NFL Week 13 Picks 2025 (Thursday 27th November-Monday 1st December)

Time is not quite running out on this 2025 season, but the NFL Picks need some momentum after back to back really poor weeks.

Once again there can be some complaints about the manner of some of the defeats- the Eagles blowing a 21-0 lead, or the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots missing a cover by a combined three points.

Those moments are more frustrating than completely misreading some of the selections, and combined it has led to some tough moments through the opening twelve weeks of the year.

Week 12 may not have been a good week for the NFL Picks, but it was an important one for teams to keep their season alive, most notably for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. Those teams meet in a big Thanksgiving Day game hosted by the latter, and there are also a couple of important Divisional games to be played on Thursday.

The schedules around the League means there are plenty of big Divisional games to be played between now and the end of the regular season and that is going to have a big impact on the final Playoff positions.

Games are set to be played from Thursday through Monday with an additional televised game in the 'Black Friday' slot that has become a new feature for the NFL.

Each outing feels much more important now with the regular season winding down.

That is also the case for the NFL Picks, which will be added to this thread, and it feels important to conclude this week with a winning return to just start moving the overall numbers back in the direction wanted.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Pick: All three games on Thanksgiving Day look hugely important, but the first of those looks the one with most on the line for both teams.

The Detroit Lions (7-4) are hosting as usual and they are playing Divisional rivals Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) who would be edging them out for a Playoff spot if the regular season was to end today. Both are trailing the surprising Chicago Bears in the NFC North, while the Detroit Lions are just 1-2 in the Division this season and have already suffered a defeat to the Green Bay Packers, who are 2-0 against NFC North rivals.

Both teams were able to pick up a win in Week 12, but the Lions had to dig much deeper than the Packers with an Overtime win over the struggling New York Giants. Green Bay were more comfortable in beating the Minnesota Vikings, but those games are now in the rearview mirror and both the Lions and Packers are completely focused on a big Thanksgiving Day game.

For the home team, the Line of Scrimmage is going to determine so much about the direction this game will end up travelling.

Detroit have to find a way to establish the run in this game against a Green Bay Defensive Line that have continued to be stout up front and who will be looking to put Jared Goff behind the chains. All season the Packers have been able to clamp down on the run, including in the Week 1 success against the Lions when they limited Detroit to just 46 yards on the ground.

Being able to do the same IN Detroit is the challenge, especially after recent games in which the Lions have been able to get things going on the ground in front of the home supporters and when not dealing with outdoor conditions. However, the Packers will take encouragement from the success that Philadelphia had against the Lions as they look to force Detroit to try and beat them from third and long spots.

This is far from an easy test for the Lions Offensive Line, who have perhaps not been as confident when facing some of the tougher teams on the schedule. It will feel like a 'prove it' moment for a team chasing a Super Bowl, while also being important to help Jared Goff at Quarter Back considering some of the struggles he has when the pocket begins to collapse around him.

Green Bay will bring the pass rush when they have the Lions in obvious passing situations and they have a Secondary that have been producing at a high level for the majority of the season. In recent games it has really been a tough team to throw against with any consistency and so it is imperative for the Lions to find a way to keep the team in third and manageable spots in order to sustain drives.

It is a game that will be a challenge for the Detroit Offensive unit, but the same can be said for the Packers when they have the ball.

Josh Jacobs is expected to miss out again, but it would have been a tough game for him and it will be a tough game for Emanuel Wilson in relief as the Packers try and establish the run against a Lions Defensive Line that have played that very well in recent games. Much like the Packers on the other side of the ball, Detroit are going to want to see if Jordan Love can beat them from third and long situations and see if he can do that over and over again when facing a Secondary that have plugged in players as injuries have piled up.

It has not stopped the Lions from being effective and they will note that Jordan Love has not been the same at Quarter Back as he continues to deal with a shoulder issue on the non-throwing side.

Jordan Love will feel he can make some plays against this Secondary, but that becomes tougher from third and long situations and Green Bay's recent passing numbers have been tough to read.

Everything is pointing to a competitive game between these two rivals and in front of a national audience.

Both teams will have some issues running the ball, which is going to put pressure on the two Quarter Backs.

The narrowest of edges has to be with the Lions who should find running the ball a bit more comfortable inside of their own Stadium- they are also playing the Packers with revenge and the Lions are 10-2 against the spread against Divisional opponents in that spot.

They have struggled as a small favourite/small underdog this season, which is a concern when laying the points with Detroit, but the Green Bay Packers are 1-4 against the spread on the road.

Green Bay are in an unfamiliar spot of being given points this season, but it should be noted that they have not covered in the last eight Divisional games when given points and having just cleared the spread by double digits, as the Packers did in the Week 12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Most will expect this game to come down to the wire, but the Lions look capable of being the one left standing at the end of this opening Thanksgiving Day game.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: Non-Conference games may not be as significant in the first half of the season, but by Week 13, every game on the schedule matters.

For the Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (6-5), it is vital that they build on Week 12 wins that have kept Playoff hopes alive.

This second Thanksgiving Day game sees both the Cowboys and Chiefs sitting in tenth place in their respective Conferences, but also noting that teams currently occupying the last of the Wild Card spots have only been beaten four times. Chasing down Divisional leaders will be difficult as games are running down, but both teams have just kept Playoff hopes alive with battling wins and that will give them some confidence.

The Kansas City Chiefs looked to be on course for another defeat that would have dropped them below 0.500 when trailing by double digits against the AFC South leading Indianapolis Colts. However, they rallied for an Overtime win to just keep themselves in a position to attack the Wild Card spots.

Dallas were in a bigger hole having fallen 21-0 behind against Divisional rivals and NFC East leaders Philadelphia Eagles, but the road team made enough errors to allow the Cowboys to rally for the upset.

Building on that is key and the Dallas Offensive unit are playing with enough confidence to believe they can do that, as long as they can clear up some of the drops that have been affecting recent performance.

It will feel important for Dallas to find a way to at least make the Kansas City Chiefs respect the run- the Chiefs have been pretty stout up front in recent games and they will feel like the real winners if they can force the Cowboys to become one-dimensional.

However, any impact that can be made by the Offensive Line will then strengthen Dak Prescott and a passing game that has been very explosive. George Pickens and Jason Ferguson have given the Quarter Back more options outside of CeeDee Lamb and Prescott will have enough time in the pocket if the team is in third and manageable spots to expose the Chiefs Secondary.

The expectation is that Dallas are going to be able to have enough Offensive success to put the pressure on a banged up Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to have to keep up on the scoreboard.

Where the Cowboys will still be confident they can have an impact with the running game, the Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to establish the run in recent games. Making it tougher is the clear improvements made by the Dallas Defensive Line after trades made and placing all of the burden on Patrick Mahomes and the passing game will feel like a big win for the Cowboys.

The Quarter Back is clearly not looking as comfortable as usual and that has meant he has been restricting his use of his legs, which has perhaps made it a little easier to face the Kansas City Chiefs. If Patrick Mahomes is not looking to put pressure on the Linebackers and Defensive Backs by pushing himself down the field, the Kansas City Offensive Line could be challenged by this Dallas pass rush when in the obvious passing situations.

Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Receivers are still very capable of linking up with the Quarter Back through the air, but any one-dimensional approach is something that NFL level Defensive units will be comfortable facing. The Quarter Back can still have success considering some of the issues that remain in the Dallas Secondary, but turnovers could be an issue and that will make it all the tougher for the Kansas City Chiefs to back up the Week 12 win with another.

Of course Kansas City can win, but they are 1-4 against the spread on the road and facing a Dallas team that have thrived when set as the underdog.

Taking the hook to cross over the key number 3 is going to be important for the Dallas Cowboys who can then cover even in a narrow defeat. However, this feels like a game where the Cowboys can produce enough Offensive output to perhaps earn the outright upset and to keep the Playoff hopes on track.

Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: They remain the NFC East leaders, but the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) will want to flush the Week 12 loss at the Dallas Cowboys as soon as possible. They led 21-0 on the day, but the Offensive inconsistency came back to haunt them as the Cowboys fought back for the upset, although the Eagles are still a couple of games ahead of Dallas.

They are hosting another Divisional leader in this 'Black Friday' game on Friday- not many would have predicted that to be the case when the schedule came out, but the Chicago Bears (8-3) are the surprising team leading the way in the NFC North, although the likes of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will still believe they can chase the Bears down.

There is a lot to like about a Bears team that have won four in a row, although they have been on the right end of some of the tight margins. While this is unlikely to be sustainable, the Chicago players will be playing with a real sense of belief and that makes them dangerous against this Philadelphia team who are 8-13 against the spread after a defeat under Head Coach Nick Sirianni.

Injuries on both sides of the ball are also just holding the Eagles back, and first year Head Coach Ben Johnson has given Caleb Williams and the Bears a spark on the Offensive side of the ball.

The Bears will be looking to establish the run and they will use Quarter Back Caleb Williams to try and pick up some yards on the ground when the protection does break down. Credit has to be given to the way the Philadelphia Defensive Line have been playing of late, but all the Bears will want to do is to try and keep themselves in front of the chains and then see if the relatively young Quarter Back can then attack this banged up Secondary.

Caleb Williams has been getting the ball out of his hands pretty well and he should be able to connect with some of the Receivers to push the ball down the field.

Offensive problems have been a huge part of the Philadelphia season, even if they have still found a way to win more often than not. The defending Super Bowl Champions will feel they can find the right solutions if they can get a little healthier, but they could be without Lane Johnson on this short week and Saquon Barkley is also banged up.

Being without both of those players could make it tough for the Eagles to expose what has continued to be a vulnerable Chicago Defensive Line.

However, Jalen Hurts is capable of moving the ball with his legs out of the Quarter Back position and the Eagles will just be looking to keep ahead of the chains while still trying to find solutions to some of the passing problems. Adding to that is that the Bears have signed CJ Gardner-Johnson to improve the Secondary and Chicago could have Jaylon Johnson back from injury, which is going to make passing the ball against the Bears more challenging going forward.

They do not get a lot of pressure up front, but that has not stopped the Secondary from showing improvement during this winning run.

On paper you still have to believe the Eagles will be a little too good for the Bears, but this spread looks a bit too wide considering Philadelphia's struggles to blowout opponents this season.

With the battling that Chicago have continued to display, they could easily secure a backdoor cover in this one at the worst and the Bears can show the rest of the NFC that they more than just a surprising regular season team.

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets Pick: They are still only a couple of games out of the NFC South lead, but time is running out for the Atlanta Falcons (4-7) to chase down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moving in the last weekend of November means Atlanta can ill-afford to lose games that they are expected to win and that will be the situation they are dealing with in Week 13 as the Falcons have been set as road favourites.

At this stage of the season and with games running out, even non-Conference games have added importance and the Falcons need to build on the win over the New Orleans Saints, which also ended the five game losing run.

Next up is a game at the New York Jets (2-9) who remain on course for a top five NFL Draft Pick and who will continue with Tyrod Taylor at Quarter Back in place of Justin Fields.

The decision to hand the keys to the veteran has stalled the Jets as far as an Offensive unit goes, but Tyrod Taylor is capable of moving the ball with his legs and Breece Hall should also be able to find more room to operate when the ball is handed to him. This is an Atlanta Defensive Line that has been struggling to stop the run, but there is also a game plan that could be put together to try and dare Taylor to beat them with his arm.

If they can put the Jets in obvious passing situations, the Falcons should be able to get to Tyrod Taylor and rush the throw, especially for a team that is missing some experience at the Wide Receiver position. This has led to some really poor numbers in recent games as far as the Jets passing game is concerned, although Tyrod Taylor may feel there are more opportunities against this vulnerable Falcons Secondary.

Kirk Cousins will be the veteran taking to the field for the Atlanta Falcons at Quarter Back and he should be able to use the confidence from last week to attack a Jets team that have traded away so many key players on this side of the ball.

He will be without Drake London again, but the Falcons had Darnell Mooney show some life and Bijan Robinson should also have a big impact on the game.

The Falcons are not easy to trust on recent form, although you have to keep pointing out the importance of winning against the New Orleans Saints.

Credit has to be given to the Jets for continuing to play hard on the Defensive side of the ball, despite the trades they have made, but the lack of Offensive output means the field position is against them. The Jets could have better chances to move the ball against this Falcons team, but ultimately they have looked like a team that is out of confidence and struggling to maintain any consistency within games, which should give Atlanta the edge in the game.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions - 2.5 Points @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys + 3.5 Points @ 1.84 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chicago Bears + 7.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Atlanta Falcons - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 10.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 31-36, - 8.04 Units (67 Units Staked, - 12% Yield)

College Football Week 13 Picks 2025 (Saturday 22nd November)

Two weeks remain in the regular season and so teams are fully in the mindset of jockeying for Playoff positions, while others have smaller, but no less important ambitions by earning Bowl eligibility.

Week 14 tends to be the one where so many rivalry games are set, which means there are some walkovers in Week 13.

However, that does not mean the schedule is missing big games and time is running out for teams to impress the Playoff Committee, while others are beginning to play politics behind the scenes. The likes of the Miami Hurricanes have to be pushing the win over Notre Dame as a big reason they should be included, although a loss in the next two weeks will end any reason for that.

The top of some of the Conferences could be decided by the end of Week 13, so there is a real importance attached to some of the games to be played and there are six selections below from another big day in College Football in the penultimate week of the regular season.

Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Pick: If you like looking at permutations around the Championship Game participants and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff, the ACC Conference may sate your appetite.

The highest Ranked team in the last College Football Playoff positions remains the Miami Hurricanes (8-2), but they are 4-2 in the Conference and need a lot of help to make it through to the ACC Championship Game. It feels incredibly unlikely that the Hurricanes will be playing in the twelve team Playoff if they are not able to at least compete in the Championship Game, and it is important to at least make sure they finish out with two wins.

Even that may not be enough with Georgia Tech in a position to secure one of the ACC Championship Game spots with a win this weekend, while the SMU Mustangs have a win over the Hurricanes and one fewer Conference defeats on the record.

All Miami can do is focus on winning out with two tough road games to come, although some politics are at play with some wondering how the Hurricanes are Ranked lower than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who also have two regular season losses on the record.

The fact is that Miami have beaten the Fighting Irish this season and Notre Dame are not going to have a Conference Championship to win, but those playing politics will be wasting their time if the Hurricanes are to lose in either of the next two games.

First up is a trip to Blacksburg to face the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-7) who are 2-4 in ACC play, but who have announced that James Franklin will be taking over as Head Coach moving into 2026. That is a big time appointment for a school that have been treading water for far too long and underlines the ambitions around Virginia Tech and the players should be motivated to finish up at home on a high.

They would love to play spoiler for Miami, although some fans would be keener to see the Hokies do that next week in a rivalry game at Virginia Cavaliers who are chasing a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

Motivations of players is always going to be different to the fans, but this is a tough game for Virginia Tech who have suffered consecutive double-digit defeats and who are facing a Miami team looking for 'style points' and not just wins.

Kyron Drones is going to have to bring all of his dual-threat ability out of the Quarter Back position to give the Hokies a chance- he is facing a Miami Secondary that is banged up, but finding the time to attack them down the field is the challenge.

