2024 College Football Week 13 Best Bets
2024 College Football Week 13 Best Bets
The Week 12 college football slate was relatively quiet from start to finish. Teams like Clemson and Oregon escaped tough road environments with a win. Others like Texas had a little more comfort late in the fourth quarter. But others, like BYU, Kansas State, LSU, Washington State, and Louisville were not as lucky. These upsets are helping shape the College Football Playoffs. And while some are out of contention, others are fighting to make a postseason bowl. Week 13 offers just two ranked matchups. But one is a top-5 showdown in the Big Ten. And there are a handful of others with bowl implications. Here are my favorite Week 13 college football bets.
Odds courtesy of BetUS. Use promo code Use promo code YARDSPER at sign up to receive a 125% BONUS on your first 3 deposits.
Please gamble responsibly and within your means. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Week 12: 4-1 (+2.9 Units)
Year to Date: 30-26-1 (+1.53 Units)
#5 Indiana (10-0) vs. #2 Ohio State (9-1)
Ohio State -13; O/U 51.5
Under 51.5 (-108)
Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin suffered a torn Achilles in practice on Tuesday and will miss this game, along with the remainder of the season. This is the third starting offensive lineman that will be absent for the Buckeyes this year. Indiana’s defense is no slouch – despite everyone criticizing their strength of schedule. Mikail Kamara, per Pro Football Focus, leads FBS with 53 pressures, while other Hoosiers get in the mix to make the quarterback uncomfortable.
On the other side of the ball, this will be the toughest defense Indiana has faced all season. Kurtis Rourke has played great this season, but struggled two weeks ago against Michigan when the Wolverines were able to apply pressure. I would expect the Buckeyes to be able to do the same. This, paired with potential sloppy conditions, has me taking the Under in the Horseshoe.
#14 BYU (9-1) vs. #21 Arizona State (8-2)
Arizona State -3; O/U 48.5
Arizona State -3 (-110)
The wind feels let out of the BYU sails after suffering their first loss of the season. Now they will have to win the Big 12 championship to make it in the College Football Playoffs. The only issue is they travel to Tempe to take on a red hot Arizona State team on Senior Day. The Sun Devils are 5-0 SU and ATS at home this year. Since the start of October, ASU’s Sam Leavitt has thrown for 14 touchdowns to two interceptions. This has him ranked among one of the best quarterbacks, according to PFF.
I’m going to roll with the team that has been red hot in Arizona State, who is still very much alive for the College Football Playoff.
#19 Army (9-0) vs. #6 Notre Dame (9-1)*
Notre Dame -14.5; O/U 44.5
Notre Dame -14.5 (-108)
Over 44.5 (-110)
* Game played at Yankee Stadium; Bronx, NY
Since the loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame has rattled off eight-straight victories. They are averaging 42.9 PPG in those contests, including scoring 51 over a fellow military academy. After missing the Air Force game, Army’s starting quarterback Bryson Daily returned for the Black Knights. Prior to his absence, Army had scored over 40 in the previous four. While I don’t expect them to do that, they’ll have to put up some points to try and stay alive in their quest to be the Group of Five representative. Ultimately, I think Riley Leonard and the Irish have too much firepower for the Army to stop. Irish win this one running away.
#15 Texas A&M (8-2) vs. Auburn (4-6)
Auburn +2.5; O/U 46.5
Texas A&M -2.5 (-110)
Sure, this could very much be a look ahead spot for Texas A&M as they host #3 Texas in the regular season finale. That game likely decides A&M’s fate in regards to the College Football Playoff. Still, A&M has no room for error if they want to make the College Football Playoff.
This is an Auburn team under Hugh Freeze. I touched on this a couple weeks back when Auburn hosted Vanderbilt: since Freeze took the reigns at Auburn, he only beats bad conference teams. Auburn is 4-10 in conference play under Freeze; those four wins come against the bottom of the barrel SEC teams. Those four teams have a combined conference record of 3-28. Texas A&M has the chance to play in the SEC Championship. This is not a SEC slouch that Auburn is used to beating up on. A&M takes care of business in Auburn.
Outright Underdogs (.5 Units):
Week 12: 1-3 (-.8 Unit)
Year to Date: 12-26 (-4.06 Units)
Wake Forest @ #8 Miami +1300
Yes, this is a long shot. But hear me out: Miami is coming off a bye; the week after a bye for Mario Christobal since arriving in Miami, Miami is 1-3. That includes a home loss last year as a 19.5-point favorite against Georgia Tech. Miami’s defense doesn’t tend to do them any favors, either. If there was any major upset to shake the CFP landscape this week, I think it’s in Miami.
Vanderbilt @ LSU +240
LSU is in an all-time down bad situation. If things couldn’t get worse after a beatdown by Bama, they sure did when LSU became Gator bait down in the Swamp. Now they welcome a feisty Vanderbilt team, who is 5-1 ATS in conference, and has won two of their three games outright as a road dog. Add another upset to Diego Pavia’s resume this year as Vandy pulls the upset.
Colorado State @ Fresno State +130
Both teams are desperate this week: Colorado State has a path to the Mountain West Championship, while Fresno hopes to go bowling. Fresno has lost two of their last three home games in conference play. I’m on the Rams to make it three of four, as they pull the upset to remain undefeated in conference play.
Air Force @ Nevada +140
Nevada is coming off their bye, but these are two teams going in opposite directions: Nevada is on a four-game skid, while Air Force won their last two. This is Nevada’s sixth game of the year with the spread under a field goal; they are 1-4 SU and ATS. Air Force wins their third straight in Reno.
UCLA vs. USC +150
UCLA’s three-game win streak was snapped in Washington last week. That makes this UCLA team desperate for a win as their bowl hopes relies on them winning out. While not a far trip for an “away” game, USC is just 3-4 SU as an away favorite and 0-7 ATS. I think the Bruins knock off the Trojans in Week 13.
What are your favorite Week 13 college football bets? Let me know on X! Follow me @DrewRoberts_ for more college football and NFL content
RANKINGS | Weekly | DYNASTY |
Fantasy Football Season Is NOW At Underdog. Sign up and draft now! Use Promo-Code: YARDSPER to claim your Special Pick + First Time Deposit offer up to $1,000 in bonus cash!
