College Football Week 13 Picks 2022 (November 24-26)

The final week of the College Football season is to be played over Thanksgiving Weekend before the attention turns to the Championship Games next week.

There are still some places to be earned in those games and those will be decided in the next couple of games.

It has been a difficult season for the College Football Picks compared with the NFL Picks, but it is the way it goes and you have to roll with the punches.

NC State Wolf Pack @ North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: The ACC Championship Game has already been set for next week with the Clemson Tigers facing the North Carolina Tar Heels (9-2), but this is rivalry week and the Tar Heels will be looking for a momentum boosting win. They were upset by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Week 12, a result that has ended North Carolina's slim hopes of making the College Football PlayOff, but beating their rival and winning the ACC Championship will have fans forgiving their team very quickly.

Focusing on this game will be a challenge with a Championship Game coming up, but the Tar Heels were beaten by the NC State Wolf Pack (7-4) last season and revenge is a big motivational tool in games like this one.

Injuries have really hurt the Wolf Pack as they have lost two in a row and they could be down to their third string Quarter Back for a second game in a row. MJ Morris is perhaps nearer to a return for NC State, but otherwise they will have to give the ball to Ben Finley who finished his last start with 201 passing yards and a single Touchdown and Interception.

There will be opportunities for whoever is able to start at Quarter Back for the Wolf Pack on Friday as there are some holes in the North Carolina Secondary which can be exploited. It helps that the Tar Heels are not able to get a lot of pass rush pressure generated in recent games and that should mean the NC State Offensive Line is able to at least give either Morris or Finley some time to find Receivers down the field.

Running the ball could be an issue for the Wolf Pack though and that does leave the Quarter Back under pressure to make plays from third and long spots. Lacking experience at the position means it can be tough to have a consistent success throwing the ball and that means the Wolf Pack will lean on the very good Defensive unit to try and keep them competitive on the scoreboard.

It has been a real test for teams to try and run the ball against the NC State Defensive Line all season, but in recent games they have really found some pride in clamping down on Running Backs. They will feel they win at the line of scrimmage on this side of the ball and that will force North Carolina to become a little one-dimensional with their play-calling, although Drake Maye has been one of the top Quarter Backs in College Football.

Drake Maye has thrown 34 Touchdown passes with 4 Interceptions and he will have noticed the amount of yards that the Wolf Pack have given up through the air in recent games. However, it won't be easy for Maye to replicate that over and over as he is playing behind an Offensive Line which has struggled to give him the time he may have hoped for, and now they have to face a Wolf Pack pass rush which has been very happy when allowed to pin back their ears and get to the Quarter Back.

Shutting down the run has allowed the pass rush to thrive and, despite the yards being allowed, it does also lead to turnovers. That is something that Drake Maye will be concerned about as he looks to help his team bounce back, but I do think he is capable of doing that even if he has to take a few Sacks on the way.

Both teams are looking to bounce back from a loss, but the feeling is that the North Carolina Tar Heels have more Offensive output and that can see them pull clear eventually.

The Wolf Pack are just 7-19 against the spread in their last twenty-six on the road, while they are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight Conference games. The NC State Wolf Pack have also failed to cover in any of the last five in this rivalry and I do think they are lacking bite Offensively, which will see them struggle to keep up with North Carolina on the scoreboard.

Florida Gators @ Florida State Seminoles Pick: The regular season may be coming to an end for these two in-State rivals, but they can focus on this game knowing they have won the six games to become Bowl eligible for when those selections are made early next month.

You have to imagine the Florida State Seminoles (8-3) are very much aware they have lost the last three games in this rivalry, but this has been a big bounce back year after a number of lean campaigns. They are getting to host the game against the Florida Gators (6-5) this year and they are facing a wounded team that were just embarrassed by the Vanderbilt Commodores in a road loss in Week 12.

It is a loss that would have stung, but the Florida Gators have been beaten by the Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs amongst the other five defeats suffered in 2022 and those are losses to some of the very best teams in College Football. Two of those could easily be playing in the College Football PlayOff.

While this offers some encouragement, it has still been a disappointing season for the Gators and especially after the defeat last week. They are now facing a Florida State Defensive unit that have been the key to their successes this season and it could be a tough day for the Gators on this side of the ball.

There will be a healthy respect for the fact that the Seminoles are going to be taking on a SEC Offensive Line which has been able to establish the run, but Florida State have been strong on this side of the ball and have been able to clamp down on the run all season. If they can do that here, they will force the Florida Gators to rely on Antony Richardson to make plays with his arm against a Seminoles Secondary which have restricted teams to under 160 passing yards per game this season.

I do think the Gators will have their moments simply because of how well their Offensive Line are playing, but the consistency may be with the Florida State Offensive unit who should be able to find a balance to their play-calling. The Seminoles Offensive Line should be able to open up some holes to help the Running Backs get something going on the ground, and that should mean the play-action can be employed to attack this Secondary.

Jordan Travis has had a solid season at Quarter Back and he has been well protected by his Offensive Line when has dropped back to throw, so I do think Travis and the passing game will be able to operate effectively as well.

No should ignore the size of the spread and the ability of the Florida Gators to score late and earn the backdoor cover.

However, I do think a motivated Florida State Seminoles team will be pushed forward by the home fans and they can end their losing run in the series by winning by double digits. The favourite is 16-5 against the spread in the last twenty-one between these teams, while the Gators are 3-9 against the spread in their last twelve road games and 2-8 against the spread in their last ten non-Conference games.

A balanced Florida State Offensive unit can be more consistent on this side of the ball than the Florida Gators and that can see them cover.

South Carolina Gamecocks @ Clemson Tigers Pick: A big defeat to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looked to have ended the Clemson Tigers (9-1) hopes of making the College Football PlayOff, but things have changed in the three weeks since that loss. Others have fallen away from the top four Ranking places and the Tigers will have been grateful to rivals the South Carolina Gamecocks (7-4) were upsetting the Tennessee Volunteers in Week 12.

It was by far the best game of the season for Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks as they crushed the team many felt would have been invited into the PlayOff as long as they didn't suffer a second loss.

That win would have been celebrated by fans of the Clemson Tigers and the feeling is that they can push into the top four as long as they win their remaining two games, which includes the ACC Championship Game. With one of Ohio State or Michigan losing this week, and TCU barely surviving an upset of their own, the Clemson Tigers could be backed into the College Football PlayOff as a team with a single loss and a Conference Championship in the pocket.

After watching what happened last week, you can be certain that the Clemson Tigers will be focused on the South Carolina Gamecocks. However, the Offensive output from the Gamecocks really did come out of left field and was very unexpected so it will be interesting to see whether they can do the same against a strong Clemson Defensive unit.

The run was a huge part of the success that the Gamecocks had last week and I think they will be looking to establish the ground game in this one too. In recent games there have been one or two more gaps to hit against the Clemson Defensive Line, and it will be important for South Carolina to operate in front of the chains to give Spencer Rattler the chance to back up what has been arguably his most impressive College Football game ever.

The Quarter Back has struggled for much of the season, but carved up the Tennessee Secondary in Week 12, although Rattler will know this might be a more significant test. The Clemson pass rush has been a factor in their play, but since the defeat against the Fighting Irish, the Tigers Secondary have really knuckled down against the pass and will feel they can force Spencer Rsttler into uncomfortable positions considering he is only two weeks further forward since struggling against the Florida Gators.