That makes the legs important as the Hokies Offensive Line tries to dictate at the Line of Scrimmage, although being able to establish the run against this Miami Defensive Line is going to be a huge test. Even with a Quarter Back capable of moving, the Miami pass rush is likely going to be able to shut off the ends and Virginia Tech will have to convert some third and long situations to sustain drives.

Unfortunately for the home team, the passing game has been erratic at best and it is likely going to be a tough day in the office for the entire Offensive unit.

Running the ball should be less of an issue for the Miami Hurricanes when they have the ball and that is where they should be able to push on and score the points needed to put togehter another impressive win.

Carson Beck has had a solid year at Quarter Back, but he will be well aware that he was brought in to take the Hurricanes into the Playoff- Beck should be able to make plenty of big plays from being put in third and manageable spots on the field and the road team look capable of winning and winning well.

Nothing is ever easy when playing on the road, as Miami know all too well with their 1-1 record on the road, but there is still a real potential for them to make the post-season if they can keep impressing the Playoff Committee.

We should see a top effort from Miami, and there is a real potential for this to be the 'easiest' win at Virginia Tech since 2018, a victory that sparked a three game road winning run against the Hokies.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs won back to back National Championships in 2022 and 2023, but the feeling is that the ever expanding post-season will make it that much more difficult for teams to be able to do that. There is also a huge turnover in personnel in College Football compared with the pro game, but the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0) are looking very capable of becoming the first team to go back to back in the era of twelve teams playing in the post-season.

They are not only winning games, but the Buckeyes are crushing opponents and so they are once again being asked to cover a huge spread.

This is the last home game of the season, which will give the team some motivation, although there is a potential distraction of facing old rivals Michigan in Week 14 in a bid to end the long losing run against them.

However, it does feel important for the Buckeyes to focus when taking on Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-5) who still need one more win to become Bowl eligible.

The Scarlet Knights are just 2-5 in Big Ten play, while they have suffered a couple of heavy losses to the Oregon Ducks and Illinois Fighting Illini.

It is going to be tough for the road team to move the ball with any consistency against one of the top Defensive units in College Football- the Offensive Line is unlikely to force many holes up front and that is going to shift the pressure onto Athan Kaliakmanis at Quarter Back.

He did throw 4 Touchdown passes last time out against Maryland and Athan Kaliakmanis will have been preparing in the Bye Week, but this is the toughest test since facing the Oregon Ducks. In that game, Kaliakmanis managed just 79 passing yards and had 2 Interceptions, while that was also at home against Oregon and this is that much tougher being on the road.

One positive bit of news for the Scarlet Knights is that the Buckeyes are likely to be without the top two Receivers.

Unfortunately the bad news is that it should mean Ohio State are more willing to lean on the run and that against a Rutgers Defensive Line that had been punished going into the Bye Week. They will be rested, which can help, but it is very likely that the Buckeyes Offensive Line control the Line of Scrimmage and they will be able to rip off some huge gains on the ground throughout this contest.

Recent numbers posted by the Rutgers Secondary are perhaps skewed by the fact that teams have not had to throw against them to have a lot of success. Julian Sayin threw for less than 200 yards in the win over the UCLA Bruins, but the Buckeyes will not mind that with the Quarter Back readying himself to have all the weapons back for the big game in The Big House.

Covering this number will be tough considering running the ball also runs the clock, but the Ohio State Buckeyes are showing that good teams win, great teams cover in their 8-1-1 record against the spread. The line was actually slightly higher against the Bruins in Week 12, and Ohio State can show their dominance again before everyone turns their attention to the Michigan Wolverines for a big Week 14 game next Saturday.

Kansas State Wildcats @ Utah Utes Pick: A rare losing record in 2024 will have hurt, but the Utah Utes (8-2) are back on more familiar ground this season. They are 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference and the Number 12 team in the latest Playoff Rankings, but the Utes are going to need to find a way to push into the Championship Game and they need some help to do that.

The focus has to be on maintaining their own form though and Utah know that they have to win out to have any hope, regardless of what help they may, or may not, receive from others in the Conference.

They play the Kansas State Wildcats (5-5) in Week 13 and there has to be a respect for a team that are still chasing one more win to secure Bowl eligibility. This is also a team that has become accustomed to finishing with winning records, even if they are not going to match the win totals reached in each of the last three seasons, and Kansas State have a 4-3 record within the Big 12.

Kansas State have won three of the last four games played, but they are going to be travelling to face one of the tougher Defensive units in the Conference.

Everything begins at the Line of Scrimmage for the Utah Utes and the Defensive Line will feel they can contain the run and force teams to beat them from third and long spots. Stalling drives and winning the field battle is very important, while Avery Johnson will know that this is a Secondary that is going to be looking to turn the ball over with the pressure that the Utes can put on any Quarter Back when pushing them behind the chains.

In recent games the Utes have had big leads and that has forced teams to throw against them- it has allowed Quarter Backs to put up some decent numbers, but Utah's Secondary will have allowed some of those and so Johnson has to expect another tough game.

Quarter Back injuries hurt the Utes last season and they have had issues with the health of Devon Dampier in 2025.

However, this year the Utes have had Byrd Ficklin come into games and his dual-threat ability out of the position has allowed Utah to keep chugging along nicely. Last week Ficklin was dominant on the ground and the Utah Offensive Line have been pummelling teams during this three game winning run, which will put pressure on Kansas State.

The Utes have not needed to throw the ball too much in this winning run, but they will be able to do what is necessary if they are in third and short spots on the field.

Both Quarter Backs are expected to have a chance to shine in this one and the Utah Utes can do that, even if this is a huge spread to take on against what is always a feisty Kansas State team.

The Wildcats were blown out by the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home earlier this month though and they may struggle to keep up with the Utes if being forced into obvious passing situations. Consistency from Utah on the Offensive side of the ball and a turnover or two could just see the Big 12 contenders stay alive, for a few more hours at least, in the race to reach the Championship Game.

Pittsburgh Panthers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick: You cannot underestimate the importance for any school when it comes to playing a 'bigger' rival in the regular season, but the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-1) have higher ambitions than merely beating the Georgia Bulldogs this season.

Any time they have the chance to upset and bloody the nose of the SEC-residing Bulldogs it is a chance that the Yellow Jackets will want to take.

However, the main focus in Week 13 has to be on the last ACC game on the regular season schedule- if the Yellow Jackets win, they will be playing in the Championship Game in a couple of weeks time and that will leave them a single win away from earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.

This should mean they are plenty motivated this Saturday as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-3) who are 5-1 in the ACC and who can move past the Yellow Jackets in the standings with a win.

Fans will have wanted to see the Panthers upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 12, but Head Coach Pat Narduzzi made it clear in the build up that the last two ACC games mean more to him and the team. The five game winning run was unsurprisingly snapped in the loss to the Fighting Irish, but Pittsburgh can only be encouraged by the fact they have won their last five Conference games as they prepare for this challenge.

The Panthers have to be excited about what they will be able to do Offensively against this Georgia Tech Defensive unit.

Running the ball has been a problem for the Panthers for much of the season, but in recent games the Yellow Jackets Defensive Line have allowed teams to rip off some big gains on the ground. All the road team will want to do is make sure the young Quarter Back, Mason Heintschel, is kept in third and manageable spots on the field and they can do that with the ground attack.

Being a Freshman does mean there will be some ups and downs in the performance, but overall the Panthers will be very happy with Mason Heintschel.

He is going to be throwing against a Georgia Tech Secondary that have allowed teams to have their way in recent games, although avoiding turnovers is going to be the test that Heintschel has to pass.

Pittsburgh will be confident in the ability of the Freshman Quarter Back and the whole of the Offensive unit, but there is an awareness that they are going to have to dig in on the Defensive side of the ball.

Haynes King will know that it didn't quite work for him when playing with the Texas A&M Aggies, but he has been really good ever since transferring to Georgia Tech. He has proven himself as a real dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position and has more Touchdowns on the ground than through the air (14 to 10).

