COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST EARLY BETS WEEK 12

WISCONSIN AT No. 2 INDIANA (-30, O/U: 44.5)

Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) got all it wanted last week from a spunky Penn State team that decided to play for pride, the man beside him and to boost their positions when they enter the transfer portal next month. Still the Hoosiers won, 27-24, which is what counts. Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman campaign took a hit (dropping to No. 2 behind Julian Sayin at +175), with a 19 of 30 passing day for 218 yards, one touchdown and a pick. Mendoza added 20 yards and a TD on the ground. Charlie Becker was his favorite target, catching seven passes for 118 yards. The Badgers (3-6, 1-5) got their best win of the season in a 13-10 victory over then No. 23 Washington. Looking for offense for Wisconsin? Well, there wasn’t any. The best I can do is Gideon Ituka who rushed 19 times for 73 yards. The Huskies should be ashamed of themselves. 

Best Bets: Under 44.5

Wisconsin’s win last week was so ugly it just slid into my Instagram DMs asking me about my day. As per usual, big spreads make me wary like meeting up with a date who starts asking me about my birth time. The Hoosiers can cruise through this one easily and let some backups get some reps so they’ll have some decent game action photos for senior day. 

SOUTH CAROLINA AT No. 3 TEXAS A&M (-19, O/U: 48)

The Aggies (9-0, 6-0 SEC) continued their tear through the SEC seven days ago, knocking off No. 22 Missouri 38-17. Marcel Reed was a solid 20 of 29 passing for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He added 29 yards on the ground. Rueben Owens II had 13 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns. South Carolina (3-6, 1-6) all but wrapped up any chance that LaNorris Sellers will leave early for the draft this offseason with its fourth consecutive loss, this time 30-14 to No. 7-ranked Ole Miss. Sellers was just bad in the game, going 16 of 30 for 180 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He did rush for a TD. 

Best Bets: Over 48

Again, the large spread looks like the ornate breakfast set up in a 1990s family movie and I’m the rambunctious and rebellious teenager with the skateboard slung over his shoulder that’s just not touching it. Those 48 points appear to be a gift to me. This might be the best bet of the week. 

No. 18 NOTRE DAME AT No. 24 PITTSBURGH (+10.5, O/U: 55.5)

Notre Dame (7-2) continued running through its cupcake schedule since starting the season 0-2 against real opponents with a 49-10 win over Navy last week in a rivalry game that mattered back in 1949. CJ Carr passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 13 of 16 attempts. Jeremiyah Love had 13 rushes for 94 yards and two scores. Malachi Fields caught four passes for 97 yards. The Panthers (7-2) won their fifth straight with a 35-20 cruise over Stanford last Saturday. Mason Heintchel was 23 of 38 for 304 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions. Ja’Kyrian Turner carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards. 

Best Bets: Pittsburgh +10.5

In spite of the Fighting Irish playing in the national title game last year, that two-game stumble to start the season has a solid stink on it. I’m not sure Pitt can win, but I think they can keep it close. 

No. 12 OKLAHOMA AT No. 4 ALABAMA (-6.5, O/U: 46.5)

Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2) ruined Tennessee’s season last week with a 33-27 shootout win. John Mateer didn’t do much through the air, going 19 of 29 for 159 yards, no TDs and a pick, but rushed 16 times for 80 yards and a score. Xavier Robinson had 16 carries too for 115 yards and a TD. The defense scored a TD on a scoop and score. The Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 SEC) crushed the desiccated remains of LSU, 20-9, in Week 11. Ty Simpson was 21 of 35 for 277 yards, one touchdown and no picks. 

Best Bets: Over 46.5

I actually have a good feeling about the Sooners in this one, but a good feeling isn’t a best bet. I do see the Bama offense being a lot more productive against a D-unit that Joey Aguilar passed for nearly 400 yards against it the week before. 

