College Football Week 13 Odds, Picks & Predictions (2024)
Gear up for another awesome weekend of college football action with BettingPros! We’ll have you covered with all of our top picks for the week along with our projected spreads and totals to help guide your college football bets. Below are our top picks and predictions for Week 13’s college football games.
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Top College Football Odds & Picks: Week 13
Pittsburgh vs. Louisville
The collapse is on in Pittsburgh. After starting the season 7-0, the Panthers have lost three games in a row. While only one of those losses was by more than five points, they did lose to 5-5 Virginia during their recent slide. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are coming off an ugly loss to Stanford, but they also return home for the first time in over a month. The only area that the Panthers have a clear advantage is their run defense. It ranks 14th in the nation, and it should be able to shut down Isaac Brown and the rest of the rushing attack. But the Cardinals throw the ball the 23rd-most in the nation, so they’re not going to be too thrown off by the Panthers biggest strength. Look for Tyler Shough to throw all over the Panthers, as the Cardinals cover easily at home.
Pick: Louisville -8
-Phil Wood
Indiana vs. Ohio State
This game has a lot on the line. For Indiana, we find out if they are the real deal. They have yet to face a ranked team this year, and now they take on No. 2 Ohio State. The Hoosiers have the 106th ranked strength of schedule according to ESPN's College Football Power Index, which has given them excellent stats. They are second in points (43.9) and seventh in points allowed per game (13.80), and we'll see what they can do against a top-tier team. That's Ohio State, as their only loss was against No. 1 Oregon. It seems like they are playing their best football since the game against Penn State. The defense has been better, and the offense line has improved, especially with the run blocking. You wonder if OSU center Seth McLaughlin's season-ending injury will impact that. The key for the Buckeyes will be if they control the ground game. Indiana is allowing the fewest rushing yards per game, but during conference play, they've only played one team inside the top 90 in rushing yards generated. Ohio State's defense will bring Indiana down to earth, but the Hoosiers will try to bring the pressure to a depleted Buckeyes' offensive line, so look for this to be a low-scoring game where the defenses will play the biggest factor.
Pick: Under 53
-John Supowitz
Wake Forest vs. Miami
Miami has had a couple of weeks to think about their first loss of the season. No one is probably reflecting on it more than Cam Ward, who fumbled at the end of the game to dash his perfect season and sent his Heisman odds way down. They will still try to score as much as possible as they lead the country with 45 points per game, and they like to run up the score. It might not be a problem against Wake Forest, which has allowed 77 points in the last two games. Their defense has been awful, as they're 82nd in rushing yards allowed (156.0) and 128th in passing yards allowed (281.9). Facing one of the best offenses in the nation, the Canes should roll in this win.
Pick: Miami -23.5
-John Supowitz
SMU vs. Virginia
The Mustangs have won seven consecutive games, and three of their last four wins have been by double digits. Quarterback Kevin Jennings is playing at an elite level, throwing for 2,198 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just six interceptions this season. This week, he takes on a defense that is allowing 274.4 passing yards per game, 13th-most in the nation. The Cavaliers have lost four of their last five, with their last three losses all coming by at least 17 points. The defense is allowing 29.1 points per game, and it’s hard to imagine them having any success against an offense averaging 37.8 per contest. The Mustangs have scored at least 38 points in three of their last four. Look for them to hit that number again this week.
Pick: SMU Over 34.5
-Phil Wood
Ole Miss vs. Florida
The Gators are fresh off a massive win against LSU. The victory brings them to 5-5 on the season, and with two games remaining, they just need one game to earn bowl eligibility. However, that win won’t come this week. The Rebels have won three in a row, after dominating Georgia two weeks ago. While there is reasonable concern that this is a letdown spot for them, they had a bye last week, so the effects of their huge win should have worn off. All of the Rebels’ wins this season have been by at least 12 points, and though the Gators pulled an upset last week, they lost by 14 or more in the previous two weeks against Texas and Georgia. Those are two teams that are very close in talent to Ole Miss, and I expect a similar lopsided result this week. The Gators rank 93rd in pass defense. The Rebels rank second in pass offense. The Rebels will dominate a weak secondary and cruise to victory.
Pick: Ole Miss -12
-Phil Wood
Kentucky vs. Texas
Ever since Kentucky's epic upset against Ole Miss, the Wildcats have dropped four straight games in the SEC. The defense has done enough to keep Kentucky in most of these games. However, the offense, led by Brock Vandagriff, hasn't done enough. The offense has scored just 21.90 points per game, with only 183.40 yards passing per game. Ultimately, it'll be the same story against Texas. The Longhorns have held teams to 136.70 yards in the air and have one of the best secondaries in college football. Texas hasn't allowed more than 17 points in three of their last five matchups in the SEC but failed to impress against Arkansas on the road last week, winning just 20-10. That should've been a wake-up call. Let's take Texas at -20.5 (-110).