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will feel that added crease offered to them by a moving Quarter Back should see them continue to move the ball behind this Offensive Line, even against a solid Pittsburgh Defensive Line in front of them. It is important to just make sure King and company are in front of the chains, while there is no concern if the Quarter Back has to throw the ball having put up over 2000 passing yards with just a couple of Interceptions in 2025.

Turnovers are going to be so important to the outcome of the game with the Pittsburgh Secondary ready to make big plays for the team, even if they are a team that will bend to the pass.

This has the makings of a close game, especially with so much on the line for both teams, but the narrow edge has to be with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Being at home is a big help, but the Pittsburgh Panthers are just 3-9 against the spread when set as the road underdog in recent yeas. They snapped a run of ten straight losses against the spread when given more than 2 points as a road underdog in the upset of Florida State last month, but this Georgia Tech team have really improved in the three years under Head Coach Brent Key and they can secure a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

BYU Cougars @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: They finished with eleven wins last season, and a 7-2 record in the Big 12, but the BYU Cougars (9-1) missed out on playing in the Championship Game. They lost the tie-breakers when four teams finished with the same record in the Big 12, but the Cougars have to be given credit for the season they have been putting together and may only be a couple of wins away from playing in the Championship Game this season, which will also keep a door open for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Thinking too far ahead would be a mistake and especially with this tough road game at the Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3) in mind.

Back to back defeats have all but ended the Bearcats hopes of making the Big 12 Championship Game, although they can win out and hope that a number of permutations land their way to have a chance to play for the title. However, that feels a long shot and the Bearcats are going to have to be a lot better than in the last two games if they are going to find a way to upset the Cougars.

The Bearcats Offensive Line is the key- they have been able to find a way to establish the run in recent games and this is an important part of this game against a strong looking BYU Defensive unit. In recent games, the Cougars Defensive Line have perhaps given up a bit more room on the ground, although this is still a very tough team to run against and Cincinnati will find it tough to move the chains with any consistency without being able to run the ball efficiently.

Brendan Sorsby has thrown for over 2200 passing yards and has 22 Touchdown passes with just 4 Interceptions, but he will be keen to be in front of the chains. The Cougars have produced a strong pass rush and this is a Secondary that will be looking to turn the ball over, although the Quarter Back will be confident in his own abilities.

He will need help from the Offensive Line, both to establish the run and to keep the pocket clean, while Sorsby has to be more careful with the ball after throwing 2 Interceptions in the home upset loss to Arizona.

The Cincinnati Defensive unit will also be confident that they can at least help out, although they have not been as effective at clamping down on the run. Bear Bachmeier has shown he can be very good with his legs out of the Quarter Back position and that has opened up the passing lanes to keep the Cougars ticking forward.

After losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Cougars showed how well they can bounce back and how much they still feel they can achieve this season by blowing out TCU in Week 12.

Bear Bachmeier should have success when he drops back to throw- unlike the Cougars, Cincinnati have struggled for a consistent pass rush in recent games and the time given to the Quarter Back should allow him to attack this Bearcats Secondary with some success.

This gives the Cougars a slight edge and they can make that show on the scoreboard and move into touching distance of playing in the Big 12 Championship Game. For much of the season BYU have perhaps been underrated and this line is perhaps shorter than it should be, even if they are playing on the road, and the Cougars can remind everyone why they are the second highest Ranked team in the Conference.

Washington Huskies @ UCLA Bruins Pick: This will not be an unfamiliar match up for the two schools, although the game is going to be played under the Big Ten banner rather than the Pac-12.

The USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks are facing off in Week 13 and have made comfortable transitions into this tough Conference, but that has not been the case for the Washington Huskies (7-3) and UCLA Bruins (3-7).

The host in this game are a little further behind and have a 3-4 record in the Big Ten this season, while the Washington Huskies have a 4-3 record in the Conference.

UCLA have also lost three in a row and you do have to wonder what motivation is left for a team who will be looking for a new Head Coach at the end of the season and who have massively underperformed. Blowout losses to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers have been a reminder of how far from the top of this Conference the Bruins actually are, although they are at home for this game and UCLA have been more competitive in front of their own fans.

Nico Iamaleava missed out last week with a concussion and he could be sitting out again, although this has not been a season that the Quarter Back would have expected after forcing himself out of Tennessee. Even if he is able to suit up, the Bruins are going up against a very good Washington Defensive unit and it is going to be a huge challenge for them with the ball in hand.

The Bruins are not expected to run the ball with any consistency, but they will also be attempting to throw into a Huskies Secondary who have continued to play with real motivation. There are not many teams who can afford to be one-dimensional with their play-calling, which can become a problem when the Bruins struggle to run the ball, and Washington have to be comfortable on this side of the ball.

We should also see a pretty comfortable plan for the Huskies when they do get the ball- they are going to be able to run the ball much more effectively than the Bruins and Washington should be able to rip off some huge gains on the ground in this one. Keeping Demond Williams Jr in third and manageable spots should make things very easy for the Quarter Back, who is unlikely to be faced with any significant pass rush pressure.

It should lead to sustained Offensive drives for the road favourite and Washington should also be more comfortable playing a road game in the Pacific Time slot.

These two former Pac-12 teams have not faced each other in Los Angeles since 2022, but Washington were double digit winners when hosting UCLA last year. Clearing this spread will not be easy, but the Huskies can do enough at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball to put themselves in a position to win by a solid margin on the road and remain on course for a double digit win season.

MY PICKS: Miami Hurricanes - 17.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 33 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 17 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Washington Huskies - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 12: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 68.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 13 Picks 2024 (Thursday 28th November-Monday 2nd December)

Thanksgiving Day Weekend is here and that means the ambitions of teams will begin to clear up.

There are a host of teams that may be thinking ahead to finishing with a high NFL Draft Pick and beginning to turn around their franchises, even if Head Coaches refuse to entertain the idea of tanking. Ultimately they are being paid to win NFL games, even if those above them would prefer to finish with enough losses to secure a top Draft Pick and that kind of split is hard to balance up.

We have seen the New York Giants players unafraid of voicing their opinions having seen Daniel Jones dropped as the starting Quarter Back and later released- to then follow that up by picking the third string Quarter Back to take over as the starter has made it clear that the Giants are not serious about winning games and that is not going to go down very well with the locker room.

Some teams are looking ahead to the future and picking a player that can change their fortunes, but for many teams the focus is on trying to earn a Playoff spot and then making a real run towards the Super Bowl.

There looks to be some stand out teams, but we are only just heading into December during Week 13 and the schedules are designed in a way where the bigger games are played in the remaining weeks of the regular season. Things could quickly unravel for teams who look good, while there always seems to be one or two teams that can pick up a lot of momentum in the final month of the regular season and take that into the post-season where they can upset some of the higher Seeds.

Identifying those potential teams is not easy, but the Miami Dolphins are looking pretty good and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a team used to making late runs that have led to the Playoffs too.

Week 13 brings a number of primetime games with three on Thanksgiving Day and then the Black Friday game before heading into the weekend.

It has been a tough three weeks for the NFL Picks, although the last two weeks have been more frustrating than anything else.

On another occasion Week 12 would have ended with a 4-2 record, but the Minnesota Vikings blew a huge lead in Chicago and the Arizona Cardinals made a couple of key mistakes in losing in Seattle when they looked to be in a position to win.

Things like this happen, but it is a bit annoying off the back of a couple of rough weeks and the hope is tha the bounce of the ball is a bit more favourable over the next few days to get things turned back around.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Pick: Seven defeats in a row on Thanksgiving Day might be hard to swallow, especially as the Detroit Lions (10-1) host the first game of the holiday, but this current team is all about breaking new ground. Nine wins in a row have kept them in front of the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in the loaded NFC North and many feel Detroit might be the best team in the NFL.

