Week 13.
The penultimate week of the college football regular season provides us with plenty of big-time matchups, including massive Big Ten and ACC matchups in the Noon window.
Read on for our college football picks and best bets for Week 13 on Saturday, Nov. 22
College Football Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 1 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
 | Noon | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Rutgers vs. Ohio State Pick
By Stuckey
I personally hate starting my day with the Big Noon game on FOX because it makes me irrationally angry when the game actually starts around 12:15 p.m. ET.
However, that's where we will kick things off in Columbus on Saturday by fading the best team in the country.
For starters, I project this spread at a tad under 30, so I do show value from a pure numbers perspective.
Additionally, it's a pretty decent spot for the Scarlet Knights, who had a bye last week and still remain in contention for a bowl bid. That extra time off should benefit Rutgers even more, considering it has dealt with as many injuries as any P4 team in 2025.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has already wrapped up a College Football Playoff spot with a trip to Ann Arbor on deck to take on a Michigan team that has won four straight in the heated rivalry.
Could the Buckeyes get caught looking ahead? It's possible, but the more impactful factor might be how they approach this game with the Wolverines up next, followed by the Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship and, presumably, the College Football Playoff.
No team has been more cognizant of the new, extended grind of the college football season since the playoff expanded. In my opinion, Ryan Day manages the season better than any coach in the country at the moment.
Look no further than Ohio State's snail-like pace. No team in the nation averages more seconds per play. The Buckeyes want to manage workloads and limit injuries ahead of their inevitable annual trip to the CFP.
So, what does that mean this week? Well, there's a decent chance that both Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith will sit out, as each star wide receiver is dealing with a nagging injury.
Smith left last week's game, and Tate hasn't seen the field over the past two contests. I'm just not sure it makes much sense to push either with the path that lies ahead.
If that's the case, it will certainly make life easier for an abysmal Rutgers defense.
It's also worth mentioning that Rutgers has arguably been the worst defense in the country against running quarterbacks, but Julian Sayin doesn't really offer a major threat in that department.
Rutgers does at least have a decent offense that I trust to get to somewhere around 14 points, especially with garbage time. That will give it a good shot of staying within the number, given the limited number of possessions in Ohio State games.
I'll call for a 42-14 Buckeyes victory. Keep in mind that UCLA faced a similar number last week with travel and a backup quarterback, while Rutgers is coming off a bye with much less travel.
Given the spot and quarterback situations, I'd have Rutgers four or five points better than the Bruins, who failed to cover after allowing a touchdown in the final minutes.
Check out all of Stuckey's Week 13 Situational Spots here:
Pick: Rutgers +31.5 or Better
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Louisville vs. SMU Pick
One of the best situational spots for Week 13 comes in the ACC, where SMU will have some extra rest off a bye week.
Louisville not only has to travel to Texas after back-to-back losses, but it must regroup after a heartbreaking 20-19 defeat at the hands of Clemson before a rivalry game against Kentucky in Week 14.
On the other side, SMU is live to make the ACC Championship.
The Mustangs must win their final two games against Louisville and Cal while also needing help from the other ACC contenders to make it to Charlotte for the conference title game.
SMU has won five of its last six games, picking up a victory in every conference game at home this season.
The defense has been the strong point for the Mustangs, ranking in the top 15 nationally in Havoc, Tackling, and Finishing Drives allowed.
Meanwhile, Louisville has struggled on offense throughout the season, as the offensive line sits outside the top 100 in Line Yards and Stuff Rate.
Stuff Rate — the measurement of owning the line of scrimmage — has been a disaster for the Cardinals, who own a rank of 125th out of all FBS teams.
Offensively, SMU's rushing attack will put it in scoring position against a Louisville defense that gives up plenty of explosive plays on the ground. Mustang running backs TJ Harden and Chris Johnson Jr. have racked up 19 explosives on the season.
Look for a well-rested SMU team to push toward another ACC Championship appearance, as Louisville continues to struggle to finish games.
Check out Collin's full Week 13 card here:
Pick: SMU -3.5 or Better
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Washington State vs. James Madison Pick
When the College Football Playoff Rankings were announced on Tuesday, it was confirmed to everybody what we already knew.
James Madison is not getting much respect at 9-1.
Not only do the Dukes have to win out and win the Sun Belt, but they also need to destroy teams.
And while Washington State is no longer a Power 4 program, it is likely still viewed in higher regard than the Sun Belt opponents James Madison currently has on its resume.
If they want any chance of reaching the playoffs, the Dukes need to blow the doors off the Cougars here.
Washington State is coming off an easy win in a great situational spot against Louisiana Tech. But now the Cougars have to make the same difficult cross-country trip from Washington to Harrisonburg, Virginia.
In its past four games, James Madison has won by margins of 36, 32,12, and 48. The Dukes know they have to step on the throat.
Quarterback Alonza Barnett looks better and better as he gets further away from last year’s injury. He has 16 touchdown passes on the year and is using his legs more and more. He has 12 rushing touchdowns on the season and has double-digit rush attempts in four straight games.
With Barnett’s legs and a deep running back room led by Wayne Knight, the Dukes rank seventh nationally in rushing offense and have 18 rushing touchdowns across the past four games.
Washington State ranks outside of the top 100 in Success Rate allowed and has struggled to slow down rushing and passing attacks.
At the same time, the offense has been pedestrian all season, failing to score more than 28 points since Week 2.
James Madison’s defense is the top-ranked unit in the country in Success Rate allowed. The Dukes are elite at defending the run and the pass while creating a ton of Havoc.
The one area teams have been able to get this Duke's defense has been with big plays, but Washington State ranks 131st nationally in Explosiveness.
I don’t see how Washington State moves the ball, and the James Madison offense is firing on all cylinders.
Bob Chesney knows his team needs to run up the score, and that should continue here.
Check out all of Ianniello's Group of 5 bets for Week 13 here:
Pick: James Madison -14 or Better
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Delaware vs. Wake Forest Pick
This game triggered one of our Action PRO betting systems, powered by Evan Abrams.
Home Fave Unders is a college football system built around the idea that strong home favorites often play in ways that reduce overall scoring.
In the regular season, when the home team is favored by 2.5 to 19.5 points, these matchups often turn into controlled games in which the favorite manages the pace and protects the lead rather than pushing for maximum points.
Weather conditions also support lower scoring, as humidity above 40% and wind speeds above 8 MPH make passing and kicking less efficient.
When public betting on the total leans heavily toward one side, especially the over, lines can become inflated even though the actual game script favors a more conservative outcome.
This combination of home team control, weather impact, and public bias creates a consistent edge for the under.
Want more PRO betting systems? Get an Action PRO subscription here:
Pick: Under 50.5
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Duck's Full Action App Card
Need more picks for this loaded Saturday? It's always wise to see what our guy Duck is betting on.
Additionally, if you haven't already, make sure you download the free award-winning Action Network App to track all your bets and tail all of your favorite experts:
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