Week 13 is the appetizer for Rivalry Week, and there are two matchups featuring ranked teams.
No. 23 Missouri travels to No. 8 Oklahoma in the other matchup between AP Top 25 teams at 12 p.m. ET. The Sooners should bump into the projected CFP field this week, but there is no margin for error.
No. 17 USC at No. 6 Oregon is the marquee game on the schedule. The teams meet at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS in a game that could determine whether the Big Ten can slip a fourth team into the College Football Playoff. This is the first Big Ten meeting between the programs.
Pitt faces No. 15 Georgia Tech in a pivotal game in the ACC championship race at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Panthers and Yellow Jackets each have one loss in conference play, and the winner will be a good bet to play for the conference title on Dec. 6.
Each week, we pick games against the spread for AP Top 25 teams. Here is a look at our record involving AP Top 25 teams heading into Week 13. (Odds according to Caesars)
Straight up: 154-51 (16-5 in Week 12)
Against the spread: 95-105-5 (10-11 in Week 12)
MORE: College Football Playoff forecast after Week 11
Week 13 picks against the spread
Rutgers at No. 1 Ohio State (-32.5) (12 p.m., Fox)
Will the Buckeyes rest receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate ahead of the Michigan game? Will it matter? Ohio State has allowed 7.2 points per game at home. Rutgers is 0-2 ATS as a double-digit underdog.
Pick: Ohio State wins 49-10 and COVERS the spread.
No. 23 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma (-9.5) (12 p.m., ABC)
The Tigers and Sooners have the top two statistical defenses in the SEC. Oklahoma controls its destiny in the College Football Playoff race, and Missouri is 0-3 ATS as an underdog this season. Ahmad Hardy is coming off a 300-yard game against Mississippi State. Oklahoma ranks fourth in the FBS against the run (82.2 ypg.).
Pick: Oklahoma wins 28-17 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: How tiebreakers work for Missouri, Oklahoma, more in SEC standings
No. 14 Miami (-17) at Virginia Tech (12 p.m., ESPN)
The Hokies have lost three of their last four games by double digits, and Kyron Drones has a 50% completion percentage in the last two losses. Miami is playing its third road game of the season, and it needs Virginia and Georgia Tech losses to get back in the ACC championship picture. It's a lot of points on the road.
Pick: Miami wins 38-20 and COVERS the spread.
Charlotte at No. 4 Georgia (-45) (12:45 p.m., SEC Network)
Charlotte has allowed 48 points or more in four of their losses this season, and they have averaged just 1.6 yards per carry the last two weeks. Georgia is 0-2 ATS when favored by 28 points or more this season, and there is no need to run the score up against the 49ers ahead of the Georgia Tech game. Turnovers will decide how bad this gets.
Pick: Georgia wins 45-3 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Washington State at No. 21 James Madison (-13.5) (1 p.m., ESPN+)
The Dukes are in the College Football Playoff mix, and the Cougars might be their most visible opponent. Washington State played Virginia and Ole Miss tight this season and they have not allowed more than 24 points in their last seven games.
Pick: James Madison wins 27-16 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 17 USC at No. 6 Oregon (-9.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
USC is playing for its playoff life at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks recalibrated with a blowout victory against Minnesota in Week 12. Oregon has allowed just 11.5 points per game since the loss to Indiana. USC is 2-2 S/U on the road this season and 1-1 ATS as an underdog.
Pick: Oregon wins 35-24 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: How tiebreakers for Oregon, USC work in Big Ten standings
Syracuse at No. 9 Notre Dame (-35) (3:30 p.m., Peacock)
Notre Dame is 1-1 ATS when favored by 30 points or more. Syracuse has averaged just 11.6 points in its last six losses – and they had three turnovers in four of those games. The Orange are coming off a bye week – and the Irish have beaten three ACC opponents by an average of 22 points per game.