Next up is a Divisional showdown with the Chicago Bears (4-7) who have actually handed three of the last seven Thanksgiving Day defeats to the Detroit Lions.

However, the Bears have dropped five games in a row to fall out of contention within the Division, although they could easily have won three of those. The stunning Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders has sparked the losing run, but the Bears also have had a blocked Field Goal prevent them from beating the Green Bay Packers and suffered an Overtime loss in Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings.

At 7-5, the Bears might have been arriving in Detroit filled with confidence, but losing five straight means this is very much a learning season for Caleb Williams at Quarter Back. He had been struggling, but performed well in the last two games against Divisional rivals and that may at least mean he can play with some belief when opening up Thanksgiving Day on the road.

He will have to be aware of the huge challenge in front of him against this Detroit Defensive unit which has been playing with a lot of energy and intensity for three straight weeks. They were the reason that the Lions were able to overcome the Houston Texans in Week 10 thanks to some big second half turnovers and the Lions Defense has allowed just 12 points in their last couple of wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.

Stepping up their play from the front, the Lions Defensive Line have made it very tough to run the ball against them and that is going to be problematic for Caleb Williams and the Bears. With an Offensive Line struggling in pass protection, the run has been key to pushing the Chicago Bears into third and manageable spots on the field and subsequently enabled Williams to not have to hold onto the ball for too long.

He does have some veteran Receivers to help out, but Caleb Williams will find it tough to allow routes to develop whenever the Bears are playing from behind the chains. Even without Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions can generate some pressure up front and Williams has made a couple of rookie mistakes in taking Sacks when he should be getting rid of the ball to fight in another Down.

Credit has to be given to the rookie Quarter Back for at least avoiding big mistakes in the passing game, but he will have to be aware of the danger of throwing into this Detroit Secondary when they are expecting the pass to be made. Interceptions could be key to turning this game completely in favour of the Lions, especially if the Bears Defensive unit cannot pick up their own level of play.

They have been involved in some competitive losses recently, but the Bears are giving up almost 400 yards of Offense in recent defeats and that is significantly higher than their early season performances. Now they have to face a Detroit team that has a hugely balanced Offense and that is going to make it very difficult for the Chicago Bears to make stops.

A one-two punch out of the backfield sets everything up for the Lions, although former Bears Running Back David Montgomery could potentially miss out. Even if he cannot go, Jahmyr Gibbs has shown he is more than capable of breaking out a big run or two and is also offering a real threat in the passing game.

The Chicago Secondary has just found it tough to stop teams as they have stepped up their level of competition and it is very likely that Jared Goff is able to turn the Detroit fortunes around on Thanksgiving Day. He is well protected, which means having plenty of time to let his Receivers break open, and Goff has bounced back from his horrific primetime peformance against the Houston Texans.

Playing at home has been very productive for the Quarter Back and Jared Goff has been able to produce cleaner performances here and he should be able to lead the Lions up and down the field.

With the spread where it is, the backdoor cover will certainly be open for the Chicago Bears.

However, the feeling is that the Lions will have heard plenty about their losing run on Thanksgiving Day and they will be motivated to show the nation how far they have come in the last couple of years. The Bears have a solid recent record in this Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, and they have been competitive against the other two top NFC North teams, but the Bears were blown out in their last road game against Arizona and they may find this Detroit Offensive unit too much to handle in the first of three games on Turkey Day.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: When the schedule makers set this game for Thanksgiving Day, the hope would have been that it would be one between two contenders in the NFC East. Instead, the Dallas Cowboys (4-7) and New York Giants (2-9) have vastly underachieved and the latter are perhaps looking to finish the season with the Number 1 Draft Pick.

After deciding to bench Daniel Jones at Quarter Back, who was then later released, the decision to go with the third string QB Tommy DeVito rather than Drew Lock, who has been the backup to Jones all season, has made it pretty clear what the ownership may want. Some of the Giants players have voiced their frustration about the direction being taken by the team, while Head Coach Brian Daboll will do well to retain his job going into 2025.

Six losses in a row have sunk the Giants and there will be some real questions being asked as to why they spent so much money on extending Daniel Jones' contract and allowing Saquon Barkley to leave. They were miserable in Week 12 when being blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this is a short week to get things right.

At least one positive is that New York are facing a Dallas Cowboys team that has also been in the midst of a miserable run, albeit one that was snapped with the win over the Washington Commanders last time out. Prior to that, the Cowboys had lost five in a row and they will need another big effort from the Special Teams unit to make up for what has been a stagnant Offense without Dak Prescott behind Center.

Cooper Rush has struggled and the Offensive Line has been banged up, so the Cowboys have not been able to rely on a consistent running game to help out. There is an opportunity to have more success on the ground against this New York Defensive Line, especially if players begin to dial it in, but it looks like being another inconsistent night in the office on this side of the ball.

CeeDee Lamb is playing through an injury, while Cooper Rush will receive a significant boost if Jake Ferguson is back on Thanksgiving Day. Brandin Cooks could also be back, which should give the backup Quarter Back an opportunity to at least make some positive plays against this Giants Secondary.

Much like the Cowboys, the New York Giants are going to want to lean on their Offensive Line to open up running lanes for Tyrone Tracy. This should be a good match up for Tracy, although he might not have the amount of carries you would expect after another Fumble, and Tommy DeVito is going to be asked to use his legs to just move away from the Dallas pass rush pressure and keep the Giants in front of the chains.

Teams have been able to run the ball effectively against the Dallas Defensive Line so it looks the clear game plan to use for the Giants, which should in turn give DeVito a bit more time to throw the ball from third and manageable spots. The Quarter Back did not have his best game last week in the blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this may be an 'easier' spot for DeVito, even if Trevon Diggs is back for the Cowboys.

It looks a tough game to call with both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys significantly underperforming this season and with backup Quarter Backs leading the teams out. The Cowboys have dominated this Divisional rival of late with seven straight wins in the series, but Cooper Rush is hard to trust to cover as a favourite of more than a Field Goal.

At the same time, the Giants organisation is making it pretty clear that their focus has become tanking the season and you do have to wonder how players react to that. They did not show up in Week 12, but this is a big national televised spot and you have to believe the Giants can run the ball well enough to keep this competitive, even if they are eventually beaten.

There has to be a concern that this could get very ugly, very quickly for the New York Giants and that their opening couple of drives are going to be very important. If they can at least show some pride, the Giants should be able to make enough plays against Cooper Rush to keep this one close on the scoreboard and make use of the points that are being given to them.

Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers Pick: Barring a huge collapse from the Buffalo Bills, the hope of winning the AFC East is already over for the Miami Dolphins (5-6). However, three wins in a row have just pulled this team back into the mix for a Wild Card spot in the Playoffs and that has to be the target for Miami the rest of the way, especially if they can keep their key players healthy.

Wins over the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots have built momentum, but none of those teams are above 0.500 for the season as we move into Week 13 of the regular season.

With that in mind, the Dolphins have to know there is a significant challenge coming up for them when travelling to face the Green Bay Packers (8-3) who are very much on course to return to the post-season. There is still a hope that the Packers can move past either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings or both in the NFC North, and Green Bay are certainly going to be feeling pretty good about where they are at right now after beating the San Francisco 49ers.

There has been a real balance to the way they have been performing Offensively with Josh Jacobs running the ball effectively and Jordan Love continuing to show his development and confidence at Quarter Back. It was the Jacobs power-running that helped the Packers crush the 49ers in Week 12 and also alleviated any pressure that Jordan Love has been feeling, which has led to some big mistakes in the passing game.

