Week 13 College Football Picks: Schedule, Predictions, Odds, and Top 25 Rankings
The most anticipated game of the 2023 college football season takes place inside Michigan Stadium on Saturday. The Michigan Wolverines host the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Big Ten clash that will likely decide a College Football Playoff berth.
Michigan comes into Week 13 with a two-game winning streak over its long-time rival. Ohio State has not defeated the Wolverines since 2019. The 2020 matchup was cancelled. Ohio State comes into Saturday with a higher spot in the AP Top 25 and off the better Week 12 performance, but Michigan is favored on the point spread.
Ohio State’s task is to slow down Blake Corum and the rushing attack since Michigan has a definite game plan. Since their 45-23 loss to them the previous year, Ohio State has significantly improved their defense; Saturday will be the real test to see if those gains were worthwhile.
While the Michigan-Ohio State game is sure to be the topic of college football for the next week, the calendar also features other noteworthy games involving the top 25 teams. In order to secure a position in the Pac-12 Championship Game, the Oregon Ducks must defeat the Oregon State Beavers at home. The point spread implies that the Ducks will defeat their in-state rival with ease.
Week 13 AP Top 25 Schedule and Odds.
For the latest lines on these games, go toย DraftKings.
Thursday, November 23
No. 12 Ole Miss (-11) at Mississippi State (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Friday, November 24
TCU at No. 13 Oklahoma (-11.5) (Noon ET, Fox)
No. 20 Iowa (-1) at Nebraska (Noon ET, CBS)
No. 23 Toledo (-12.5) at Central Michigan (Noon ET, ESPNU)
UTSA at No. 18 Tulane (-2.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
No. 10 Missouri (-7) at Arkansas (4 p.m. ET, CBS)
Texas Tech at No. 7 Texas (-13.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
No. 11 Penn State (-20) at Michigan State (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
No. 15 Oregon State at No. 6 Oregon (-14) (8:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
Saturday, November 25
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Michigan (-4) (Noon ET, Fox)
Kentucky at No. 9 Louisville (-7) (Noon ET, ABC)
Texas A&M at No. 14 LSU (-10.5) (Noon ET, ESPN)
No. 8 Alabama (-14.5) at Auburn (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 16 Arizona (-12.5) at Arizona State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Vanderbilt at No. 25 Tennessee (-25.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
BYU at No. 21 Oklahoma State (-17.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Washington State at No. 4 Washington (-16.5) (4 p.m. ET, Fox)
No. 5 Florida State (-6.5) at Florida (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
No. 17 Notre Dame (-24.5) at Stanford (7 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network)
No. 1 Georgia (-23) at Georgia Tech (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Iowa State at No. 19 Kansas State (-11.5) (8 p.m. ET, Fox)
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Michigan (-4)
By becoming more aggressive on the inside, Michigan was able to gain the upper hand in their rivalry with Ohio State. In the last two iterations of the rivalry, the Wolverines intimidated the Buckeyes with their outstanding ground production.
With more than thirty rush plays behind Corum, who did not see much action in the previous year’s meeting, Michigan will attempt to smash the Ohio State defense. This season, Corum has scored a touchdown on the ground in each of the Wolverines’ games. He will be essential to the team’s success at home.
Although Ohio State’s scoring defense is the second best in the FBS, it does allow 108.5 rushing yards per game against Michigan. At 234.8 total yards allowed per game, Michigan leads the FBS. Third place goes to Ohio State with 252.9 yards allowed per game.
The Wolverines have a well-thought-out plan to prevent Ohio State’s offense from getting into a groove and to maintain their offensive domination through the ground game. Last season, Michigan outran Ohio State for 252 yards on 35 attempts and limited the Buckeyes to three second-half points.
The Wolverines must be favored in the rivalry until the Buckeyes demonstrate that they have caught up to Michigan’s success on the ground. Corum, J.J. McCarthy, and company know just how to beat Ohio State.
No. 15 Oregon State at No. 6 Oregon (-14).
Some of the best football in the nation is being played by Oregon. During their current five-game winning streak, the Ducks have scored at least 35 points in each contest. To prepare for Friday’s rivalry game with Oregon State, Oregon easily defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 49โ13 last week.
The Oregon program makes much of the national headlines for Bo Nix, but the Ducks defense should take a lot of the credit for their dominant style of play throughout the past month of victories. Two weeks ago, the Ducks held the USC Trojans, led by Caleb Williams, to 27 points, and they have kept three of their past four opponents under 20 points.
In its second consecutive challenging battle, Oregon State might be outmatched from the outset. The Beavers gave their all in their home defeat to the Washington Huskies, and in the second half, they might be overcome by the weariness after the intense two-game run.
In the first half of the rivalry game, Oregon State will undoubtedly be competitive. However, since Oregon’s defeat to Washington, no one has faced Oregon, and this trend should continue inside Autzen Stadium on Friday night.