Only two more regular-season college football weekends are left on the schedule, then we have conference championship weekend and then the first 12-team College Football Playoff field will be set. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves because there are still plenty of picks and predictions to be made.
Going into Week 13, there are three ranked matchups: No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State, No. 14 BYU at No. 21 Arizona State and No. 19 Army at No. 6 Notre Dame. The outcomes of these games could potentially impact the playoff race, in addition to respective conference standings, of course.
So here are our 10 college football picks against the spread for Week 13. Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Blake Schuster | 3-7 | 63-61 |
| Michelle Martinelli | 2-8 | 63-61 |
| Mitchell Northam | 4-6 | 58-66 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 4-6 | 57-67 |
| Tyler Nettuno | 4-6 | 53-71 |
All odds via BetMGM
Opening Line: Ohio State -9.5
Blake Schuster: Ohio State -13.5
I want to believe. I really do. And if this game were in Bloomington, I’d be all in on the Hoosiers. But Indiana’s road games this year consisted of trips to Michigan State, Northwestern and UCLA. Those environments just don’t compare to the Horseshoe in late November. Prove me wrong, IU.
Mitchell Northam: Indiana +13.5
11-Windiana? I don’t think the Hoosiers take a victory here, but I don’t think the margin for the Buckeyes is two touchdowns.
Christian D’Andrea: Indiana +13.5
The Hoosiers have won each of their road games by at least 17 points. Please do not look up against who.
Michelle Martinelli: Indiana +13.5
Look, it would be incredible for the Hoosiers to upset Ohio State in Columbus, shake up the Big Ten and remain undefeated going into Week 14. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. If the spread hadn’t changed, I probably would have picked the other way though.
Tyler Nettuno: Indiana +13.5
I love the Indiana story and think this is a legitimately good team, but winning this one on the road feels like a lot to ask. Still, this spread seems to big against an Ohio State team that’s not really built to dismantle quality opponents.
Opening Line: Ole Miss -7
Blake Schuster: Ole Miss -10
Florida’s chances here likely rests on a backdoor cover, and considering it’s Statement Win Season, I don’t think Ole Miss will give the Gators the chance.
Mitchell Northam: Ole Miss -10
Lane Kiffin’s team knows that it has to keep winning to stay in the hunt for a playoff bid.
Christian D’Andrea: Ole Miss -10
I hate laying double-digit points on the road in a conference game. But I also hate betting on Billy Napier, so here we are.
Michelle Martinelli: Ole Miss -10
Ole Miss has no choice but to dominate this game to keep its playoff hopes alive, and the Gators’ offense won’t be able to keep up.
Tyler Nettuno: Ole Miss -10
This spread is just a bit too small for me to go with the Gators. DJ Lagway is a joy to watch, and this team is improving, but I see Ole Miss pulling away to cover with a late score in a close game.
Opening Line: Texas -21
Blake Schuster: Kentucky +20.5
The Wildcats have given fits to Georgia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Tennessee. They’ve also been blown out by South Carolina and Florida. I’ll take my chances on this one staying within three scores.
Mitchell Northam: Texas -20.5
This seems like a correct line.
Christian D’Andrea: Kentucky +20.5
The Wildcats are better than they’ve showed in 2024. Not “beat Texas” better, but “lose respectably” better.
Michelle Martinelli: Kentucky +20.5
The Wildcats are not good with one, single SEC win this season, and they’re not beating Texas. But this is way too big a spread for a team that escaped Arkansas and Vanderbilt by 13 total points.
Tyler Nettuno: Kentucky +20.5
The Wildcats have a lot of issues, but I’m still not overly impressed with Texas right now. I’m not sure why they’ve earned the right to expect a blowout win in this game.
Opening Line: Arizona State -1.5
Blake Schuster: BYU +3
I don’t know if the Cougars win outright, but three points and a little BYU magic goes a long way.
Mitchell Northam: BYU +3
I think the Cougars get back in the win column this week after slipping up against Kansas. Arizona State is fun, but I’m not sure how effective its offense will be against BYU’s front.
Christian D’Andrea: BYU +3
No idea. Big 12 games are effectively a dart throw for me at this point.
Michelle Martinelli: BYU +3
No one is underestimating Arizona State, but now that BYU’s perfect season is over, maybe the pressure is off a bit. Not sure if the Cougars actually win here, but if they don’t, it’ll be super close.
Tyler Nettuno: Arizona State -3
The Cougars have looked shaky in quite a few of their recent games, while Arizona State continues to improve. We really may end up getting an Arizona State-Colorado Big 12 title game.
Opening Line: Penn State -10
Blake Schuster: Penn State -11.5
It’ll be ugly, and Penn State puts it away late. Or it’ll be ugly, and we’ll all hate ourselves for betting on this one.
Mitchell Northam: Minnesota +11.5
I can see the Gophers making a game of this at home.