A major reason the Clemson Tigers are perhaps not considered a genuine College Football PlayOff contender outside of others slipping up is the Offensive issues that have continued to plague them since Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne left for the NFL. They have scored 71 points in beating Louisville and Miami since the loss to Notre Dame, but this is not a unit that many would have associated with a Dabo Swinney coached team.

DJ Uiagalelei has not really stepped up at Quarter Back like many would have hoped and he has even been benched this season when struggling, but he may only need to hand the ball off to the Running Backs to keep the Tigers in front of the chains in this one. The Gamecocks have allowed teams to rip off some big gains on the ground in recent games and the Clemson Tigers will be looking to pick up from that and make sure Uiagalelei is in a position to win the game without having to do that on his own.

Establishing the run should open the passing lanes for DJ Uiagalelei and I think he can make some plays against this Secondary, while the Gamecocks pass rush may be slowed down in third and manageable spots. Turnovers- avoiding them more importantly- will be the key for the Tigers and playing a clean game could help them record one of their more impressive wins of the season, especially playing a South Carolina team that just crushed Tennessee.

The Tigers have dominated this rivalry in recent years and they are 4-1 against the spread in the last five in the series.

They will also be facing a South Carolina team who are 3-8-1 against the spread in their last twelve on the road and one that has only produced a 2-8 record against the spread in their last ten games following a win.

I won't deny the spread is a big one, but I think the emotional Gamecocks could struggle to replicate the performance in the win over Tennessee and that will give the Clemson Tigers a chance to pull away for a big home win.

Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: An eight game losing run in The Game had been a cloud over the Jim Harbaugh era as Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines (11-0), but they snapped that in 2021 and reached the College Football PlayOff for the first time. The win came in Ann Arbor, but this time the Wolverines are travelling to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) with the Big Ten East Division on the line.

The winning team will not only be punching their ticket into the Championship Game next weekend, but they will also be in pole position for one of the top four berths in the PlayOff Rankings. On the other hand, the losing team may struggle to finish above a couple of the other potential Conference Champions and may have their season effectively coming to an end on Thanksgiving Weekend.

It puts a lot of pressure on the players taking to the field and there should be a fierce atmosphere awaiting in the Stadium when they kick off on Saturday.

A major concern for the Wolverines has to be the health of Running Back Blake Corum who had to leave the tougher than expected win over the Illinois Fighting Illini in Week 12. Some of the lacklustre nature of the win may have been down to the players focusing on this game, but the Michigan Wolverines were a touch fortunate to come away with a win and will need to turn the switch if they are going to beat a team as strong as the Buckeyes.

Everything will be decided at the line of scrimmage when the Wolverines have the ball- their Offensive Line have been strong, but Michigan have not tried to run the ball against a Defensive Line as stout as the one Ohio State will be bringing onto their home field. Without Blake Corum it will be even tougher to establish the run, but even with the strong Running Back having a go, I do think the Buckeyes have shown they can clamp down on all up front.

You would then have to question whether Cade McNamara can do enough at Quarter Back to open up the running lanes and I am not sure he has the arm to do that. The entire Wolverines passing Offense has struggled as injuries have piled up and this Ohio State Secondary may be as good as any in College Football.

There will be a similar problem at the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball as the Buckeyes try and establish the run against a strong Michigan Defensive Line. Throughout this season, the Wolverines have been incredibly tough to run against, but the question is once again whether they have faced any Offensive unit that can be compared with the one they will meet in Week 13.

That weakness of schedule has meant the Wolverines need the win arguably more than the Buckeyes, but I think the difference between these teams will be made at Quarter Back. I have some doubts about McNamara for the road team, but CJ Stroud has been having a Heisman level of season with 35 Touchdown passes thrown and only 4 Interceptions to go with those.

Michigan have played really well Defensively and have some talented players that are likely going to be playing at the next level, but the feeling is that Stroud will make more plays than McNamara at Quarter Back and that will be the reason the Ohio State are able to get the better of their old rivals.

Both are top teams, but this feels like a game that could develop in a similar way to when the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC- the latter had bigger wins than Michigan have produced this season, but Ohio State have long looked the best team in the Big Ten and I think the home advantage is also going to be very important to them.

More consistent play from Quarter Back will likely be the reason the Buckeyes are able to earn revenge for the defeat in 2021 and Ohio State are 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five at home.

Over the last ten season, Michigan are only 6-11 against the spread as the road underdog and their last three visits to Columbus have ended in defeats by 29, 11 and 29 points. Covering this number won't be easy for the Buckeyes, but I think they may some late plays to produce a double digit victory on their way to the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football PlayOffs.

MY PICKS: North Carolina Tar Heels - 6.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Florida State Seminoles - 10 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 14.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 8.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NFL Week 12 Picks 2022 (November 24-28)

With the World Cup having begun, the short week into Thanksgiving Day in the NFL feels even shorter than usual.

Four games a day are tough to deal with at the World Cup- of course you want to watch as much of the tournament as possible.

For now you can read my Picks from the three Thanksgiving Day games in the NFL and I will add further selections here before the Sunday and Monday games are set to be played.

Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions Pick: Circumstances were out of the control of the Buffalo Bills (7-3) in Week 11 as Mother Nature decided to drop a huge bucket of snow all over their hometown. It meant having to move their scheduled game with the Cleveland Browns to Detroit and it just happens to be a few days before the Buffalo Bills were scheduled to face the home team Detroit Lions (4-6) on Thanksgiving Day. The Bills were able to rally and beat the Browns in this Stadium on Sunday and they will be looking for a second victory in a row and to snap the Detroit three game winning run.

In a very competitive AFC East, the Bills can lay down a marker before the rest of the Division plays in Week 12 and a win would mean they move to the top of the East. At the moment they share the same record with the Miami Dolphins, but the latter hold the tie-breaker and have what should be a relatively straight-forward game to win out of their Bye Week on Sunday.

Sean McDermott and the Coaching staff will be worrying less about what Miami are going to do and instead will be thinking about the Buffalo Bills and how they are going to get the better of the Detroit Lions. Josh Allen still hasn't looked completely like himself since the reports came out about an elbow issue that the Quarter Back has been dealing with and he failed to throw for 200 plus yards in Week 11, despite the win over the Cleveland Browns.

No one associated with the Bills is overly concerned about Allen and the extra few days should have allowed other players to get over an illness that had swept through the team. The quick turnaround is not ideal, but the Buffalo Bills have been used to playing on Thanksgiving Day in recent seasons and that should mean they are well prepared thanks to a strong Head Coach and other members around him.

Josh Allen did do plenty of damage with his legs last week and I think he will be able to do the same in this one against the Lions Defensive Line which is still giving up over 5 yards per carry through their winning run. Handing the ball to Devin Singletary and James Cook should keep the Bills in front of the chains as teams have been too afraid to load the box and allow Josh Allen and the powerful passing game to take control.

Establishing the run does naturally open up the passing lanes too and there are injuries in the Detroit Secondary which can be exploited by Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. While there are still some concerns about the Josh Allen elbow, he can have a stronger outing than Sunday in the same Stadium and the Buffalo Bills should be able to move the ball up and down the field with confidence.

