point spread below 10 points. Both quarterbacks, Heisman Trophy contender Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt and Joey Aguilar of Tennessee, will face opposing pass defenses ranked outside the top 100 in FBS. Vanderbilt’s only two losses this season were on the road at Alabama and Texas. Pavia averaged 70 rushing yards and 408 passing yards with a 15/1 TD-to-INT ratio in the ‘Dores last three games against Texas, Auburn, and Kentucky. Pavia also leads the SEC with 26 TD passes, 9.4 yards per pass and a 71.7% completion rate. Aguilar has five games of 3+ passing touchdowns, 23 TD passes overall and a SEC-high 3,145 passing yards at 9.2 yards per pass. Vanderbilt is top-5 in the country in third-down conversion rate (50.5%) and Tennessee is 46%. Looks like an offensive showcase that could go either way, but a high-scoring victory for the Volunteers ends Vanderbilt’s College Football Playoff dreams.
BetOnline provides odds on matchups, futures and daily sports news and betting information for your watch and wager entertainment. The latest college football news, stats and stories drive more engagement and interest during rivalry week and the College Football Playoff chase.
You can bet on it.
