Competitors Week features two top 10 contests with the implications of the College Football Qualifiers in the Big Ten and Big 12.
2 Ohio State meets 6 Michigan in the Midday Game in a 10-1 battle of teams looking to win the Big Ten East. This is yet another opportunity for the Wolverines to break their eight-game losing streak against the Buckeyes.
The match took place in the prime time frame with the participation of number 10 Oklahoma and number 7 Oklahoma State. The Sooners and Cowboys may have a rematch in the Big 12 championship game, but Bedlam is always a high-stakes tie.
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There’s also the Egg Bowl, Iron Bowl and everything that makes this week special. These are games with a shelf life of 365 days. Each week, Sporting News selects each AP Top 25 match by virality. Here is our leaderboard for this season:
- Straight: 174-56 (February 18 in Week 12)
- Against the spread: 112-118 (September 11 in Week 12)
- Opposite: 9-15 (1-1 in Week 12)
With that in mind, check out this week’s picks:
13 week pick against disparity
Thursday, November 25
- Miss Ole No. 8 at Mississippi State (-1.5) (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Egg Bowl should be a thriller between two interesting crimes. Ole Miss was beaten 0-2 ATS this season, but the Rebels are playing for a potential New Year’s Day landing. What wrinkles will Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach create in this photo?
Pick: Ole Miss won 31-29 in a UPSET.
Friday, November 26
- Boise State (-2.5) at 22 San Diego State (12 p.m., CBS)
The Broncos are underrated as a favorite laner, perhaps based on a 4-game streak and top lane wins at Fresno State and BYU this season. The Aztecs needed this too, especially when losing to the Bulldogs. The Broncos play spoilers in a low-score game.
Pick: Boise State won 24-21 and COVERS by difference.
- 17 Iowa in Nebraska (-3.5) (1:30 p.m., BTN)
Husker is in the upper hand, and this is an opportunity to build some momentum under Scott Frost for 2022. Nebraska has gone five one-point losses against ranked teams this season, and Iowa has won six of them. most recent meeting. Expect another close match where late turnover can make all the difference.
Pick: Iowa wins 27-24 in a UPSET.
- Missouri at 25 Arkansas (-13.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Arkansas played Alabama tough, and there was a small risk of an emotional loss to Missouri, which was about to lead to a show-building win over Florida (and several A-plus trolling by Dan Mullen). The Tigers have won their last 5 meetings and the last 2 in Fayetteville are both over.
Pick: Arkansas wins by 35-24 but CANNOT cover the spread.
- Colorado in 16th place Utah (-23.5) (4pm, FOX)
This is a big road that could play out right down the road knowing Colorado has four Pac-12 losses with an average of 23 points per game. Utah earned their spot in the Pac-12 championship game, but we think they’ll keep rolling at home.
Pick: Utah won 35-10 and COVERS by a margin.
- North Carolina at 24 NC State (-6.5) (7 p.m., ESPN)
The Tar Heels have been inconsistent this season, but they have a chance to wipe out other Triangle schools in Sam Howell’s final game. NC State have lost in their last two meetings. An uneasiness about the ongoing competition at work.
Pick: North Carolina won 34-30 in a UPSET.
Saturday, November 27
- 1 Georgia (-34.5) at Georgia Tech (12 p.m., ABC)
The Bulldogs are favorite heavyweights, and there’s no doubt who will win this head-to-head. Georgia, however, is 2-3 ATS when favored by more than 20 points. Georgia Tech is stuck on a five-game losing streak and after a 55-0 loss to Notre Dame. The Bulldogs have won their last three meetings with an average of 36.7 points per game. When will they pull up?
Pick: Georgia won 44-7 and COVERS the difference.
- 2nd place Ohio State (-7.5) at 6th Michigan (12pm, FOX)
The Buckeyes have dominated The Game for the past two decades. Will Michigan finally author a response? That will be a challenge against the widespread offense Ohio State brought into a clinic against Michigan State last week. Emotions will be high, and Wolverines are due. But will they be able to keep up with that assault machine? This line can push towards two digits before starting.
Pick: Ohio State won 38-26 and COVERS by a margin.
THAN: Five Crazy Statistics From MSU’s Ohio State First Half Blitz
- Texas Tech at Baylor #9 (-14.5) (12pm, FS1)
Baylor is still trying to claim the Big 12 championship, and the Bears could clinch a 10-fight season with a win over the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is drawing 2-2 S/U and the teams have split points in the last 4 meetings. All of those were decided by 14 points or less.
Pick: Baylor wins 30-20 and DOES NOT CONTAIN the spread.
- 19 Houston (-32.5) at UConn (12pm, CBSSN)
UConn has lost its last three games by 30 points or more, and Houston is well enough to move on. It’s still a game we’d rather stay away from knowing the Cougars are 4-4 ATS as a favorite and line-up, but we think they prepare for the AAC championship game in style.
