There aren’t as many games as we were hoping for on Black Friday, but there are a whole lot to make it a fun day. What are the 3 best college football predictions against the spread for Friday?
Week 12 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
– Week 13 Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– Week 13 Expert Picks & Predictions: College
– Week 12 Expert Picks & Predictions: NFL
Results So Far ATS: 63-50
Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.
Week 13 Game Previews, Predictions
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
– Week 13 Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
3. Wyoming at UNLV
LINE: Wyoming -16.5
ATS PICK: UNLV
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
UNLV is 0-4, losing every game by double digits.
It started out the season not being able to do much of anything right against San Diego State, it got bombed on by a Nevada team that’s still unbeaten, it got run over by Fresno State, and it struggled against San Jose State.
However, outside of an ugly first half against San Diego State, the Rebels have been able to avoid total annihilation. It also makes a difference that three of the four games – leave Fresno State aside for the moment – were against some of the Mountain West’s best teams.
And that’s what you’re asking for here – avoiding total annihilation at home.
The Rebels aren’t doing a whole lot of things right, but they’re managing to run well at times, they control the clock a bit, and there’s just enough of a pass rush to make a difference.
Wyoming was able to rip up Hawaii when the team from Honolulu had to play in 25ish degrees in Laramie at the end of October, and it lost its two road games against Nevada and Colorado State.
Weather won’t be an issue in UNLV’s new house, and there should be just enough offense to not end up getting rolled by 17. You’ll have to sweat it out – Wyoming will win – but the number is just a wee bit too much.
NEXT: UCF at USF
2. UCF at USF
LINE: UCF -25
ATS PICK: UCF
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
It’s a rivalry game, it’s in USF’s ballpark, and it’s likely the team’s season finale.
Always be afraid of rivalries, on Senior Day, and the end to a season. Be a bit wary of what the Bulls did at Memphis, too.
USF has yet to win a game against an FBS team, opening up the season with a win over The Citadel and losing seven straight since then. However, it gave a high powered Memphis team a fight in a 34-32 loss just a few weeks ago, and the offense wasn’t totally miserable in a 56-21 loss to Houston.
And UCF is going to win this in a blowout.
This isn’t the UCF of past seasons, and the defense has a whole slew of issues, but you like nation’s No. 2 offense, like the AAC’s No. 1 scoring offense, and you’re truly, madly, deeply in love with the D that leads the nation in takeaways.
USF generates no defensive pressure, its offense doesn’t have enough pop thanks to a struggling – to be kind – offensive line – and there is a big, BIG problem with turnovers.
The Bulls have a whole lot of young parts, and it shows with a whole lot of turnovers.
So how did they stay so close to Memphis? No turnovers – again, UCF rocks at taking the ball away.
UCF has yet to beat anyone by 26 all year, and you’re right to be concerned that USF could keep pushing and score a bit late. However, this is a rivalry game for UCF, too. This is Senior Day – albeit on the road – for UCF, too. And after putting up a whole slew of big offensive numbers, expect UCF to expand the lead late with takeaways, too.
NEXT: Iowa State at Texas
1. Iowa State at Texas
LINE: PICK
ATS PICK: Texas
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
This is nothing more than 1) Texas being an even call at home – or a -1 in several places – and 2) total snobbery.
Iowa State already beat Oklahoma, but it went on the road and lost to Oklahoma State.
Iowa State is rolling offensively, but so would you against Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State.
Iowa State is … Iowa State. Okay, that’s stupid, because this is a strong Big 12 team – for whatever that means this year for the conference – with a whole lot of very, very, very good parts coached by a guy who could take over just about any bigger job he wanted.
– Week 13 Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
But as good as Matt Campbell is, and as good as RB Breece Hall is, and as good as QB Brock Purdy is, here’s where the snob side kicks in.
1979. That’s the first meeting ever between these two, and Texas won 17-9 in Austin. The 28-21 win in 2019 over a bad Longhorn team was the only victory in nine tries on the road, and again, it’s still Texas, and it’s still at home in a relatively dead even game.
This hasn’t been the total wipeout series historically that Oklahoma-Iowa State is in terms of blowouts, but it’s not terribly far off – Texas is 15-2 all-time in this series.
But you need more than just uppity goofiness.
Texas has started tackling again.
– Week 13 Expert Picks & Predictions: College
It’s been years since the defense could do the basics, and it’s still a work in progress in so many ways, but the run D has toughened up, allowing 130 yards or fewer in each of the last three games – all wins.
Here’s the stat that’s going to scare you off this pick, though. Texas is 5-0 when allowing 130 rushing yards or fewer, and 0-2 when it gives up more, and Iowa State has yet to run for fewer than 135 yards.
However, it’s Senior Day for Sam Ehlinger and a slew of key parts for Texas, the team is on a roll, and this is just the third road game all year for the Cyclones.