No. 14 VIRGINIA AT DUKE (-6, O/U: 57.5)

The Cavaliers (8-2, 5-1 ACC) dropped a hideous heartbreaker to Wake Forest last week, 16-9, as they did not make into the end zone even once. Daniel Kaelin was 19 of 28 for 145 yards, no TDs and no picks. J’Mari Taylor rushed 19 times for 98 yards. Duke (5-4, 4-1) returns home after losing a 37-34 shootout at UConn. Darian Mensha ended his day 22 of 31 for 222 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Nate Sheppard had 16 carries for 100 yards and two TDs. 

Best Bets: Duke -6

Virginia set the sport of college football back a few decades with its three field goal performance last week. The Blue Devils might run them off the field in this one. 

No. 20 IOWA AT No. 19 USC (-6.5, O/U: 49.5)

Speaking of bad offenses, Iowa (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) did its usual plodding best in an 18-16 loss to No. 9 Oregon last week. Mark Gronkowski was 10 of 18 for 138 yards, one TD and no picks. Kamari Moulton carried the ball 23 times for 87 yards. USC (7-2, 5-1) put it to Northwestern last week, 38-17. Jayden Maiava was 24 of 33 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. King Miller rushed 15 times for 127 yards and a score. Makai Lemon caught 11 passes for 161 yards and a TD. 

Best Bets: USC -6.5, Under 49.5

You know, if Iowa could actually play college football offense, they would be a dangerous team. Of course, you could say that for the last decade. If this is Lincoln Riley’s last hurrah in college before a move to the NFL (and you could say that for the last decade too), then I expect him to take care of business against the Hawkeyes Saturday.

UCLA AT No. 1 OHIO STATE (-31.5, O/U: 48.5)

Ohio State (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) did us right once again last week by soundly trouncing Purdue, 34-10, and hitting the under. It’s been a best bet every week and, spoiler, it’s gonna be again. Julian Sayin was 27 of 33 for 303 yards, one touchdown and a pick in the win. Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes for 137 yards. The Bruins (3-6, 3-3) continued their downward spiral, losing their third consecutive game, this time 28-21, to Nebraska. Nico Iamaleava was 17 of 25 for 191 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in the loss. He rushed for 86 yards. 

Best Bets: Under 48.5

I hope you are sitting down, because I’m going Buckeyes and the under again and the only thing that could screw it up is a bunch of Nico Iamaleava turnovers. And, honestly, if I think about that one too hard, I’ll talk myself out of it.

No. 11 TEXAS AT No. 5 GEORGIA (-6, O/U: 48.5)

Texas (7-2, 4-1) got itself back into the serious College Football Playoff rankings with a 34-31 win over No. 9 Vanderbilt last week. Arch Manning has started to look like the guy everyone (me included) that he would be back in September, going 25 of 33 for 328 yards, three touchdowns and no picks in the win. The Bulldogs (8-1, 6-1) crushed Mississippi State 41-21. Gunner Stockton was also sharp, finishing 18 of 29 passing for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Nate Frazier rushed 12 times for a ridiculous 181 yards and a TD.

Best Bets: Over 48.5

The total here gives a lot of respect to both the Georgia and Texas defenses and I just want to remind everyone that we’re playing college football here and these teams might score 48 each before the final horn. This is my second favorite best bet of the week.

TCU AT No. 7 BYU (-4.5, O/U: 53)

We’re back with our Latter-Day Saints nightcap after a week off, with BYU (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) smarting from a serious soaking by Texas Tech, 29-7. Last week, Bear Bachmeier was 23 of 38 for 188 yards, one touchdown and a pick in the loss. The Horned Frogs (6-3, 3-3) are also coming in off a loss, falling 20-17 to Iowa State. Josh Hoover was 34 of 50 for 319 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Jordan Dwyer caught 11 passes for 108 yards and a TD. Eric McAlister had 11 grabs too for 107 yards. 

Best Bets: TCU +4.5

TCU has held opponents to 24 points or less six times in nine games this season. This could be Sonny Dykes’ last ride in Fort Worth and he’s got a few more upsets in him before he takes one of the bigger jobs that will likely be calling him come January. 

Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan