College football week 13 thread

God there are some crap games this week … Alabama plays Chattanooga, Florida State plays Idaho, Clemson plays The Citadel, South Carolina plays Coastal Carolina ... Auburn has an open date.

Ohio State actually plays a conference game, but it’s against Indiana.

So needless to say, don’t look for a major BCS shake-up this week. Baylor is the only national-title contender that’s playing a good team.

Here’s the best of what’s left …

Wednesday

Northern Illinois (-2.5) at Toledo, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Thursday

Rutgers (+17) at UCF, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Saturday

Oklahoma (+4) at Kansas State, noon, Fox Sports 1

Oregon (-19) at Arizona, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2

Texas A&M (+4) at LSU, 3:30 p.m, CBS

Wisconsin (-16) at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

BYU (-1) at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC

Arizona State (-2.5) at UCLA, 7 p.m., Fox

Missouri (-3) at Ole Miss, 7:45 p.m., ESPN

Baylor (-9) at Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ABC

Washington at Oregon State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2 --- no line, due to Keith Price’s shoulder injury

 

I've thought "Boy, that Wisconsin line seems awful high" a couple times this year, and they just keep covering. I'm slightly surprised to see then as 16-point favorites on the road against a much-improved Minnesota team. But I guess I probably shouldn't be, based on past evidence.

 

If you get 9 points, take Ok State and thank me later.

 

I agree about Ok St. I think they beat Baylor. And the Northern Illinois line seems awfully low. Keep betting on Wiscy and keep winning.

 

It's sort of the calm before the storm for most teams. The following week, you get Alabama-Auburn, Florida-FSU, Clemson-South Carolina, Ohio State-Michigan, USC-UCLA and some other traditional rivalry games.

I expect Oklahoma State (at home) to beat Baylor. But the teams might combine to score 100.

 

Central Florida having that much trouble with Temple makes Rutgers +17 a little tempting, even on the road.

And the way Duke is playing, -5.5 at Wake has the sound of easy money.

 

I'm not sure what people are seeing in Oklahoma State that they're so excited about. I don't really see anything I think they do better than Baylor.

 

Baylor isn't the same on the road. Ok State is the best team they've played so far. I'm not sure the Pokes win, but it'll be close.

 

Well, time will tell. Baylor's played startlingly few road games so far this year, so maybe. But I'm a little loathe to read a 10-point win over Kansas State as bad on the road. And maybe OSU is the best team they've played all year. But I don't necessarily see them as significantly better than some of the other teams Baylor's played. I mean, they DID lose to a stunningly incompetent West Virginia team.

 

I go the other way. Doubtful they are going to play lousy on back-to-back weeks. Played down to Temple and were lucky to escape with a win. But they have a LOT to play for. Like the most in school history. Like a real BCS bowl spot. I expect O'Leary to have them focused and ready to go.

 

Big Ten games, with lines:

Michigan (+6) at Iowa, noon EST, BTN. I know UM's been struggling lately, but even as a Hawkeye alumnus, I wouldn't bet against Big Blue.

Illinois (-7) at Purdue, noon, BTN. Two of the worst BCS-conference teams on one field! I guess the Big Ten Network is contractually obligated to show this one. Yuck.

Michigan St. (-7.5) at Northwestern, noon, ESPN. The snakebit Wildcats are desperate for a win and the Spartans are ripe for an upset. Could happen.

Indiana (+34.5) at Ohio St., 3:30 p.m., ABC. Really? This is the ABC game? There are at least three better choices than this mismatch. Maybe they'll show the OSU band's cool halftime routine instead of Jesse Palmer running his mouth in the studio (wishful thinking).

Wisconsin (-15.5) at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m., ESPN. Wish this was on ABC ... I think it will be much closer than the line indicates.

Nebraska (+1.5) at Penn St., 3:30 p.m., BTN. Huskers playing for bowl position. Lions playing for ... ?

 

FWIW (which aint much), I have Mich. St. and Wisconsin covering. As much as I think Michigan should boat race Iowa, I won't touch that one.