Pick: Notre Dame wins 45-13 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Kentucky at No. 12 Vanderbilt (-10) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Commodores need two more wins to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt. Vanderbilt ranks second in the SEC with 38.3 points per game. Kentucky averages 12.3 points per game on the road this season. Vanderbilt has not won a game against the Wildcats since 2015.
Pick: Vanderbilt wins 28-23 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Arkansas at No. 17 Texas (-10.5) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
How will the Longhorns bounce back from the loss to Georgia in an old-school rivalry against the Razorbacks? Arkansas is 0-5 S/U under interim coach Bobby Petrino, but they are 3-0 ATS as an underdog in that stretch. Texas has allowed 30-plus points in its last three games, but the Razorbacks do not create turnovers.
Pick: Texas wins 28-16 and COVERS the spread.
No. 24 Tulane (-8.5) at Temple (3:45 p.m., ESPNU)
Temple is a hit-or-miss team under first-year coach KC Keeler, and quarterback Evan Simon has 22 TDs and one interception. Half of those TD passes were against UMass and Tulsa. Tulane's pass defense has been shaky the last three weeks, but the offense will turn it up with an American Conference championship berth in play.
Pick: Tulane wins 35-21 and COVERS the spread.
Kansas State at No. 13 Utah (-16.5) (4 p.m., ESPN2)
The Wildcats are 1-3 S/U on the road in Big 12 play, and the Utes still have scenarios that could get them to the Big 12 championship game. Utah averages 445 total yards of offense in its last two games. It's a huge line, but we're going to trust the home team in another blowout.
Pick: Utah wins 34-14 and COVERS the spread.
No. 18 Michigan (-13.5) at Maryland (4 p.m., BTN)
Maryland is on a six-game losing streak, but that includes one-score losses at home against Washington and Nebraska. Michigan continues to struggle with turnovers. The Wolverines have seven turnovers in their last two games and are 1-4 ATS on the road. Michigan sets up The Game with Ohio State, but the Terps will make it interesting.
Pick: Michigan wins 28-17 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
TCU at No. 25 Houston (-2.5) (4 p.m., Fox)
The Cougars still have a path in the Big 12 race, but they have four turnovers in each of their last two games. Houston had a bye week to clean that up, and TCU is 1-3 S/U on the road in Big 12 play this year. The Cougars can score back-to-back wins against the Horned Frogs for the first time since 1989-90.
Pick: Houston wins 29-24 and COVERS the spread.
Pitt at No. 15 Georgia Tech (-2.5) (7 p..m., ESPN)
Pitt ranks second in the ACC in run defense (90.3 ypc.) — and that's after allowing a season-high 175 yards to Notre Dame in Week 12. The Yellow Jackets have allowed an average of 560 total yards in their last two games. That could lead to more chaos in the ACC standings.
Pick: Pitt wins 34-31 in an UPSET.
MORE: How tiebreakers work for Georgia Tech, Pitt in ACC standings
No. 22 North Texas (-18) at Rice (7:30 p.m., ESPNU)
The last four meetings in their series have been decided by 10 points or less. North Texas averages 48.3 points per game since losing to South Florida and have a legitimate CFP shot. The Mean Green, however, allow 202.7 rushing yards per game.
Pick: North Texas wins 34-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 20 Tennessee (-3.5) at Florida (7:30 p.m., ABC)
This is Florida's first game at The Swamp since firing Billy Napier. The Volunteers have not won at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium since 2003. The Vols rank last in the SEC in pass defense, but that is a product of their fast-paced offensive style. Josh Heupel can improve to 3-2 against the Gators here.
Pick: Tennessee wins 28-19 and COVERS the spread.
No. 11 BYU (-2.5) at Cincinnati (8 p.m., Fox)
The Cougars can move closer toward the Big 12 championship with a victory against Cincinnati, which is coming off a 30-24 loss against Arizona. The Bearcats have allowed 224 rushing yards per game in their last two losses, and BYU has a plus-three turnover margin on the road this season.
Pick: BYU wins 28-24 and COVERS the spread.