College Football Week 12 thread

The most-interesting games and lines for Week 12. As always, all point spreads from ESPN’s college football odds page and all times Eastern:

Thursday

East Carolina (-2) at Cincinnati, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Cal (+14.5) at USC, 9 p.m., ESPN

Saturday

Ohio State (-12) at Minnesota, noon, ABC

Clemson (-3) at Georgia Tech, noon, ESPN

Virginia Tech (+7) at Duke, noon, ESPNU

South Carolina (+6) at Florida, noon, SEC Network

Pittsburgh (+2) at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m., ACC Network

TCU (-28) at Kansas, 3 p.m., Fox Sports 1

Mississippi State (+7) at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Nebraska (+6) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Washington (+8.5) at Arizona, 3:30 p.m., Fox

Georgia Southern (+3.5) at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

Utah (+7.5) at Stanford, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Auburn (+2.5) at Georgia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Missouri (+5.5) at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network

Florida State (-2.5) at Miami, 8 p.m., ABC

Michigan State (-11) at Maryland, 8 p.m., Big Ten Network

LSU (+2.5) at Arkansas, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Arizona State (-9.5) at Oregon State, 10:45 p.m., ESPN

 

The number one team in the country is a seven-point underdog. Don't see that every day.

 

I think Alabama has been favored in every game since the 2009 SEC championship vs. No. 1 Florida. On the flip side, this is the first time Alabama has been a single digit home favorite since 2011 against No. 1 LSU.

The one that jumps out at me is LSU being an underdog against Arkansas, which hasn't won an SEC game in 2 years.

 

That one got me, too Steak. I see that as a real overlay, while the other is just based on the likely accurate perception of Alabama's strength. Of course, they did lose that 2011 game.

 

From my B1G viewpoint:

Nebraska-Wisco line looks like a ton of points, for two teams that are pretty even. Assume it has to be Abdullah's injury? Be interesting to watch that situation & if that number moves any.

I expect Sparty to kick the ever loving crap out of Maryland. Gonna be an angry bunch.

No clue what to expect from tOSU. They expended a TON of emotion last week, tough for a team that young to not flatten out a bit. Minnesota is pretty good & the weather is supposed to be frigid. Then again....they make want to make a statement. Be tough to touch that one. Believe this one opened in the -13.5 range.

 

That Navy-Georgia Southern game might be over in 2 1/2 hours.

 

Supposed to be a blizzard in Fayetteville on Saturday night. i don't know if the weather figures into the line or not.

 

As long as we keep having these TAMU winning AT Auburn scenarios, the whole "hasn't won in *this* long" is a moot point.

 

FSU -2.5 at Miami is the Seminoles' smallest line since 2011 at Clemson, when it was favored by 1.5 (Clemson won 35-30).

 

I could see LSU going in the dump after Saturday given how bad their QB play is. And Arkansas is a tough, physical team that just can't close out games.

 

Thursday

East Carolina (-2) at Cincinnati, 7 p.m., ESPN2 -- Cincy

Cal (+14.5) at USC, 9 p.m., ESPN -- I can see it being a 14-point final. But Cal's defense is 122nd in points allowed and USC is coming off a bye.

Saturday

Ohio State (-12) at Minnesota, noon, ABC -- Minnesota to cover. Buckeyes left it all in East Lansing.

Clemson (-3) at Georgia Tech, noon, ESPN -- Tech

Virginia Tech (+7) at Duke, noon, ESPNU -- Duke

South Carolina (+6) at Florida, noon, SEC Network -- They'll probably play defense all over each other.

Pittsburgh (+2) at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m., ACC Network -- Blah.

TCU (-28) at Kansas, 3 p.m., Fox Sports 1 -- I'd probably take 28 a week after TCU put it all into Kansas State

Mississippi State (+7) at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., CBS -- I like Blake Sims. Slugfest. Down to the buzzer.

<as an aside, not sure who phrased it during the Bama-LSU game but it would make a cool feature: "Middle Linebacker in the SEC" >

Nebraska (+6) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., ABC -- good game

Washington (+8.5) at Arizona, 3:30 p.m., Fox -- Arizona by a lot.

Georgia Southern (+3.5) at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network -- take the over.

Utah (+7.5) at Stanford, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Network -- Stanford

Auburn (+2.5) at Georgia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN -- OVER.

Missouri (+5.5) at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network -- TAMU.

Florida State (-2.5) at Miami, 8 p.m., ABC -- I'll be wrong, no doubt, but Miami to win.

Michigan State (-11) at Maryland, 8 p.m., Big Ten Network -- Maryland to cover.

LSU (+2.5) at Arkansas, 8 p.m., ESPN2 -- Arky

Arizona State (-9.5) at Oregon State, 10:45 p.m., ESPN -- Beavs to cover.

 

Maryland's not keeping it within 2 TDs without Diggs. That'll be a bloodbath.