Those mistakes have not dented Love's confidence, but playing a clean game against the 49ers will just serve as a reminder that Green Bay can go extremely far if they are able to avoid turnovers.

Green Bay can lean on the Offensive Line in this final game on Thanksgiving Day and they should be able to have some success behind Josh Jacobs, even if the Dolphins have been playing the run better during this winning run than they have for much of the season. Some of that may have been down to the opponents faced though and the threat of the Jordan Love arm should mean the Dolphins have to be aware of the plays being called, which should also also give Jacobs a chance to continue to run hard behind the O-Line.

It should open up the passing lanes for Jordan Love who had an efficient game on Sunday, rather than one where he was putting up huge numbers. Ultimately it is about winning Football games and Love can back up that performance against this Miami Secondary.

The Packers Offensive Line has given Jordan Love time in the pocket, which is only aided by being able to run the ball and playing from third and manageable spots, while a cold, snowy evening in Green Bay gives the team another edge.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are downplaying the impact of the likely conditions, but there is no doubting that Miami have something to prove. This Quarter Back and this team have not been as effective in the cold, and Miami have also struggled when playing against stronger teams in the NFL so the challenge in Week 13 is pretty clear.

The Dolphins would love to find a way to establish the run and ease the burden on Tagovailoa at Quarter Back, but they have not run the ball as they would have liked during their three game winning run. In recent history, the Packers Defensive Line have had issues stopping the run, but they have been playing well enough to believe they can contain the Miami rush on Thanksgiving Day and force Tua Tagovailoa to beat them through the air.

Miami do have very strong Receiving options for their Quarter Back to target, but this is a Packers Secondary that have looked very solid all season. Playing out of third and long spots will mean Tagovailoa could be under some pressure from the Packers pass rush, while he will will also have to be aware of the potential for turnovers when throwing against some of these Defensive Backs.

With the expected conditions, running the ball is likely going to be very important and this is where the Green Bay Packers look to have an edge. The Dolphins still have so much to prove when it comes to playing in the cold and when facing stronger teams and that is where the edge has to be given to Green Bay who can find the big plays to pull clear.

Tua Tagovailoa has given the Dolphins a spark since his latest return from a concussion, but it will be tough to extend the three game winning run. He will make some big plays for Miami, but the cold and snow may just highlight the issues that the Dolphins Offensive Line have been having and Green Bay can just ensure they keep the pressure on the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North with a solid win in the nightcap on Thanksgiving Day.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: A new tradition has begun in the NFL with a Black Friday offering and this season it is battle between the top and bottom of the AFC West.

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) and it is no surprise that they have been set as a heavy favourite. That line is likely going to get wider and wider as we approach kick off with this being the sole NFL offering on Friday, and that can be concerning when you think the Kansas City Chiefs have rarely won games easily this season.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are well aware that blowouts in the regular season mean nothing when it comes to the post-season and so they have only done what is needed to keep the wins ticking over. Earning the Number 1 Seed in the Conference is important, but not going to be the be all and end all for the Kansas City Chiefs who are simply using this time to make sure they are ready to fight for another Super Bowl ring.

That was perhaps the reason for the tougher than expected road win at the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, but the Chiefs are back home and can push forward against this struggling Raiders team.

There will be a real battle at the Line of Scrimmage where the Raiders have at least played the run pretty well in recent games. However, the Chiefs Offensive Line have prided themselves on being able to open some big running lanes and the threat of Patrick Mahomes at Quarter Back may mean the Raiders cannot focus on clamping down on the run as they would usually do.

For all of those successes up front, the Secondary has not been able to step up and stop teams from extending drives and we have to expect more of the same on Friday. It is a short week for both teams, but Mahomes performed really well in the win over the Panthers and he can pick up from where he left off against this Raiders team that may be thinking about the end of the season already.

Well the players might be, but Head Coach Antonio Pierce has made it clear that he has no interest in 'tanking' with the Raiders amongst the 'leading' teams for the Number 1 Pick in the Draft.

Like a number of teams struggling, the Raiders have not gotten enough consistency from the Quarter Back position and they would love to be able to take one of the top players coming out of College Football in that position. Gardner Minshew is not going to be ready to go this week, but Aidan O'Connell is back having not appeared in Week 12 and he will get the start ahead of Desmond Ridder.

No matter who was going to get the call, this was always going to be a significant test for the Quarter Back with the Raiders unlikely to be able to establish the run. That means Aidan O'Connell is going to have to perform under some duress, especially considering the Offensive Line struggles in pass protection, and his recovery from a broken thumb will be tested.

After a strong start, the Kansas City Secondary have had some issues when teams have chosen to throw against them in recent games and the Raiders may have some success too. Slowing down Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers will not be easy, but the Chiefs may just get O'Connell thinking at times and that is where they may extract a mistake or two from the Quarter Back.

This is the second Divisional game between these two in a little over a month and the Kansas City Chiefs were 7 point winners on the road to continue their recent dominance of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chiefs should not have forgotten being embarrassed at home on Christmas Day last year when set as an 11 point favourite against the Raiders, which should keep the home team focused on Black Friday. Prior to that, the Chiefs had beat Las Vegas pretty convincingly twice in a row and the feeling is that they will be able to secure a solid win at home, while giving the Raiders plenty to think about it when it comes to the direction this franchise is heading.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

New York Giants + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 3 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kansas City Chiefs - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

College Football Week 13 Picks 2024 (Saturday 23rd November)

There may be an expanded College Football Playoff format in place at the end of this season, but the tougher schedules that teams have chosen to face has really kept the end of the regular season hugely exciting for fans of the sport.

The SEC are expected to have as many as five teams taking part in the twelve team Playoff, but a number of those leading the way have already been beaten twice.

What does that mean? Well, some Head Coaches have made it clear that any SEC team that has two losses on the schedule may actually be better off if they miss the Championship Game.

Winning that would mean a top four Seed and a Bye through the First Round, but a third defeat would likely mean elimination, even if that is in the Championship Game, and so there is a real belief that the better option would be to win out in the regular season and hope to miss out. Until the change is made to perhaps give the two teams in any Championship Game an edge over those that miss out, you can imagine this is a situation that will come up again and so the first change to be made is to reorganise Conferences into Divisions.

That is for another season and for now teams are going into the final two weeks of the regular season hoping to do enough to be invited into the new College Football Playoff bracket. There are some big games for the likes of the Indiana Hoosiers, who visit the Ohio State Buckeyes, while the top of the Big 12 Conference could have the Championship Game set this weekend.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Army Black Knights Pick: The expanded College Football Playoff was always going to offer a bit more room for a team like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1) to join eleven other teams chasing the National Championship. Despite an upset earlier this season, the Fighting Irish are 6th in the latest Playoff Rankings that have been released and Notre Dame are likely to be one of the teams selected, albeit without a Bye Week, as long as they win out in the regular season.

There is no Championship Game that could bolster the resume for Notre Dame and there is little doubt that they have not exactly faced the top teams in College Football. Even some of the better looking wins have been weakened by other upsets, but the Fighting Irish are doing what they need to.

In Week 13 they are hosting an unbeaten Army Black Knights (9-0) team that will put an unbeaten record on the line having secured a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game against Tulane. They moved up into 19th place in the College Football Rankings, but Army would make a considerable move and likely into the top twelve places if they find a way to upset Notre Dame at Yankees Stadium.

This feels like a 'prove it' moment for the Black Knights who have not exactly had a lot of top wins through their unbeaten run, which has contributed to a relatively low Ranking considering they have yet to lose.

The game plan won't take much to work out with the Black Knights looking to run, run and run some more when they have the ball in their hand. This is going to be the toughest Defensive Line that Army would have faced all season and you have to believe that the Bye Week to prepare for this game can only aid the Black Knights further as they look to not only establish the run, but to make sure this is a huge part of their day in New York.

Bryson Daily has had almost double the amount of yardage on the ground as he has throwing the ball from Quarter Back, but everything depends on the Line of Scrimmage and whether the Black Knights can push the Notre Dame Defensive Line out of position or give them a scheme that they do not recognise.

It is going to be a tough ask for Army all the same and containing this Notre Dame Offensive unit will be plenty challenging too.

Eight wins in a row have almost erased that painful loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies, but the Fighting Irish cannot afford another slip. They have scored at least 28 points in each win since scoring just 14 against the Huskies, and there is a fine balance to the play-calling on the Offensive side of the ball.

Much like when Army have the ball, the Line of Scrimmage is going to be all-important when Notre Dame are in position and the test for the Black Knights Defensive Line in stopping the run will surpass any they have faced this season. The Fighting Irish have ripped open some big gains on the ground and the talent edge is with Notre Dame, which should show up here.

Riley Leonard has offered some dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position, although he is much more likely to build up the yardage behind his arm rather than his legs.

What has to be expected from this game is that Leonard and the Notre Dame passing game should be able to exploit some of the holes in the Army Secondary. That will be much more difficult for Bryson Daily at Quarter Back for Army, and that balance should allow Notre Dame to push past this unbeaten opponent in the grand setting of Yankees Stadium.

Notre Dame have been impressing the Playoff Committee by now only winning games, but by doing so by wide margins. That has also made them a very productive favourite to back when it comes to the spread since that upset loss to the Huskies and the Fighting Irish should put up another impressive victory to maintain their push towards the twelve team Playoff coming up next month.

SMU Mustangs @ Virginia Cavaliers Pick: Seven wins in a row have kept the SMU Mustangs (9-1) on track for a place in the ACC Championship Game in their first season in this Conference.

Head Coach Rhett Lashlee will not be concerning himself with the Number 13 placing given to the SMU Mustangs in the latest Playoff Rankings. Instead he will be reminding his team that winning out and becoming ACC Champion would likely end with a Bye through the First Round of the post-season and especially as the Championship Game is likely going to be against the Miami Hurricanes, who are still at Number 8.

The Mustangs have shown character when needed during their seven game winning run and that is highlighted by some close wins. However, twice in this run the Mustangs have won as the outright underdog and those are the kinds of wins that build confidence and will have players believing in everything the Coaching staff as asking them to do.

Next up is the last road game in the regular season when SMU travel to face the Virginia Cavaliers (5-5) who are still in need of one more win to become Bowl eligible. Last week, the Cavaliers were blown out by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a game that looked much closer on the scoreboard than it actually was and that means Virginia have lost four of their last five games.

One of those was against the Clemson Tigers and the Cavaliers have also gone down to Louisville and North Carolina.

Turnovers have been an issue and five in the first half against the Fighting Irish meant it was never going to be a competitive outing for Virginia. Head Coach Tony Elliot is hoping his team can be much more careful with the ball as they look to upset the SMU Mustangs hopes for the season, while there is also some real uncertainty about the Quarter Back position.

Whoever lines up at the position will have a good match up against a SMU Secondary that has given up plenty of yards of late. Of course teams have been chasing the Mustangs and have been forced to take to the air, but there is a chance to impress for the Virginia Quarter Back.

However, the problem for the Cavaliers is that they have been one-dimensional Offensively with the team struggling to establish the run. This has really exposed the failings of the Offensive Line when it comes to pass protection, which in turn meant a Quarter Back under pressure has made mistakes when trying to throw down the field.

The Mustangs Defensive Line have played well in recent games and they have been able to put up plenty of hits on the opposition Quarter Back so the match up will feel a decent one for them on this side of the ball.

Of course it is the SMU Offensive unit that has really pushed the momentum behind the team and they will be relying on Kevin Jennings and his playmakers to keep the team on track to reach the ACC Championship Game.

Like so many of the top teams in College Football who are chasing berths in the Playoff, the Mustangs have been pretty well balanced Offensively. This Offensive Line will be able to establish the run against this Cavaliers team that has been struggling of late and that is only going to open things up for Jennings and the passing game to have plenty of success.

The Quarter Back has been well protected, while Virginia have struggled to really make an impact in the backfield having had issues stopping the run. This should allow Kevin Jennings to have another strong game, although he will have to be aware of the Virginia Secondary and their ability to turn the ball over.

Extra possessions can be so important in these games, but the Mustangs are more likely to take advantage of those and the road team may just be able to produce another quality win on the road. In reality, we are down to that point of the season where merely winning is the most important goal for any team to achieve, but the Mustangs will want to remind the Playoff Committee of their abilities.

In Week 12, Notre Dame crushed Virginia at home, but SMU can do enough on the road to perhaps not reach the same margin of victory, but to win by double digits and ensure they cover and maintain their place in line for a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

Mississippi Rebels @ Florida Gators Pick: There are six SEC teams that are still in contention to reach the Championship Game in the Conference and a number of them have two losses on the board already. In previous years the ambition would still have been to reach the Conference Championship Game regardless, but there has been open talk in and around the SEC that it would be better for a two loss team to win out and hope to miss out on playing that Championship Game knowing a loss would almost certainly mean they miss out on the College Football Playoff.

Right now the two loss teams in the SEC have been given plenty of respect with those four being placed between Number 7 and 11 in the latest College Football Rankings. While other Conferences are likely going to be punished for multiple defeats, the SEC are going to be given plenty of respect for the level of competition that their top teams have taken on in the regular season.

The Mississippi Rebels (8-2) are currently the Number 9 team in the College Football Playoff Rankings and Head Coach Lane Kiffin has been speaking about the predicament that a two loss team reaching the SEC Championship Game brings. Instead of being respected for making it that far, losing would likely mean elimination from the Playoff and Kiffin and the Rebels want to be involved.

Of course they cannot let the focus slip knowing a loss in either of their remaining two Conference games would likely mean elimination too.

First up is the Florida Gators (5-5) who have a 3-4 record when playing within the SEC, but who are playing behind an upset of the LSU Tigers.

Motivation for the Gators begins with trying to earn Bowl eligibility first and foremost and this is the final home game of the season, which is going to be a big day for some of the seniors. DJ Lagway being back at Quarter Back was a huge boost for Florida who had been blown out by the Texas Longhorns without him, and there is a confidence about Lagway that has to be respected.

Much of the pressure is going to be on the shoulders of DJ Lagway because it has been very tough to run against the Rebels Defensive Line all season. That does not mean Lagway cannot have success considering the inconsistent play of the Mississippi Secondary, but will also mean that the Quarter Back will need to be well aware of the pass rush pressure that the road team have put together in recent outings.

Sacks have been produced at a high rate and it could lead to a mistake or two from the Florida Quarter Back, which could be key in determining the direction of this game. DJ Lagway has played with a lot of belief and that can be hard to shake, but this Rebels Defensive unit will look to make Florida a little one-dimensional and then further that pressure through the strong Offensive play that Mississippi have been able to produce.

Jaxson Dart has really been playing at a high level at Quarter Back and showing off the experience he has built up in College Football and he has been a key part of the three game winning run that the Rebels are riding. His arm has been very important considering some of the inconsistent performances produced when it comes to running the ball, although the Rebels may have a bit more success against this Florida Defensive Line.

More exciting for the fans of the Quarter Back is seeing some of the big yards that the Gators have allowed through the air in recent games and Jaxson Dart is playing well enough to capitalise. There is every chance that Tre Harris is also going to be back on the field after missing the three game winning run through injury and the Wide Receiver is close to cracking the 1000 Receiving mark despite the run of absences.

The Rebels Offensive Line have been stronger in pass protection than run blocking in recent outings and Jaxson Dart can just remind the Playoff Committee of the talent that this Mississippi team possess.

These two SEC teams have not met since 2020 when the Gators blew out the Mississippi Rebels on the road, which will still give the road favourites motivation here.

Florida have to be credited for showing plenty of competitiveness, even in defeats, before the blow out to the Texas Longhorns. However, they were beaten by 13 points by Texas A&M and 14 points by Georgia Bulldogs and the feeling is that the Rebels can match those margins in this big Week 13 game.

Vanderbilt Commodores @ LSU Tigers Pick: He came in with a big contract signed, but Head Coach Brian Kelly is under immense pressure at the LSU Tigers (6-4). Six teams are still firmly involved in the race to reach the College Football Playoff from within the SEC, but it is a real disappointment for all associated with LSU that they are not one of them with a 3-3 record within the Conference.

They had begun with three SEC wins, but the Tigers have now lost three in a row to the Texas A&M Aggies, Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators. All of those defeats have been by double digits to end LSU's hopes of making the Playoff, while some of the sideline issues involving Brian Kelly and a couple of the players have gone viral.

The Tigers host the Vanderbilt Commodores (6-4) who hold the same record as LSU, but who will be feeling much more positive about their record compared with the home team. The Commodores have lost two of their last three SEC games, but they still have a 3-3 record within the Conference, while the upset over Alabama will live long in the memory for all of the fans who attended.

Diego Pavia has played well at Quarter Back for Vanderbilt and the team are coming out of a Bye Week, which has given Pavia the time that should see him overcome his issue and start in Week 13. Others have also used the time to make sure they are ready to play in this big road game as Vanderbilt look for another upset and having key players available is a big boost.

The key on this side of the ball for the Commodores is going to be finding a way to exploit the big problems that the Tigers Defensive Line have had in stopping the run. In recent games, Vanderbilt have not exactly been very consistent when it comes to running the ball and so the battle at the Line of Scrimmage is going to be key for both teams.

The Quarter Back has offered a dual-threat out of the position so the Commodores could look to Diego Pavia to move the ball on the ground to open up the passing lanes. He has been a pretty efficient passer for much of the season, but Pavia has just struggled in recent games with the injury potentially restricting his performance.

Throwing against this Tigers Secondary will be challenging if Pavia is being forced to make plays from behind the chains, but having the Quarter Back available will give Vanderbilt the opportunity to make some big plays on the ground.

Running the ball will be a struggle for the LSU Tigers in this game too, although they may feel the competition being faced is a step down compared with the teams beaten in the three game losing streak. Even then, the Tigers have not been able to break the big runs and this is a Vanderbilt Defensive Line that has been the strength of the team this side of the ball.

It has placed more pressure on Garrett Nussmeier at Quarter Back and he has had an inconsistent season to say the least. 22 Touchdown passes have come with 11 Interceptions and there will be further pressure on Nussmeier to show what he can do after a highly rated Quarter Back recruit changed his mind and flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan.

Garrett Nussmeier is at least throwing against a Vanderbilt Secondary that has been struggling to deal with the pass, although the Quarter Back will not have a lot of time in the pocket if the team are not able to establish the run. This could lead to turnovers, which could spark an upset for the road team, and it looks like it could be a tough evening for LSU.

However, they are playing under the lights and this is a team with something to prove, which should at least give LSU some motivation. Brian Kelly might be under pressure, and players could easily lose focus with a season that has unravelled, but the Commodores have also been playing without the intensity of earlier this season.

Injuries are hurting the road team and that may be the key for LSU to earn a win and a rare cover against the spread.

Colorado Buffaloes @ Kansas Jayhawks Pick: With two weeks left in the regular season, the surprising 2024 Colorado Buffaloes (8-2) have been set as favourites to win the Big 12, which should also come with a Playoff spot. That will mean winning out and then winning the Big 12 Championship Game, but the momentum is with the Colorado Buffaloes, although they are facing a tough road game in Week 13.

Arrowhead, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, will be the venue when the Buffaloes travel to face the Kansas Jayhawks (4-6). There has to be plenty of respect for a team that has won three of their last four games to just about keep their Bowl bid alive after a miserable run to open the season, while that respect deepens when noting that the Kansas Jayhawks upset the BYU Cougars last time out.

That win ended the unbeaten hopes of the Cougars, while also knocking them out of the current top twelve in the Playoff Rankings so Head Coach Deion Sanders will be reminding his players of the threat that will be offered by the home team.

A number of the big name Colorado players have to be excited about playing in a NFL Stadium with that likely to be in their future once Draft Day passes. Impressing in such a setting may just boost the Buffaloes Ranking, which is currently Number 16, and you do have to believe that Sanders and his team will feel a little disrespected in their current positioning having won four games in a row since losing narrowly to the Kansas State Wildcats.

Colorado have been heavily relying on the arm of Shedeur Sanders as they have continued to struggle to run the ball, but even knowing what to come has not made life any easier for Defensive units facing this Buffaloes team. He is not the dual-threat that some Quarter Backs are, but Sanders is likely to be the first name called out in the next NFL Draft having thrown for over 3200 passing yards with 27 Touchdowns and just 7 Interceptions.

His life would be all the easier if the Buffaloes Offensive Line could help establish the run, but that has been an issue all season and even facing this Kansas Defensive Line is not expected to change those fortunes. It is not going to really impact the play of Shedeur Sanders though, especially with the Jayhawks Secondary giving up plenty of yards through the air and the Buffaloes are expected to keep the chains moving.

Deion Sanders is demanding more from his team, despite the strong run, and he will certainly expect a challenging test from the Jayhawks.

Much like when the Buffaloes have the ball, it may be tough for Kansas to really look to the run to set up the pass, even if the Offensive Line has been playing well. The Colorado Defensive Line have played really well when it comes to the run during their winning streak and they will certainly believe they are capable of at least containing the Jayhawks on the ground with their strengths at the Line of Scrimmage.

The difference when it comes to running the ball is that the Jayhawks can call plays for Jalon Daniels at Quarter Back compared with the Buffaloes who know Shedeur Sanders is an effective passer. That is not to say that Daniels cannot have success throwing the ball, but he has yet to hit 2000 passing yards and 13 Touchdown passes with 10 Interceptions shows there is a marked difference between the Quarter Backs when it comes to throwing down the field.

Jalon Daniels can move around the pocket to give himself some time, but he will be hoping to be in third and manageable spots on the field to just ensure the Buffaloes pass rush is not able to have a big impact on the game. This ability to sense the pressure has helped with the pass protection though and Daniels will be able to exploit some holes in the Colorado Secondary, albeit with the potential danger of being turned over when he steps back to throw.

Turnovers are likely to be very important in this game, and a potentially big deciding factor considering where the line sits.

You do have a feeling that this game could come down to whichever teams possesses the ball last, but the Colorado Buffaloes have been playing with a lot of confidence right now and that may just see them edge to a success. The Kansas Jayhawks invested a lot into the upset of the BYU Cougars, but they were slightly fortunate too and will need the bounce of the ball to work in their favour to win this one.

Colorado look to have a slight talent edge and the team are playing with momentum right now, which can be hard to shake off. There is also some motivation from being placed outside the top twelve in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings and Deion Sanders can use that to inspire his team to an important road win and edge that much closer to participating in the Big 12 Championship Game.

MY PICKS: Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 14 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

SMU Mustangs - 10 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Mississippi Rebels - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Colorado Buffaloes - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Connecticut Huskies + 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

California Golden Bears - 14 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Baylor Bears - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 12: 3-6, - 3.23 Units (9 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.15 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.17% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 4.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 57.86% Yield)

Week 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units (6 Units Staked, + 30.33% Yield)

Week 8: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 7: 6-3, + 2.55 Units (9 Units Staked, + 28.33% Yield)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)