2014 College Football Picks: Week 12 Odds and Predictions – Free College Football Picks 11/15/14: After an epic Week 11 of the college football season, Week 12 simply isn’t going to have as much of an impact on the national title picture. That being said, there are five games on the schedule matching up ranked teams, and this weekend’s slate will go a long way to determining several conference title races. Meanwhile, the SEC showdown between Mississippi State and Alabama will definitely impact the college playoff picture. On that note, here is a closer look at all of the top games for Week 12 of the college football season.
No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 25 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Can you say trap game? Coming off a big win on the road against Michigan State, the potential for a letdown for the Buckeyes is definitely a possibility as they face the Gophers on the road. However, Ohio State’s national title hopes depend on the Buckeyes winning and winning big in their remaining games so head coach Urban Meyer should still be able to keep his bunch motivated and focused enough to topple the Golden Gophers. After all, Minnesota is a one-dimensional, run-heavy team on offense, and the strength of the Buckeyes’ defense is their talented defensive line. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers looked helpless in a 30-7 loss to TCU earlier in the year, and Ohio State has the same type of speedy weapons on offense as the Horned Frogs. Minnesota may hang around early, but the Buckeyes’ fourth-ranked scoring offense will overwhelm the Golden Gophers in the end.
Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes (-12) Cover the Spread
No. 19 Clemson Tigers at No. 22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Both teams need some help to have any shot of winning the ACC title, but the winner of this game will at least have some slim hopes. The Yellow Jackets bring the third-best rushing attack in the country into the matchup, and their triple-option offense can confuse even the toughest opponents. However, Clemson has easily defeated Georgia Tech in each of the last two years, and the Tigers’ defensive front has the speed and athleticism to hold its own against the option. Perhaps more importantly, Clemson is expected to welcome back dual-threat quarterback Deshaun Watson for Saturday’s game so the Tigers’ offense should be able to further exploit Georgia Tech’s mediocre defense. Look for Clemson to come away with the win.
Prediction: Clemson Tigers (-3.5) Cover the Spread
No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide
The Bulldogs bring a potent, balanced offensive attack into this matchup, and while dual-threat quarterback Dak Prescott gets a lot of the headlines, running back Josh Robinson has been a sledgehammer in the backfield. That being said, the Crimson Tide have plenty of offensive weapons of their own, including running back T.J. Yeldon and receiver Amari Cooper, and they also post the second-best scoring defense in the nation. More importantly, Alabama quarterback Blake Sims has been much better in Tuscaloosa than on the road, and when Sims is able to stretch opposing defenses, the Crimson Tide can wear down opponents with their power ground game. Throw in the fact that Alabama has to win this game to keep alive its national title hopes, and Nick Saban’s group should be able to take care of business at home.
Prediction: Alabama Crimson Tide (-8.5) Cover the Spread
No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers
The winner of this game will remain in control of its own destiny in the Big Ten West, and the loser will likely lose any chance of claiming a conference crown. The showdown is also a matchup of two of the best running backs in the country with Wisconsin Melvin Gordon and Ameer Abdullah both leading the run-first offenses of their respective teams. While the running backs may be the headliners, it is Wisconsin defensive line that will likely decide the game. The Badgers rank third in the country in points allowed, and their big defensive front is yielding just 2.9 yards per carry. The Cornhuskers lost their only big road test to date, falling to Michigan State in East Lansing. They will face an equally hostile atmosphere in Madison Saturday, and when you also factor in Wisconsin’s edge on the defensive side of the ball, the Badgers should come out on top in this one.
Prediction: Wisconsin Badgers (-6) Cover the Spread
No. 9 Auburn Tigers at No. 15 Georgia Bulldogs
Of all the marquee games on this weekend’s schedule, this one may be the toughest to predict. After all, both sides have looked excellent at times, and both have suffered shocking losses. In fact, Auburn rolls into the game on the heels of a shocking loss to Texas A&M, and Georgia suffered an equally shocking loss to Florida just a couple of weeks ago. The good news for the Bulldogs is that they welcome back star running back Todd Gurley this weekend, which should only make their potent offense even better. However, the Bulldogs aren’t far removed from allowing 418 yards to a bad Florida team, and now, they have to try to slow down Auburn’s eighth-ranked ground attack. I expect a back-and-forth, high-scoring game, but I like the Tigers to pull out a close one.
Prediction: Auburn Tigers (+2) Cover the Spread
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