This is a big spread though and the question is whether this Detroit Lions can continue to be as competitive as they have been in recent games. Three wins in a row in the NFL has to be respected, but the Lions have have actually lost the yardage battle in each of those, although the fans may point to how much they pushed the Miami Dolphins as to their ability to stay with the Buffalo Bills in this one.

Jared Goff has shown he is more than a serviceable Quarter Back in the NFL, but he will need the Running Backs to do their part in this one and try and extend drives. While it has been possible to rip off some gains on the ground against the Buffalo Defensive Line, the Lions have not reached 4 yards per carry in their recent winning run and that is a concern.

They can lean on Jared Goff and ask him to make the plays with his arm, especially as he is playing behind an Offensive Line that has offered plenty of protection. Injuries have also been hurting the effectiveness of the Buffalo Secondary, and so Goff could easily get into a position where the backdoor cover can be secured, especially with this number of points being given to the home underdog.

Playing a clean game and not offering up extra possessions is the key for the Detroit Lions and I do think they are capable of doing that with Jared Goff being given time to scan the field. Winning the game is a big ask, but the Lions have not been blown out at home this season and I think that is important to their mindset, while the three game winning run will clearly give the home team some confidence.

At the same time, the Buffalo Bills have not really been able to pull clear of teams on the road since their opening Week crushing of the Los Angeles Rams. They have played four road games since then and they have been decided by margins of 2, 3, 4 and 3 points and this makes me believe they are being asked to cover too many points here.

Of course the Buffalo Bills are capable of making me look very foolish with their high-octane Offensive firepower, but the Detroit Lions have shown they can be very competitive and may score enough points to make it very difficult for the road team to win by double digits.

I have to respect the fact that the Buffalo Bills crushed the Saints in New Orleans as a big road favourite on Thanksgiving Day last season, but the Detroit Lions are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine at home and I will look for them to produce enough Offense to keep this one within the number too.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: It is Thanksgiving Day and that means the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) will be hosting a game for the 45th year in a row, although you cannot ignore how poorly they have played on the day as far as against the spread goes. The Cowboys have made a habit of failing to cover as a home favourite so it is difficult to see them in this spot against the New York Giants (7-3) in a huge game in the NFC East.

Both have strong records through eleven weeks of the regular season, but both the Cowboys and Giants continue to chase the Philadelphia Eagles who have a two game lead in the Division. The Eagles hold a win over the Dallas Cowboys too, but the Cowboys have the tie-breaker over the New York Giants after a road win over their Divisional rivals in Week 3.

Losing a grip of that tie-breaker will make it very difficult to track down the Eagles in the Division and force the Dallas Cowboys to think about the Wild Card race, but they are coming into this one with a load of momentum having crushed the Minnesota Vikings. On the same day, the New York Giants were perhaps overlooking the Detroit Lions and they have now lost two of their last three games to slip into third place in what looks an incredibly competitive Division.

We are going to learn plenty about the New York Giants in the next four weeks when they play four Divisional games and so this is a big spot in which they will be trying to bounce back from recent setbacks. First year Head Coach Brian Daboll has admitted that he is looking for a reaction from his players who have just lost some of their Offensive spark in recent outings as injuries continue to affect their performances.

Through the course of much of this season, the Giants have been able to pound the rock very effectively, but in their last three games they have only managed to pick up 3.5 yards per carry. Ultimately stopping the run is the weakness of the Dallas Defensive unit and so the Giants have to be confident in picking up the bigger gains, but it is very difficult for New York and Daniel Jones if they are not able to establish the run, or if the game is out of hand and they have to throw the ball.

Saquon Barkley should have a decent game and Daniel Jones will make plays with his legs, but the New York Giants will have to play a clean game if they are going to upset the home town Cowboys. Any time they are behind the chains, the Giants Offensive Line will be under the same pressure they were in Week 3 when they were not able to give Daniel Jones the time in the pocket to make his plays down field.

Injuries in the Wide Receiver room also means the Giants are struggling for options outside of the rejuvenated Darius Slayton. He can offer Daniel Jones a passing threat, but this Dallas Defensive unit have been very impressive by generating a host of pressure up front and the Secondary then being able to step up and make some big plays.

It just feels like a game in which the Giants are going to struggle to have a consistent Offensive outing and especially if they begin to chase the game. That is a distinct possibility with the Dallas Cowboys looking much more potent now Dak Prescott is back behind Center and they have piled up at least 28 points in three consecutive games.

The two home games since Prescott's return have both ended in strong wins for the Dallas Cowboys and the balance they have Offensively is hard to ignore. Ezekiel Elliot may be having his time managed after a return from an injury, but Tony Pollard has shown he has Home Run speed out of the backfield and the Running Back is a massive threat behind this Offensive Line and in the open field.

Dallas should be able to establish the run with confidence and being in front of the chains makes things very comfortable for Dak Prescott. The Quarter Back is well protected by his Offensive Line and there are holes to exploit in the New York Secondary with the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Dalton Schultz all capable of making big plays, and that is also ignoring the threat Tony Pollard poses leaking out of the backfield.

Avoiding mistakes is the key for Dak Prescott who was guilty of that against the Green Bay Packers in a defeat a couple of weeks ago. In general he has played well on his return from injury and I do think the Cowboys will be able to pull away in this one and then tee off on Daniel Jones as he tries to drag the Giants back into the game.

As mentioned, it is hard to trust the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day having seen them fail to cover so often as the home favourite and this is a big spread to deal with.

However, the Cowboys have matched up very well with the Giants and have a 9-2 record against the spread in the last eleven between these Divisional rivals, while Dallas are 4-1 against the spread in the last five games when hosting the Giants.

The Cowboys have a 22-8 record against the spread in their last thirty against their Divisional rivals, while the New York Giants are 0-4 against the spread in those Divisional battles. The game may come down to the final possession as far as this number goes, but I think the Dallas Defensive unit carve up Daniel Jones behind his Offensive Line and they can produce another dominant home win after blow out victories over Detroit and Chicago.

New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: There are ways to lose a game and the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) will be looking for a much better all around effort than the one they put into their Week 11 home drubbing by the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings remain in firm control of the NFC North where the rest of the Division have a losing record, but they have lost a bit of ground in the race for the top Seed in the Conference as they prepare to play the third game on Thanksgiving Day.

This is a non-Conference game, but it will be as important to the hosts as it will be for the New England Patriots (6-4) who are one of four teams with a winning record in the AFC East. They are only a game behind the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in the East, and have to face those Divisional rivals three times before the end of the regular season.

The Patriots will be playing on Thursday Night Football again next week and the short preparation time for this game could hurt them, especially after the tough and gruelling win over the New York Jets on Sunday. The Defensive unit played well for the Patriots, but they struggled Offensively and they need to be much better if they are going to compete with the likes of the Bills and the Dolphins within the Division.

Mac Jones has really not pushed on at Quarter Back as the Patriots would have liked, but they should be able to have success running the ball in this one. In recent games the Offensive Line have had some issues opening holes up front, but they may find that a little easier against the Minnesota Vikings than in the games against the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

Finding it easier is one thing, but Mac Jones is going to have to make some plays in the passing game to prevent the Vikings from simply loading the box. The Quarter Back has been guilty of being a little indecisive inside the pocket and the pass protection has broken down around him when he has been left in obvious passing down and distance so it is important for Mac Jones and the Patriots to get the run going.

Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris are a good one-two combo at Running Back, while the former has picked up some significant yards as a pass-catcher leaking out of the backfield and that could be key for the New England Patriots.

Even if not at his best, Mac Jones has to avoid the mistakes and give his Defensive unit a chance of at least keeping the Patriots competitive in this game. Bill Belichick has the Patriots playing really well on this side of the ball and he will have been really encouraged to see the way the Vikings struggled against the Dallas Cowboys last week, especially as Christian Darrisaw has been ruled out on the Minnesota Offensive Line.

If Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings hope to establish Dalvin Cook and cool down any pass rush pressure the Patriots can generate, they could be in for a hard day in the office. The Patriots Defensive Line have held teams to 3.1 yards per carry in recent games and they will look to clamp down on the strong Running Back and force Kirk Cousins to have to step back to throw.

Last week the Quarter Back was absolutely destroyed by the Dallas pass rush and the New England Patriots certainly feel they will be able to get in Kirk Cousins' face throughout this one too. Pressure can lead to mistakes and that has been an issue with Cousins in his career when the pocket collapses around him and I do think the New England Secondary is capable of holding their own against Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

If Kirk Cousins has time, he will be able to make plays down the field with the strong play Jefferson gives him, but it is hard to imagine the Vikings can sort out the pass protection on a short week.

I can't ignore the fact that the Minnesota Vikings have had a strong habit of bouncing back from defeats, but I do think the New England Patriots can make the points count as the road underdog.

The Patriots are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall and I think they match up pretty well with the Minnesota Vikings with their Defensive unit capable of setting up short fields for Mac Jones and the Offense. With Bill Belichick at Head Coach, New England should be able to get the pass rush attacking Kirk Cousins and look for the mistakes that gives the team an opportunity to win here and I think they can be backed with the points with every chance of an outright win on the day.

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: Despite having two games against the AFC South leaders to come before the end of the regular season, hopes are dwindling very quickly that the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) will be able to return to the NFL PlayOffs for the first time since 2017. A promising season has now turned into one where the Jaguars were beaten in six of their last seven games before the Bye Week and the extra preparation time may have come too late to save the season.

They are hosting the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) who have a one game lead at the top of the AFC North after recording a fourth win in a row out of their Bye Week. An illness had spread through the locker room ahead of the win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, but the Ravens should be healthier overall in terms of that illness.

However, injury continue to hold back the Baltimore Ravens and they are only hopeful that the likes of Ronnie Stanley and Mark Andrews are able to return this week. Gus Edwards could be back to join the Running Back committee used by the Coaching staff, but having Stanley and Andrews back would be a big boost for Lamar Jackson and the entire Offensive unit.

The win over the Carolina Panthers was largely down to the continued progress made by the Defensive unit, but the Ravens may feel there are going to be more chances for them with the ball in their own hands. For starters, the Offensive Line are still opening up holes for the team to run the ball efficiently and they may have some joy against a Jacksonville Defensive Line that went into the Bye Week just struggling to clamp down on the run as they have been for much of the season.

Dealing with a dual-threat Quarter Back like Lamar Jackson proved a big challenge when the Jaguars faced Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, while a returning Gus Edwards would give Baltimore another crease to pound the rock with success.

The absence of Mark Andrews has hurt the passing game with key Receivers already down with injuries, but Lamar Jackson should be able to find some holes to exploit in this one. For the majority of the game the Ravens will want to establish the run, but that will further open the issues in the Jaguars Secondary and I think Jackson will be able to keep the chains moving with his legs and his arm.

Establishing the run is likely going to be key for the Jacksonville Jaguars too and they do have a talented player in Travis Etienne who is enjoying a strong season. However, I have mentioned the progress being made by the Ravens and the Defensive Line have been rock-solid against the run which makes it difficult to believe they do not win at the line of scrimmage.

The overall season numbers are impressive, but the Ravens have been incredibly tough in recent games during their winning run. Over their last three games, Baltimore have held teams to 42 yards per game on the ground and, while I think the Jaguars have some success, I think they can at least force Trevor Lawrence to try and have to beat them through the air.

There have been times where Lawrence has looked like the Number 1 Pick that Jacksonville selected, but his Offensive Line protection has been breaking down in recent games and now the Jaguars have to deal with a productive Baltimore pass rush that loves to get to the Quarter Back. That pressure has led to turnovers and the Baltimore Secondary are also playing really well at the moment as they look to hold off the Cincinnati Bengals in the race for the Divisional crown.

Trevor Lawrence has just had issues with his consistency throwing the ball in recent games and I do think the Jaguars will come up short at home, even if it is tough for visiting teams to head to Florida at this time of the year.

On Sunday it could be wetter than normal and that should suit the Baltimore Ravens with their strength at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and I do think they can push their winning run to five games.

Covering isn't easy when you have an Offensive unit that have not really been pulling up trees of late, but I can see the Ravens Defensive unit stepping up and making the plays to put their team in a strong position.

Some will point to the Jaguars having a decent record out of their Bye Week, but current Head Coach Doug Pederson was only 1-4 against the spread out of a Bye with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jacksonville are also just 5-11 against the spread in their last sixteen road games and they are 1-5-1 against the spread in their last seven when playing a team with a winning record.

Baltimore have managed to go 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games and I think they will be able to control the clock and make some big Defensive plays to swing this game in their favour too.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The minute you hear a player saying it is not about revenge, you can almost certainly make the case that players have not forgotten about the teams that have ended their season the previous year. That is what will be on the mind of the Tennessee Titans (7-3) and Ryan Tannehill having been beaten as the home favourites against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) in the Divisional Round of the post-season having secured the top Seed in the AFC through the regular season.

Both of these teams will be targeting Divisional crowns in 2022 and this is a big game to see where the Titans and Bengals are. Both have been playing really well after disappointing starts to the season and that is underlined by the fact that the Bengals have won six of their last eight games, while the Titans have won seven of their last eight.

This feels like a game that could be key in working out Seeding come the end of the season and the Bengals will know the next two weeks have seen them scheduled to face the two teams they beat on their way to the Super Bowl. Handling the emotions might be as important as anything else, and they could be boosted by a returning Ja'Marr Chase.

Joe Mixon may not be available having entered the concussion protocol, but he was not likely to get much change out of the Tennessee Defensive Line which have been shutting down the run as the wins have piled up. This is one of the best Defensive Lines in the NFL and the Bengals are not expected to have a lot of success with whoever gets the call to start, although the Running Backs are likely to be key figures in the passing game.

The main reason for that is the Titans Defensive Line have shut down the run and the pass rushers have been able to really get after the Quarter Back in third and long situations. They will feel they have a serious edge over the Cincinnati Offensive Line and that will mean Joe Burrow is likely going to be surrounded by pressure when he does drop back to throw, which makes those Running Backs strong safety blankets on which he is likely to rely.

If Joe Burrow can be given some time, he will feel his Receivers have a big edge over the Titans Secondary and the likes of Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will be able to push the ball down the field. Teams have been forced to rely on the throw considering how strong the Titans have been at the Defensive Line, but the pass rush pressure, which has been very effective, has not stopped someone like Patrick Mahomes from having a big game throwing the ball and that is a player that Joe Burrow will feel he can match.

