COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST EARLY BETS WEEK 14
Summary
In a key rivalry game, No. 4 Georgia is heavily favored by 13 points against No. 16 Georgia Tech, with the prediction being a high-scoring affair where the Bulldogs ultimately pull away. Meanwhile, No. 2 Indiana, potentially looking ahead to its conference championship, is expected to comfortably beat Purdue but not cover the large 29.5-point spread.
In other major matchups, No. 3 Texas A&M is a slight favorite over No. 17 Texas, while No. 1 Ohio State is favored by 10 points against No. 18 Michigan, though the Wolverines are expected to keep the game close. No. 10 Alabama is predicted to easily handle rival Auburn, and No. 11 BYU is a heavy favorite to cover against UCF.
BLACK FRIDAY
No. 4 GEORGIA AT No. 16 GEORGIA TECH (+13, O/U: 59.5)
Georgia (10-1) roll into this one after a beat down over Charlotte, 35-3. Gunner Stockton didn’t work a lot in the cupcake victory, going 17 of 21 for 196 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. Nate Frazier rushed 12 times for 54 yards and two scores. The Yellowjackets (9-2) had their season pretty much ruined by Pittsburgh last week, getting crushed 42-28. Haynes King was 27 of 41 passing for 257 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed 20 times for 76 yards and a score. Isiah Canion caught four passes for 67 yards.
BEST BETS: Georgia -13, Over 59.5
While the Bulldogs should handle this one easily, Georgia Tech always shocks teams early. This looks like a shootout to me, for at least the first three quarters until Georgia busts through in the fourth.
No. 2 INDIANA AT PURDUE (+29.5, O/U: 54.5)
The Hoosiers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) took their turn taking the belt to Wisconsin’s ass last week, winning 31-7 in a game so easy Fernando Mendoza’s brother actually got to play. The elder Mendoza was 22 of 24 for 299 yards, four TDs and no interceptions in the win. Charlie Becker caught five passes for 108 yards and a score. Purdue (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten) saw how bad the Badgers were this season and decided to be even worse, losing 49-13 to Washington a week ago. Malachi Singleton was 16 of 28 for 159 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
BEST BETS: Purdue +29.5, Under 54.5
Here’s the thing. Indiana isn’t playing for anything here but to get out healthy for their showdown with Ohio State next week in the Big Ten Championship. They closed shop early last week against Wisconsin and will be more than happy to wrap this one up 35-10 too.
No. 3 TEXAS A&M AT No. 17 TEXAS (+2, O/U: 51.5)
The Aggies (11-0, 7-0 SEC) helped Samford’s athletic department’s bottom line by paying for a 48-0 victory last week. Marcel Reed was 10 of 15 passing for 120 yards and three touchdowns with no picks before hitting the bench. Amari Daniles rushed nine times for 106 yards and a score. Ashton Bethel-Roman caught two whole passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Not too bad. Texas (8-3, 5-2) ruined their season two weeks ago by soiling the bedsheets against Georgia so they took it out on Arkansas last Saturday to the tune of 52-37. Arch Manning was 18 of 30 for 389 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. Parker Livingstone presumed to catch two passes for 104 yards and a score. DeAndre Moore, Jr. hauled in three balls for 74 yards and three touchdowns. Solid night of work.
BEST BETS: Texas A&M -2
There’s a chance the Longhorns are motivated to ruin Texas A&M’s run here, but I don’t think they have it in them. And I definitely think the Steve Sarkisian angling for an NFL job stuff is VERY REAL.Â
SACKCLOTH SATURDAY
No. 1 OHIO STATE AT No. 18 MICHIGAN (+10, O/U: 43.5)
Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) kept the good times going with a 42-9 beating of Rutgers last week. Julian Sayin was 13 of 19 for 157 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Bo Jackson had 19 carries for 110 yards and two scores. Max Klare caught seven passes for 105 yards. The Wolverines (9-2, 7-1) won their fifth game in a row by knocking off Maryland, 45-20. Bryce Underwood was 16 of 23 for 215 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Bryson Kuzdzal rushed 20 times for 100 yards and three TDs. Andrew Marsh had five receptions for 76 yards and a score.
BEST BETS: Michigan +10
Nothing would be funnier than to see Ryan Day’s Grecian formula melt off his face with Michigan winning this game for the fifth straight season. I’m not sure it’s going to happen, but I know that 10 points is WAY TOO MUCH. Plus, at this point, aren’t we all rooting for it?