Pick: Texas -20.5
-Jason Radowitz
BYU vs. Arizona State
BYU needs to put the loss to Kansas behind them and focus on doing what it takes to beat Arizona State. The offense needs to sustain and finish drives in the endzone. There is no more room for error. That means no turnovers and no penalties. The defense must contain the run game. But if Arizona State can be the one forcing turnovers and establish their run game– advantage Sun Devils. However, the Arizona State offense is nothing special. They have a good defense but may need BYU to make a few mistakes to get the win. After making those mistakes last week and losing a game they should have won, BYU will play a good, clean game this week and win the game.
Pick: BYU ML (+140)
-Travis Pulver
Colorado vs. Kansas
It's been quite the turnaround for Colorado. The Buffaloes are positioned to play in the Big 12 title game, sitting at 6-1 in the conference. Now, the Buffaloes will bring their four-game winning streak to Kansas to face a somewhat surging Jayhawks team. Kansas began the season 1-5 but is now 4-6 and still has the potential to win two more games and reach a bowl game. It was a disappointing season, but seeing Kansas not give up is encouraging. The Jayhawks have added wins against Houston, Iowa State, and BYU and came super close to defeating Kansas State on the road. That said, Colorado is just slightly better in all areas. Colorado has allowed ten fewer passing yards and nearly 13 fewer rushing yards. In addition, Kansas' secondary has allowed 229.30 yards in the air, and Shedeur Sanders has thrown for more than 300 yards a game this year. This game will be close, but I like Colorado to escape with a win and cover. We're all in on the Buffaloes at -2.5 (-115).
Pick: Colorado -2.5
-Jason Radowitz
Army vs. Notre Dame
The Army Black Knights have been one of the most dominant teams in college football this season, with one of the best rushing games in the country and a dominant defense. Or at least they appeared to be that good going up against Army's relatively weak schedule. However, a win over Notre Dame would give them some well-deserved recognition. Notre Dame isn't going to just let Army win, of course. They will use their own solid run game to try to keep Bryson Daily (Army QB) off the field. If anyone is expecting the Fighting Irish to demolish Army like it did Navy-just stop, it's not going to happen. This game will be a solid, well-played, hard-hitting contest won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes. So, Army could win this game outright, but if they don't, it will likely be a one-score game.
Pick: Army +14.5
-Travis Pulver
Alabama vs. Oklahoma
After the loss to Tennessee, we wondered if it was over for Alabama. Something has clicked since then. They've outscored their opponent 76-13 in their last two conference games. The defense’s improvement has played a big role, but the run game has finally come to life. That's specifically coming from Jalen Milroe, who's rushed for at least 50 yards in his last two SEC matchups, one of which includes 185 yards and four touchdowns against LSU. Can he replicate that against Oklahoma? This will be a tough defense to run against, which is 18th in the rushing yards allowed per game (109.0). They have faced better run defenses, and that was Tennessee, where they had 75 rushing yards and 2.2 yards per carry. Alabama has come off big wins and made it close the next game, and they might not take the Sooners seriously enough, so this should be another sweat-it-out game for the Tide.
Pick: Oklahoma +14
-John Supowitz
Northwestern vs. Michigan
Fresh off a national championship, the Michigan Wolverines failed to meet many expectations this season. However, there would be no excuse to lose to Northwestern at home. At 5-5, Michigan can still earn bowl eligibility and at least play another game so the young players can improve for next season. Northwestern has scored just 18 points per game, while Michigan has added 20.40 points per game. Neither offense is elite, and neither defense has played lights out. After Northwestern scored only seven points against Ohio State last week, it's hard to believe they'll do any better against Michigan on offense this week. I'll take the Under 36.5 (+100) here.
Pick: Under 36.5
-Jason Radowitz
Vanderbilt vs. LSU
LSU had been having a solid year and was in contention for the SEC title game and possibly even a spot in the CFP. But then they lost three in a row by double digits, and the last one to Florida was just ugly. Vanderbilt has been flying high ever since the win over Alabama. That is, until it all caught up to them vs. South Carolina, they looked more like the old Vanderbilt and not the new, competitive one fans have enjoyed this year. But they've had a couple of weeks off and should be well-rested and ready to face an LSU team coming off the wrong end of a beatdown for three consecutive weeks. This game will be won by the team that wants it more, and I just don't see an LSU team that is willing to put up a fight. If Vanderbilt loses, it will not be by more than a touchdown. However, LSU looks done to me, while Vanderbilt can't play enough.
Pick: Vanderbilt ML (+240)
-Travis Pulver