Shutting down the Bengals completely is never going to happen in all reality, but I do think the pass rush will at least slow them down at times. Making them settle for Field Goals rather than Touchdowns will be seen as a big win, while you cannot ignore the fact that the despite the yards given up through the air, Tennessee's Defensive unit have held teams to under 19 points per game this season.

That is a number that will always give a team the chance to win games and Ryan Tannehill's return has given the Tennessee Titans a bit more dynamism to the Offensive play-calling. No one will confuse Tannehill with the elite Quarter Backs in the NFL, but he is more than a game manager and that means teams have to respect his passing arm, rather than loading the box to shut down the run.

In recent games Derrick Henry has not been operating at full tilt, but I do think he is still a huge body that will break down the Defensive Line with more and more carries. He has had some big games, but I think the mini-break between Week 11 and Week 12 is key for Henry as he looks to make an impact on a Cincinnati Defensive Line which has been playing well in recent games.

With the plan the Titans have, Derrick Henry will be able to give them a chance to control the clock and to wear down the Cincinnati Defensive unit by keeping them on the field for extended drives. Ryan Tannehill should also be well protected by an Offensive Line which is most happy when it comes to run blocking and the Quarter Back may feel he can make some plays to keep the Bengals honest when it comes to their Defensive schemes.

Cincinnati have a Secondary which is playing well, but Tannehill should be comfortable in third and manageable spots in this game and that is important for the Titans to try and earn that revenge for the defeat in the PlayOffs.

I do like the Tennessee Titans in the spot and I love Mike Vrabel as a Head Coach who has a 6-1 record against the spread in the last seven games where the Titans have been set as the home underdog. He is also 11-3 against the spread in a revenge situation when the Titans are being given points as is the case in Week 12.

The Bengals do have some strong trends which make them hard to oppose, but they are coming in off a tough road win at Pittsburgh and this is going to be another big physical effort. The Titans benefit from having a couple of extra days to prepare and I think the fans will be really up for this game which makes the points with the home team all the more appealing.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: Non-Conference games tend to have a 'lesser' feel than other games on the NFL schedule, but in Week 12 every game matters. That is the case for the Las Vegas Raiders (3-7) who have barely remained alive in the season after a close Overtime win over the Denver Broncos, but everyone associated with the team will feel they need to win at least six of their remain seven games to have a chance of backing into the PlayOffs.

There is no doubt that it is a long shot now, but snapping the three game losing run gives the Raiders a glimmer of hope. The AFC is pretty loaded with talented teams though and the fact is that the Raiders have some tough games left on the schedule, but they can play spoiler with some of the talent that remains on a roster which has underachieved in 2022.

They have to take games as they come and next up for the Las Vegas Raiders is the Seattle Seahawks (6-4) who have lost their lead in the NFC West during their Bye Week. The team were beaten in Munich in Week 10, but this has been a strong season for the Seahawks who have the same record as the San Francisco 49ers at the top of their Division and will certainly be in the mix for a Wild Card spot in the NFC if they can get back on the horse and back to winning games.

Playing at home has proven to be a huge boost for the Seahawks who have a 3-1 record here and they will feel the defeat to the Atlanta Falcons was a game they should have won too.

Geno Smith has been a huge factor in the record having taken over from Russell Wilson at Quarter Back and he looks to have finally found a comfortable home in the NFL. The veteran Quarter Back was not someone that the fans would have had a lot of faith in, but Pete Carroll and the Coaching staff have been comfortable and Smith is playing well and not just simply managing games.

He has been helped by Kenneth Walker III who has come in at Running Back and picked up some huge gains behind this Offensive Line- I fully expect him to have a bounce back game after a couple of tougher days in the office and he should have success against the Raiders Defensive Line which has had issues clamping down on the run.

That will only aid the Seahawks all the more in keeping Geno Smith in comfortable spots on the field, while the Raiders lack of a consistent pass rush means he should have time in the pocket. The quality Receivers that Smith is throwing to should win on the outside and I do think the Seahawks will be able to move the ball with a lot of consistency throughout this game.

Running the ball will be key for the Raiders in this game too, but I am not sure they are going to have a lot of success against an improving Defensive Line. There are also suggestions that Josh Jacobs is banged up and I think there will be a real problem for the Las Vegas Raiders as they try and keep themselves in front of the chains.

Adding to the issues are the injuries to the likes of Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller which has made the passing game that much tougher for Derek Carr. It has been clear for a number of seasons that Davante Adams will get open, as he did in Overtime for the win last week, but the Seahawks have a young, improving and hungry Secondary that have not been giving up much through the air.

That Secondary has been helped by considerable pass rush pressure, although getting to Derek Carr is not easy behind his strong Las Vegas Defensive Line. However, the longer he has to wait and the more the Seahawks can force him to look away from Adams, the better the chances to hit Derek Carr and allow the Secondary to make their big plays.

I really like what this Seattle Seahawks have been able to do in 2022 and I do think they will get the better of the Las Vegas Raiders with the way they match up with them on both sides of the ball.

Las Vegas are only 2-5 against the spread in their last seven road games and had to put in a huge effort to win in Colorado last week, which could leave them short here. I know they can still make the post-season, but it is not going to be lost on the players as to how difficult that will be and I still don't think they are fully behind Josh McDaniels as Head Coach.

Pete Carroll does not have the best record out of the Bye Week in recent seasons, but his team tend to bounce back from losses very effectively and I think that will be the case here. They do have a big Divisional game coming up next, but the Seahawks can't afford to lose ground on the motoring San Francisco 49ers and I think that will see them focused and able to win and cover the spread.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: You could see how much the win meant to Nick Sirianni when the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) outlasted the Indianapolis Colts, who have recently fired his friend Frank Reich. It was also important for the Eagles to bounce back from the defeat to the Washington Commanders as the unbeaten season turned to dust, while the Philadelphia Eagles are very much in a big fight to win the NFC East.

Targeting the Division crown may also lead to the overall Number 1 Seed in the NFC and that is also important to earn the sole Bye in the Conference through to the Divisional Round. Three road games in succession in December by decide their fate, especially as the Eagles will be facing two Divisional rivals in that run of games, but for now they are back on Sunday Night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (4-7).

Anyone who thought the big comeback against the Dallas Cowboys may be the spark that would turn the Green Bay season around were in for a big disappointment in Week 11 as they were beaten by the Tennessee Titans at home. The Wild Card race is not over, but the Packers have a tough run to end this season and likely will miss out with a losing record.

Aaron Rodgers has simply not been able to get on the same page as his young Receivers often enough and the decision to trade away Davante Adams has been a poor one in Green Bay. It doesn't help that Rodgers has suggested he has been playing with an injury to the thumb and I do think the Packers will soon turn to Jordan Love and see whether he is the Quarter Back of the future like they anticipated when Drafting him in the First Round in 2020.

We are unlikely to see Rodgers and his Receivers have a lot of success against this Philadelphia Secondary who have been strong all season and who have the experience to blanket the Receiving options Aaron Rodgers has. The entire Packers throwing game have not been operating as we have become accustomed to, but they have been able to run the ball and that has been key for Green Bay when they have come up against the better teams in the NFL.