UCF AT No. 11 BYU (-17.5, O/U: 47.5)
The Knights (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) halted a two-game losing streak last week by shocking Oklahoma State, 17-14 thanks to a last-minute interception and field goal. Tayven Jackson was 16 of 25 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the win. Dylan Wade caught four passes for 145 yards and two scores. BYU (10-1, 7-1) kept its College Football Playoff position intact with a 26-14 victory over Cincinnati a week ago. Bear Bachmeier was 15 of 25 for 127 yards. He added 13 carries for 46 yards and a TD on the ground. LJ Martin did most of the work, rushing 32 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Martin caught three passes for 44 yards.Â
BEST BETS: BYU -17.5
I can’t do one of these columns without checking in with the Latter Day Saints and the Cougars look like they will absolutely soak UCF in this one. The Knights have scored 14 or fewer points in three of their last four games. On the bright side for Central Florida, there’s nothing to distract these Florida kids in Provo, Utah.
No. 10 ALABAMA AT AUBURN (+6, O/U: 47.5)
The Crimson Tide (9-2, 6-1 SEC) made Eastern Illinois eat it hard last week, making up for a shocking two-point loss to Oklahoma the week before with a 56-0 shutout. Ty Simpson was 11 of 16 for 147 yards, no touchdowns and two picks before he took a seat. Thirteen different Bama players carried the ball in the game and eight of them scored touchdowns. Auburn (5-6, 1-6) got its pay to play win in a 62-17 blowout of Mercer, halting a two-game losing streak. Deuce Knight was 15 of 20 for 239 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added nine carries for 162 yards and four scores on the ground. Malcolm Simmons caught five passes for 149 yards and a TD.
BEST BETS: Bama -6
I know that Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is not your dad’s Bama. Hell, it’s not your slightly older cousin’s Alabama. But the Tigers have been a complete disaster this season riding an interim head coach, DJ Durkin, after they fired Hugh Freeze to open the month. The Tide are going to be one and done in the playoff, make no mistake, but they’ll obliterate Auburn Saturday.
No. 14 VANDERBILT AT No. 20 TENNESSEE (-2.5, O/U: 65.5)
Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC) kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a thorough shellacking of Kentucky last Saturday, 45-17. Diego Pavia was 33 of 39 for 484 yards, five touchdowns and a pick in the win. He added 15 carries for 48 yards and a TD. Tre Richardson caught six passes for 159 yards and three scores. Junior Sherrill had eight grabs for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Volunteers (8-3, 4-3), after seeing their own College Football Playoff hopes dashed against the rocks, took their frustrations out on Florida last Saturday, winning at The Swamp for the first time since 2003, 31-11. Joey Aguilar was 17 of 22 for 204 yards, one TD and no interceptions. DeSean Bishop rushed 24 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Davis caught five passes for 72 yards and a score.
BEST BETS: Tennessee -2.5
Vandy is playing for so much more here and there’s a temptation to fall for it, but Vols head coach Josh Heupel has owned the Commodores since he came to Knoxville and none of the games have been close. Clark Lea’s farewell tour before heading to Penn State or wherever ends in a loss.
UCLA AT No. 15 USC (-21.5, O/U: 59)
The Bruins (3-8, 3-5 Big Ten) continued to circle down the NCAA football toilet, losing their fourth game in a row last Saturday, 48-14, to Washington. Nico Iamaleava was a pathetic 16 of 26 for just 69 yards with no TDs or picks in the loss. His replacement, Luke Duncan, was 5 of 11 for 81 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. USC (8-3, 6-2) saw its College Football Playoff hopes go up in smoke with a 42-27 blowout loss to No. 7 Oregon. Jayden Maiava was 25 of 43 for 306 yards, three touchdowns and two picks in the loss. Tanook Hines caught six passes for 141 yards and a TD. Ja’Kobi Lane had six grabs for 108 yards.
BEST BETS: USC -21.5
Is Lincoln Riley bailing Los Angeles for Florida? That’s the rumor. Either way, The Trojans have a ton of frustrations and they are going to take them out on UCLA Saturday. And Nico Iamaleava may toss three touchdowns to USC himself.
No. 9 NOTRE DAME AT STANFORD (+33, O/U: 51)
Notre Dame (9-2) won its ninth game in a row, fully bouncing back from its 0-2 start, with a 70-7 humiliation of Syracuse last week. They did not do it through the air as CJ Carr and Kenny Minche combined to go 9 of 14 for 68 yards, one touchdown and no picks in the win. Jeremiyah Love had eight carries for 171 yards and three scores. The Irish rushed for 329 yards and six TDs in the game. Stanford (4-7) put a stop to its three-game skid with an impressive 31-10 win over California last Saturday. Elijah Brown was 10 of 20 for 123 yards, a TD and no interceptions. Micah Ford rushed 29 times for 150 yards and a touchdown. CJ Williams caught five passes for 76 yards and a score.
BEST BETS: Over 51
I honestly kind of like Stanford’s chances of keeping this one at +33, but not enough for a Best Bet. I do think Notre Dame will pour it on like they did last week against Syracuse and could easily score 52 in this game all by themselves.
Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan
