College Football Week 14 Winning Predictions
It’s the conference-title-games weekend in college football and the action starts Friday night.
Last week, once again, I went 3-0 against the spread.
We’re going to do it again but I’m staying away from the one game most of my family and friends are talking about: the Utah-USC rematch for the Pac-12 crown.
As a Utah graduate, my heart tells me the Utes, but my mind says the Trojans will avenge their only loss of the season and reach the College Football Playoff.
Let’s go with three matchups I feel a bit better about.
The following odds are courtesy of DraftKings, which offers great sign-up bonuses.
But don’t forget about all the other great gambling options and awesome offers available in your state including those from BetMGM, FanDuel, and many more.
Also, be sure to check out our guide to online casinos, from Michigan to New Jersey. You can place all your football future bets at various sites in several states across the country.
My picks are in CAPS with plus or minus points next to each team’s name.
Kansas State vs. TCU (-2.5)
One of the most perplexing point spreads I’ve seen all year.
What the hell am I missing?
The Horned Frogs are unbeaten and will be laser-focused on reaching the CFP.
They’re playing an early game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kansas State, meanwhile, has mostly played night games this season.
Look, the Wildcats are good and will give them a game but I think they’ll lose by at least six. Remember, the Horned Frogs already beat them 38-28 back on Oct. 22 and I expect the score to be as close as that.
The difference will be TCU’s no-nonsense star QB Max Duggan, whose NFL Draft stock is soaring. He has thrown for 3,070 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, and has added 294 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 97 carries.
His smart solid play will propel the Horned Frogs to the promised land: the CFP playoff and a shot at either Georgia or Michigan. TCU is this year’s Cincinnati and people forget that the ultimate champion of last year, the Bulldogs, barely beat the Bearcats (24-21) in one of the CFP semifinals.
TCU to cover is my Lock of the Week.
LSU (+17.5) vs. Georgia
This may all come down to whether LSU starting QB Jayden Daniels plays. Daniels is battling an ankle injury and was sporting a walking boot earlier this week.
The Tigers suffered an ugly loss to Texas A&M last Saturday and there’s no reason to believe Georgia won’t win this game.
But is the spread too high? I believe it is, maybe by as little as that half of a point.
LSU’s remarkable season, despite last week’s loss, could be capped by an SEC title and a big-time bowl game.
The Tigers knocked off Alabama last month, which has a similar style/roster as Georgia.
LSU’s star cornerback Mekhi Garner summed up the SEC Championship Game as the Tigers’ “national championship.”
Good enough for me with the 17.5, even if backup Garrett Nussmeier is the starting QB.
FRESNO STATE (+3.5) at Boise State
Yeah, yeah, Boise isn’t the easiest place to play, not with that god-awful blue turf and their fans.
But the Bulldogs have a quarterback with an NFL-caliber arm in Jake Haener and I think that’s going to be the difference in the Mountain West championship game.
The Broncos are bullies on defense and allow just under 18 points a game, the 17th-best in the country.
It’s going be Boise’s ground game versus Fresno’s passing game and I like the Bulldogs. I especially like that extra half of a point.
Noticing a theme here?
As always, best of luck.