A couple of weeks ago I would have expected Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to have a lot of success on the ground, but those days may be behind the Eagles who have added big, experienced bodies into the middle of the Defensive Line. Last week they shut down the Indianapolis Colts on the ground and I think the Eagles have now covered up the one big weakness on the Defensive side of the ball, which makes them one of the favourites to win the Super Bowl.

Jalen Hurts has been given a lot of support from the front office with some of the players that have been brought in to surround him, although the injury to Dallas Goedert is a blow. The Eagles should be able to move forward without the Tight End who should be back by mid-December, and Hurts has still got some solid Receivers in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith who can turn his passes into huge plays.

I have to give the Green Bay Defensive Line credit for just looking a little more stout against the run in recent games, but this is a tough test for them. The threat of the passing game means they cannot concentrate on shutting down Miles Sanders, while Jalen Hurts is capable of making plays with his legs as much as his arm and that should keep the Eagles in front of the chains.

The Quarter Back is operating behind a big Offensive Line who will give him time to go through his progressions and I do think that will help the Eagles. There has been a slowing in the passing game from the Eagles in recent games, but that may also be down to playing with a lead and beginning to use clock management runs and I think the Eagles will be looking to make a statement having lost on Monday Night Football in Week 10.

Opposing Aaron Rodgers as an underdog has not been a successful play in his career, but this Packers team is well short of those we have seen the Quarter Back leading. The Packers are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight road games and they are facing an Eagles team who have been very confident at Lincoln Financial Field.

Covering will come down to the last moments, but the Eagles have enough to win this one by a Touchdown.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Dallas Cowboys - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

New England Patriots + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Baltimore Ravens - 4 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Tennessee Titans + 3 Points @ 1.83 William Hill (2 Units)

Washington Commandeers - 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Seattle Seahawks - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

San Francisco 49ers - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Los Angeles Chargers - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 William Hill (2 Units)

Philadelphia Eagles - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

College Football Week 12 Picks 2022 (November 19th)

The penultimate week of the regular season is before us in the College Football year and there are still a number of permutations that could decide the PlayOff spots.

Some teams cannot afford a single loss, while the LSU Tigers are looking to make history by becoming the first two-loss team to be invited into the PlayOff. It is a tough path for the Tigers to run, but it will be hard to ignore them if they can win the SEC Championship in early December, while other potential Conference Champions will struggle to get into the PlayOff picture with even one loss.

Things will become a little clearer at the end of Week 12 with some big road tests ahead for some of the top Ranking teams.

TCU Horned Frogs @ Baylor Bears Pick: The latest College Football Rankings have kept the unbeaten TCU Horned Frogs (10-0) inside the top four places and it still feels like this is a team in control of their own destiny as far as the PlayOffs are concerned. The only unbeaten team in the Big 12 Conference will feel like they are guaranteed a place in the PlayOff as long as they remain unbeaten, but that means negotiating the two remaining regular season games and winning the Championship Game in early December.

No one will ever downplay the huge impact Gary Patterson had as Head Coach of the Horned Frogs, but the last four or five years had been difficult and it was perhaps no surprise that TCU and Patterson decided to part ways in 2021. With that in mind, Sonny Dykes arrived as the new Head Coach of the Horned Frogs with little expectation in Fort Worth in what many believed would be a rebuilding year.

Instead a hugely experienced line up have propelled the Horned Frogs to ten wins already, which doubles the five wins secured in their 2021 season. The win in Week 11 at the Texas Longhorns showed a different side of the TCU game with the Defensive unit stepping up to cover up for what was the worst Offensive output of the season and the Horned Frogs will feel plenty confident in remaining unbeaten.

The last road game of the season sees TCU heading to the Baylor Bears (6-4), but the defending Big 12 Champions are coming into this game off the back of a big home defeat to the Kansas State Wildcats. The blowout loss in Week 11 means the Bears are going to need to win their remaining two regular season games and hope that is good enough to see them return to the Big 12 Championship Game, although a number of results will have to go their way.

After producing just over 100 rushing yards in the defeat to the Kansas State Wildcats, the Baylor Bears will be under pressure to establish the run in this one. For much of the season the Offensive Line have been very strong at the line of scrimmage, but they may have a second tough outing in succession when facing a Horned Frogs Defensive Line that have clamped down up front and held teams to 3.7 yards per carry over their last three games.

Blake Shapen will need the running game if he is going to have a successful game at Quarter Back, especially as it will help him limit the mistakes he has been making. Two Interceptions hurt last week and Shapen now has 13 Touchdown passes with 8 Interceptions in the 2022 season before facing a TCU Secondary that have been much improved in recent wins.

Moving the chains and sustaining drives is important for the Baylor Bears if they are going to earn the home upset and likely end TCU's chances of reaching the PlayOffs.

However, the Horned Frogs Defensive Line is likely going to control the line of scrimmage on that side of the ball, while the Offensive Line have been rolling pretty efficiently in recent games. Kendre Miller had a solid game at Running Back in the win over the Texas Longhorns and he is expected to pick up from where he left off against this Bears Defensive Line, which is going to help Max Duggan at Quarter Back.

Like much of the Offensive unit, Max Duggan had his weakest outing of the season in the win over the Longhorns, but he has been careful with the ball all year. Establishing the run should give Max Duggan a bit more time to throw the ball from third and manageable positions on the field and there are some holes in the Baylor Secondary that could be exposed and give TCU a chance to keep the balance Offensively.

The TCU Horned Frogs have won two in a row against the Baylor Bears and they look to have the Offensive unit that can see them win in Waco and move to one more victory to secure an unbeaten regular season. They have been very good at covering the spread in recent road games, while Baylor are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven following a blow out loss at home.

Baylor did cover as the home underdog in both games where they were given points last season, but I do think the TCU Horned Frogs can get the better of them here and overcome this relatively small spread.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Kentucky Wildcats Pick: The situation is clear enough for the Georgia Bulldogs (10-0) that the defending National Champions will return to the PlayOffs as long as they win out in the regular season and then win the SEC Championship Game. One loss could potentially be overcome, as long as that is in the SEC Championship Game rather than in the regular season, but that is not a situation that the Bulldogs will want to flirt with.

They have been one of the leading contenders as far as the National Championship is concerned for a number of years, but the Georgia Bulldogs have not won the SEC Championship since 2017. Last season they were beaten by the Alabama Crimson Tide before redeeming themselves with a victory in the National Championship Game against the same opponent, but it would be a surprise if Kirby Smart's team are not crowned the Champions this season.

Style points matter to many teams in and around the PlayOff places, but that is unlikely to be a big concern for the Georgia Bulldogs who will not be able to be ignored if they are to win out. However, the Bulldogs are playing really well of late and look to be peaking at the right time and they are a big favourite when visiting the Kentucky Wildcats (6-4) in Week 12.

A loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores will have stung the Wildcats who have fallen well short of the ten wins recorded in 2021, but Kentucky return home this Saturday looking to offer much more resistance than they did when recently losing to the Tennessee Volunteers. That defeat was on the road, but the defeat to the Vanderbilt Commodores is the second home loss suffered by the Wildcats in the SEC this season.

Kentucky will have hosted four SEC teams by the time this 2022 season is concluded, but the game against the Georgia Bulldogs is clearly the toughest they will have faced.