Christian D’Andrea: Penn State -11.5
This is the kind of game James Franklin wins. P.J. Fleck is 4-8 in games against top-25 opponents the last four seasons. Only one win was over a top-15 team, and that was a pre-free fall USC team in October.
Michelle Martinelli: Minnesota +11.5
Penn State should win, but the Golden Gophers haven’t gone away easily this season, despite losing at Rutgers a couple weeks ago.
Tyler Nettuno: Penn State -11.5
This is a very solid Minnesota team that has given better squads fits. But the Nittany Lions have done a good job of taking care of business against teams they’re more talented than.
Opening Line: Colorado -2.5
Blake Schuster: Kansas +2.5
It’s Senior Day for the class of Jayhawks who went 2-8 with a win over Texas as freshmen, took the program to the Liberty Bowl in 2022 and knocked off No. 6 Oklahoma en route to a Guaranteed Rate Bowl win last year. There’s a brand new football stadium going up in Lawrence because of what this group built. Hawks by a billion.
Mitchell Northam: Colorado -2.5
The Fighting Deions seem to be on a roll. Should they make the Big 12 title game and lose, I am not looking forward to the discourse about this team being snubbed from the playoff.
Christian D’Andrea: Kansas +2.5
ALL THE JAYHAWKS DO IS BEAT RANKED TEAMS (except for K-State).
Michelle Martinelli: Colorado -2.5
Kansas is here to ruin everyone’s seasons, but I don’t see this Colorado team letting that happen. The Buffs are too close to the Big 12 title game and potential playoff spot to walk into third loss at this point.
Tyler Nettuno: Colorado -2.5
The Jayhawks are truly a vastly improved team and are much better than the record would have you believe. I think this is a brutal matchup for them, though, and they’ll be overmatched in a loss to the Buffaloes.
Opening Line: Cal -10.5
Blake Schuster: Cal -14
Cal is 5-5 and just needs to beat its biggest rival to become bowl eligible. Even coming off a win at Louisville, I can’t pick against the Golden Bears.
Mitchell Northam: Stanford +14
Cal is better, but I’m not sure if they’re capable of beating Stanford by two touchdowns.
Christian D’Andrea: Stanford +14
No chance in hell I’m picking the only team to lose to Florida State in this, the year of our lord 2024.
Michelle Martinelli: Stanford +14
Guessing Cal still wins this one, but this spread is way too big for a rivalry game this late in the season between two inconsistent teams.
Tyler Nettuno: Stanford +14
I like Cal to win this rivalry game because the Golden Bears are the better team. But they’re also exceedingly unlucky, and Stanford upset Louisville last week. This spread is just simply too big.
Opening Line: Notre Dame -12.5
Blake Schuster: Army +14.5
This game should be a lot tighter than the Navy matchup at Metlife Stadium a few weeks ago, mostly because Army has a healthy QB and because eating up clock is what both teams love to do.
Mitchell Northam: Notre Dame -14.5
My heart wants to pick this the other way, but after watching what Notre Dame did to Navy, I have a feeling the result might be similar.
Christian D’Andrea: Army +14.5
I want to believe.
Michelle Martinelli: Army +14.5
The Fighting Irish will probably win, but it won’t be easy against the best ground game in the country, which averages 334.9 rushing yards per game and consumes huge chunks of the clock in the process.
Tyler Nettuno: Army +14.5
The way Notre Dame manhandled Navy has me feeling like I’ll probably end up regretting this pick, but I think the Black Knights are a lot better than their service academy rivals and should at least keep this one competitive.
Opening Line: Washington State -12.5
Blake Schuster: Washington State -12.5
When John Mateer is cooking, get the [expletive] out of the kitchen.
Mitchell Northam: Washington State -12.5
Last week’s result aside, Wazzu simply has the better football team.
Christian D’Andrea: Washington State -12.5
Oh, so the wheels are coming all the way off in Corvalis. Bummer.
Michelle Martinelli: Washington State -12.5
Alone in the Pac-2, Washington State is maybe the quietest 8-2 team this season, and the Beavers just don’t have it this year. RIP Pac-12.
Tyler Nettuno: Washington State -12.5
Wazzu remains dangerous even after a heartbreaking loss to New Mexico, and Oregon State lost 28-0 to Air Force last week. Next.
Opening Line: USC -6.5
Blake Schuster: UCLA +4.5
This right here is when everyone in L.A. who still believed in Lincoln Riley will turn on him.
Mitchell Northam: UCLA +4.5
You do not have to watch this game, sickos.
Christian D’Andrea: UCLA +4.5
Big Ten after dark! Plan for weirdness.
Michelle Martinelli: UCLA +4.5
It’s a real shame this rivalry game won’t have any real impact on the race to the Big Ten title game, and the Trojans in particular are so disappointing this season. So give me the points, I guess.
Tyler Nettuno: USC -4.5
It’s been a rough season for the Trojans, and UCLA has improved down the stretch after looking like one of the worst teams in the Power Four early in the year. I still think USC avoids a disastrous loss in this spot, though.