Pick: Houston won 44-10 and COVERS odds.
- Number 21 Wake Forest (-4.5) at Boston College (12 p.m., ESPN2)
Wake Forest is about to lose to Clemson, and now they need to win at Boston College to claim the ACC Atlantic Division. The Eagles qualified for the final round, but they lost to NC State and Florida State. Demon Deacons have a lot more to offer here, and that will happen in the second half.
Pick: Wake Forest win with 34-24 and EARN the lan.
- 15 UTSA (-11.5) in North Texas (2 p.m., ESPN+)
UTSA continues to maintain its dream season in impressive fashion against UAB, and now the Roadrunners face an average Green team that needs a win to qualify. UTSA leads the Conference-USA with a defensive run of 101.7 yards per game. Roadrunners withdrew in the second half.
Pick: UTSA wins 38-21 and COVERS difference.
- 4 Cincinnati (-14.5) in East Carolina (3:30 p.m., ABC)
The Bearcats may slip into the top four in the next round of the College Football Playoff rankings, but they’re still above the form scorecard. The Pirates are 4-1 S/U at home, and that loss was 20-17 to South Carolina. They’ll be in full spoiler mode, but the Bearcats look to be on the next level.
Pick: Cincinnati won 37-17 and COVERS by a margin.
- 3 Alabama (-195) at Auburn (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Crimson Tide is a very popular game in the Iron Bowl. The tigers are on a 3-match losing streak. It was thanks to TJ Finley to keep Auburn within impressive distance. Alabama hasn’t had a big win at Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2011. That’s a lot of points in this game.
Pick: Alabama wins 38-20 and NEVER gets a difference.
- Oregon State at 11 Oregon (-7.5) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Oregon-Oregon State is for the Pac-12 North championship, and this is the game the Beavers won last season. Oregon State won 41-38 last season, but the Ducks have won their last six meetings in Eugene. That sequence continues.
Pick: Oregon won with a score of 34-24 and COVERS by a margin.
- Penn State at 12 Michigan State (-1.5) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Michigan State received its reality check in a 56-7 loss to Ohio State, and Penn State is trying to avoid losing 5 this season. James Franklin is 3-4 against Sparta, but Penn State has won the last two meetings. The Nittany Lions also have a tough defence.
Pick: Penn State won 24-23 in a UPSET.
- Number 18 Wisconsin (-6.5) in Minnesota (4 p.m., FOX)
The Badgers can claim the Big Ten West championship with a win over the Gophers, who are suffering 2-4 at home from ATS and have been inconsistent this season. Wisconsin hasn’t lost in Minneapolis since 2003, and that streak continues.
Pick: Wisconsin won 31-21 and COVERS by a margin.
- UL-Monroe at 23 Louisiana (-22.5) (4 p.m., ESPNU)
The line is up one point from its opening, and the Ragin’ Cajuns beat the Warhawks 50 last season. UL-Monroe is a 3-3 ATS when they are 20 or more points behind them.
Pick: Louisiana wins 41-20 but DOES NOT CONTAIN the spread.
- No. 14 Texas A&M (-6.5) at LSU (7 p.m., ESPN)
Texas A&M could end a nine-win season, but they’ll have to do it on the road in Death Valley. The Aggies haven’t won in Baton Rouge since joining the SEC, and this is Ed Orgeron’s see-off game. It will be tight.
Pick: Texas A&M won by 27-24 but CANNOT cover the spread.
- Number 10 Oklahoma (-1.5) at Number 7 Oklahoma State (7:30 p.m., ABC)
The Sooners have won Bedlam in the previous six seasons, but this may be their best chance to reverse the Cowboys trend. Oklahoma State allows 14.9 points per game, and OU quarterback Caleb Williams struggled in two lane starts. All that said, the Sooners found a way into the rematch next week.
Pick: Oklahoma won 31-27 and COVERS the difference.
- Number 20 Pitt (-11.5) at Syracuse (7:30pm, ACC Network)
The Pitt-Syracuse game has an uncanny knack for deviating. Pitt has won 5 of the last 6 meetings, and 4 of the last 6 matches are demarcated by seven points or less. Orange suffered consecutive heavy losses, and the Panthers put an exclamation point on their ACC Coastal Championship.
Pick: Pitt won 38-24 and COVERS difference.
- No. 5 Notre Dame Cathedral (-17.5) at Stanford (8 p.m., FOX)
Where is this Notre Dame team in September? The Irish have been on their last six wins, and Stanford has lost six in a row and can’t make up for each of them. Follow those trends, even on the go.
Pick: Notre Dame won 35-16 and COVERS by a margin.
- No. 13 BYU (-6.5) at USC (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
BYU is looking to cap a 10-win season, and USC has hit a low point after double-digit losses in four of the past five weeks. The Trojans can fight, but Cougars will stay involved in the second half. Get this before the line goes up when touching down.
Pick: BYU wins 38-24 and COVERS difference.