The biggest challenge for the Kentucky Wildcats will be putting the Offensive game plan together to make this a competitive game. They do have a Quarter Back that is tipped to go in the First Round of the NFL Draft when Will Levis does declare, but injury has perhaps affected his recent play and that has been a big issue for the Wildcats.

It is very unlikely that the Kentucky Offensive Line will be able to help establish the run against the strong Georgia Defensive Line and that only makes things tougher for Will Levis. While the Quarter Back has had a decent overall season, recent outings have seen the Wildcats averaging just 125 passing yards per game and that is down to the fact that they have not had a lot of success running the ball.

Will Levis has been left in third and long spots and the Offensive Line have not been able to offer him the protection they would have wanted, while a limited Levis has not been able to scramble around in the pocket and clear the pass rush. In this game, the Bulldogs pass rush is expected to be in Levis' face through much of the game and it will be difficult for Will Levis to have consistent success throwing into the Georgia Secondary with that in mind.

Things are expected to be much different on the other side of the ball when the Georgia Bulldogs are going to be able to establish the run behind a strong Offensive Line. A deep Running Back corps means those Backs are kept fresh and Georgia should be able to rip off some big gains on the ground against the Wildcats Defensive Line that has allowed 176 yards per game to opponent's rushing Offenses in recent outings.

Stetson Bennett should have a comfortable day at Quarter Back with the team helping keep him in front of the chains, while the play-action pass should be a big part of the game plan. A strong season from the Quarter Back has been aided by the protection he has been getting from the Offensive Line and I think Stetson Bennett will have similar successes to Hendon Hooker of the Tennessee Volunteers when arguably the second best team in the SEC beat the Kentucky Wildcats by 38 points.

The Bulldogs have dominated the recent series between these SEC East rivals with twelve straight wins over Kentucky. Recent games have actually tended to be close and competitive, but injury and Offensive issues for the underdog makes this one feel like it could be a blow out and I do think the Georgia Bulldogs are playing with a real swagger at the moment, which will be hard to contain.

Two of the three road wins in the SEC this season have come by at least 26 points, while Georgia have won four of their last five games by at least 22 points. You don't want to underestimate Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats, but I think this Georgia team will look to make one more big SEC statement before a non-Conference game and the SEC Championship Game against the LSU Tigers.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick: It was never going to be easy to play in the Big Ten East alongside the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes and both of those teams are currently in the top four of the College Football Rankings. Those two teams will fight it out for not only the Division crown over the next two weeks, but the Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2) won't be worrying about anything other than finishing this season by winning out.

Both of their losses have come against the big two in the Division, but the Nittany Lions have largely dominated the opponents they have faced outside of Michigan and Ohio State. Strong wins over the Indiana Hoosiers and Maryland Terrapins will have given the Nittany Lions some momentum as they look for the finish that will see them earn a place in one of the bigger Bowl Games to be played in December/January.

They will complete their road schedule in the regular season when facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-6) who have really been struggling in the Big Ten Conference games. Despite a losing record, the Scarlet Knights were invited into a Bowl Game last season, but Greg Schiano was hoping to avoid another in his third season back at Head Coach in New Brunswick.

After back to back blow out losses, Rutgers were at least more competitive in the defeat to the Michigan State Spartans in Week 11. Ultimately the defeat will have hurt, but at least the players showed they have something left in the tank as they prepare for their final home game of the 2022 season with two wins still making them Bowl eligible.

One of the major issues Rutgers have had all season is that they have struggled Offensively, although they are coming into this one having produced their most Offensive yards in a game against a FBS team this season. Backing that up and doing the same against the Penn State Defensive unit looks a tall task for the Scarlet Knights and I do think it is this side of the ball that has made the Nittany Lions so tough to beat this season.

Running the ball against the Penn State Defensive Line is not easy and the Scarlet Knights have not shown enough in recent games to suggest they will be able to change that. It means more pressure on the shoulders of Gavin Wimsatt at Quarter Back even if he is coming off his best career performance in College Football in the defeat to Michigan State.

Gavin Wimsatt is going to find it very difficult to replicate his successes of last week with the likelihood that he will be throwing from third and long. The Penn State Secondary doesn't give a lot away and the Wimsatt will also have to deal with a fierce Penn State pass rush and I think that is either going to lead to turnovers or to stalled drives.

It is never going to be easy to have Offensive success in any game that is being played, but the Penn State Nittany Lions should be pretty comfortable with the match up in this one. They should be able to establish the run with a lot more consistency than the Scarlet Knights and it should keep the team in third and manageable through much of the contest.

The Rutgers Secondary have played pretty well in recent games, but that may also be down to the fact that teams don't feel they need to throw too much against the Scarlet Knights when running the ball is very effective. Penn State may choose to give Sean Clifford more opportunities in the passing game and he should be operating out of a clean pocket that gives him time to make some solid plays down the field.

While Penn State have put together a pretty strong set of trends at the betting window, Rutgers are 0-8-1 against the spread in their last nine games when playing a team with a winning record.

Penn State have dominated the recent series between these teams and they have covered in the last two between themselves and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and I think they can find the big plays to move clear in the second half of this one too.

Tennessee Volunteers @ South Carolina Gamecocks Pick: There are some factors that are out of the control of the Tennessee Volunteers (9-1) as to how this season will pan out, especially in relation to the final College Football PlayOff Rankings. They are still sitting outside the top four places, but the Volunteers are almost certainly going to be Ranked above the loser of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines game coming up in Week 13 of the regular season.

However, things will become murkier if the LSU Tigers were to beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game and both the TCU Horned Frogs and USC Trojans are able to win their own Conference Championships without losing another game. The permutations do begin to get a little wild, but the Volunteers are unfortunately in a position where the sole loss suffered this season is going to keep them out of the SEC Championship Game regardless of how the rest of the regular season shakes up.

The Committee deciding the PlayOff Rankings have been swayed by style points and you could see the Tennessee Volunteers were highly motivated to put their foot down against the Missouri Tigers in a big win last week. Extra motivation was easy to find with that win over the Tigers being the last home game Tennessee will play this year, but they will head out on a couple of SEC road games with the mindset of putting some huge numbers on the board.

First up is the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-4) who secured Bowl eligibility earlier in the month, but who will be looking to bounce back from the complete capitulation in a loss at the Florida Gators last week. Shane Beamer helped the Gamecocks reach seven wins in 2021, but South Carolina can only surpass that number by winning at least one of their remaining two regular season games and then the Bowl Game too.

It is a big ask of the team and especially after the performance in losing to Florida- the Gamecocks face the Clemson Tigers, the ACC Championship favourites, after the Tennessee Volunteers this week and it is going to be a big test for all involved.

There were some big expectations in Columbia when the Head Coach was able to persuade Spencer Rattler to transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners, but the Quarter Back has not really helped the Offensive unit as the Gamecocks would have hoped. In truth, Spencer Rattler looks like a player with a shattered confidence in the position and the Gamecocks Offensive Line have had a tough time running the ball to make life any easier for him.

They are not expected to get a lot of change from the Tennessee Defensive Line and that puts extra pressure on the Quarter Back, something that Rattler has not really dealt with as hoped. With little protection, playing out of third and long has been a tough assignment for Spencer Rattler and he is going to have a difficult day making plays against this Volunteers Secondary from that position.

Moving the ball will be hard for the home team, but the Tennessee Volunteers should be much more comfortable after the Offensive unit bounced back from their rough day in the office against the Georgia Bulldogs. Playing on the road is never going to be easy, but the Volunteers should be able to rip off some big gains on the ground and that should keep the team in front of the chains for much of the evening.

Being in third and manageable spots also opens things up for Hendon Hooker in the passing game and he is set to blitz through the 3000 yard mark for the season at the end of this game. Hendon Hooker has proven to be a dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position with over 400 yards on the ground and I do think he will have enough time to make his plays if the Volunteers are running the ball as effectively as anticipated.

Take nothing away from the South Carolina Secondary, who have been playing pretty well in recent games, but this Tennessee Offensive unit put up some huge numbers against a similar Defensive unit last week. They have too many options and the Volunteers are not likely to take their foot off the gas with an 'easier' game to come next week so I am expecting them to produce another statement win.

The Gamecocks were beaten by 41 points by Georgia at the Williams-Brice Stadium and 32 points last week in Florida- Tennessee will certainly feel they are playing well enough on both sides of the ball to be targeting a similar margin.

Tennessee are also 8-2-1 against the spread in their last eleven games in South Carolina, while the Gamecocks are just 4-8 against the spread as the home underdog since 2018.

USC Trojans @ UCLA Bruins Pick: A second loss for the Oregon Ducks has almost certainly ended their bid to reach the College Football PlayOff and that means the Pac-12 is down to one realistic option. The USC Trojans (9-1) have that single loss to the Utah Utes on their resume and will likely need to win out as well as the Pac-12 Championship Game if they have any real ambitions of working their way into the top four.

It says a lot about what the Committee think of the Trojans that the one loss team are currently Number 7 in the Rankings. Head Coach Lincoln Riley guided the Oklahoma Sooners into the final four three times before making the move to the Trojans at the end of the 2021 season and he will be trying to keep his players focused and not thinking about Rankings when there are up to three more games to negotiate.

Neither game left in the regular season is going to be easy for the USC Trojans, but at least they get to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 13. First the Trojans have to visit the Rose Bowl as they take on the UCLA Bruins (8-2) whose own chances of reaching the College Football PlayOff were ended in a defeat to the Arizona Wildcats.

Chip Kelly will be reminding his players that their main ambition for the season remains in front of them as they can still win the Pac-12 Championship, while they are still on course for their first ten win season since 2014. Consecutive winning seasons will also underline the work that Kelly is doing with the Bruins having begun with three losing years in succession.

Like his Oregon Ducks team, the UCLA Bruins do have a very good Offensive unit that has to be respected in this game. Quarter Back Dorian Thompson-Robinson has provided a dual-threat out of the position, while the UCLA Offensive Line have been very good up front as they have opened up some big holes to run the ball.

Many of the successes that the Bruins have will come through their ability to run the ball and they will certainly feel their Offensive Line can open up some big holes up front. There is no doubting the challenge for the USC Defensive Line to at least limit that damage, while rushing the ball also opens up the Secondary for the big play that Thompson-Robinson will look to hit.

Keeping Dorian Thompson-Robinson in front of the chains will at least help negate some of the pass rush pressure that the Trojans are able to bring, while the Quarter Back can have one of his stronger outings in recent starts against a vulnerable Secondary. However, Thompson-Robinson is going to have to be aware of the ability this USC Secondary has when it comes to turning the ball over.

Extra possessions will make all the difference in a game where both teams are going to feel they can move the ball with real confidence whenever they have it. The Trojans have a powerful Offensive Line and they will believe they are capable of dominating at the line of scrimmage, even against this pretty stout UCLA Defensive Line, and that should give Caleb Williams another chance to show off his personal Heisman credentials.

Transferring from the Oklahoma Sooners to join the former Sooners Head Coach Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams has had a really strong season and kept the Trojans chugging towards a Conference Championship as well as a potential PlayOff place. The Quarter Back has had a very good season and he is going to have options to exploit this UCLA Secondary, while Caleb Williams from playing behind an Offensive Line that has been protecting him very well.

Much like Dorian Robinson-Thompson, Caleb Williams has looked after the ball when throwing and the Bruins have not had the same success turning the ball over as the Trojans have had. That could end up being the difference in this big, big game in the Pac-12 and the USC Trojans have to be given the narrowest of edges.

The road team have won the last two in this series, but that means the USC Trojans will be heading to the Rose Bowl with revenge on their minds having lost last year at home.

UCLA have been good playing off a loss, while the Trojans have not been as strong on the road as they have been at home, but I do think USC can turn that road trend around with a victory here. It could have a basketball feel with both teams being able to move the ball up and down the field, but I think a turnover or two falling in favour of the road team may end up being the difference in a close game.

UAB Blazers @ LSU Tigers Pick: A place in the SEC Championship Game has already been secured by the LSU Tigers (8-2) with two games still to play and this feels a tough schedule spot for the team. Close wins over the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks have proved to be the key for the Tigers as they have won the SEC West, but they still have to show the PlayOff Committee that they deserve a spot in the final four and become the first ever two-loss team to take the step.

It involves winning out and likely needing a loss or two for some of the other leading teams chasing those places, but all the Tigers can do is focus on themselves. It would be easy to overlook the UAB Blazers (5-5) who are still chasing a win to become Bowl eligible in a season in which they have underwhelmed, but the LSU Tigers won't want to lose momentum and they can rest starters once they get into a strong lead.

Head Coach Brian Kelly has overachieved in his first season with the Tigers, but he has made it clear that winning and losing become habits and that he is still teaching his team how to win.

In recent games the LSU Tigers have really ramped up the running game and it is hard to envision this UAB Defensive Line being able to contain the home team when they look to establish the run. The Tigers have been able to produce some big numbers against teams from the SEC so this should be a considerable step down and allow LSU to move the chains efficiently.

Throwing the ball has been much tougher for the Tigers, because the Offensive Line have been much happier run blocking than in pass protection. However, this is another step downwards in terms of ability of opponent and I am not sure the Blazers are going to be generate that much of a pass rush to bother the Tigers as they look to find some momentum in their passing.

The UAB Blazers have a much more manageable test next week and you do wonder how much effort the Conference-USA team are going to want to put into this game. They are a team who have been able to run the ball pretty well in recent games, but they have not really faced any Defensive Line like the one that the Tigers will bring to the field and I do think LSU are going to clamp down up front and see if Dylan Hopkins can beat them from the Quarter Back position.

Dylan Hopkins is likely going to have to deal with more pressure from the pass rush than he has been used to, while the speed of the teams in the SEC is something that will surprise a Quarter Back who has been playing in the Conference-USA. Of course the Blazers could have more success as the Tigers give some of their fringe players a few opportunities to build experience, but this feels like a game that the SEC West Division winners should be able to dominate for large periods.

UAB have not covered in any of their last five games against SEC opponents, while they have failed to cover in any of their last four overall.

There is the feeling that the LSU Tigers will let off a little bit in the second half as they begin to concentrate on their remaining two games, but even then, the Tigers should have enough to cover this handicap mark.

MY PICKS: TCU Horned Frogs - 2 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michigan State Spartans - 10 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 17.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kansas State Wildcats - 7.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 22.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 19 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Washington State Cougars - 3.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Minnesota Golden Gophers - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 22 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 1.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 14.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)