2025 Record
Blaine Duncan: 24-22-1 (Week Twelve: 4-0)
TD Wood: 23-23-1 (Week Twelve: 1-3)
Mallory McCormack: 20-26-1 (Week Twelve: 2-1-1)
Greg Bosworth: 15-31-1 (Week Twelve: 3-1)
For the second week in a row, one of the bettors went undefeated against the spread, which is not an easy feat; just ask Donovan of Taking It Down. Can someone else do it in a week where cupcakes show up on the board as teams prep for Rivalry Week?
Blaine Duncan
[Strictest Jed Clampett voice] Weeeeel doggies. I done messed up and hit a run. Were I to pick three or four winners a few times more, I may rake in the money this year. But that mess don’t matter none to me.
Kansas at Iowa State (-3.5) - Matt Campbell, as I’ve said before, is a reliable bet. He’s got his team at home against an inferior opponent and the Cyclones have a slight margin to get this win for me. I’ll try one more time on Iowa State this year.
Baylor at Arizona (-6.5) - The Cats only three losses are to teams who are bidding for bowls or better, and they’re coming off a big win against Cincinnati. I like Arizona at home by a touchdown.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt (-8.5) - The Commodores want to prove to the world that they are the overlooked team. They want the playoffs. They’ll try to win by three-thousand points if they can.
NFL Game of the Week
Patriots (-6) at Bengals - Other than none of these NFL lines making sense to me this year, the surprise of the season seems to be the Patriots, who are undefeated on the road. The Bengals are struggling and could be at the point where they’re not trying whereas New England are the direct opposite and want to propel themselves into the playoffs. Give me the Pats.
TD Wood
Rivalry Week is fast approaching, and I always find it to be bittersweet. It’s one of the most exciting weekends on the sports calendar, but it also signifies the beginning of the end of the college football season.
Hawai’i at UNLV (Over 64.5) – How about a little Friday night fireworks? An eliminator game in the race for a spot in the Mountain West title game, I have no idea which way it’ll swing. But, I do imagine these two will light up the scoreboard.
Kansas State at Utah (-17.5) – The Wildcats are in the midst of a disappointing season, and the Utes are getting stronger by the week. Feels like a vintage Utah ass-whipping, here.
Pitt at Georgia Tech (-2.5) – Too many people like the Panthers in this one, and I’m not buying it. Pitt pulls their upsets by uglying things up, and that just ain’t gonna work on Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets love to get dirty, and they need some style points to move up the CFP rankings.
NFL Game of the Week
Buccaneers (+6.5) at Rams – Los Angeles might be the NFC’s best team, but this feels like a spot where Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay show out in prime time and stop their skid.
Mallory McCormack
After the emotional roller coaster that was the Ole Miss-Florida game (not sure I’ve ever cried that hard during the last five minutes of a game or that hard after a game), I’m looking forward to some rest. Probably more NFL watching than college but also a little pheasant hunting action in South Dakota. Thank goodness for the week before rivalry week.
Louisville at SMU (-2.5) - I like SMU at home. Just because.
Pitt at Georgia Tech (-2.5) - I like the Ramblin Wreck of Tech. I think they play solid at home and Pitt has to be deflated after last week.
Arizona State (-7) at Colorado - Will the Sun Devils be distracted by the noise about their HC maybe getting an offer from the SEC? Nah, I think they show Neon Deon’s squad they still deserve to be ranked. And their QB will put on a show before he enters the portal…
NFL Pick of the Week
Eagles (-3) at Cowboys - Look, I don’t care what’s going on with AJ. Saquon will run the damn ball all over the Cowboys. And honestly since I picked my Giants last week and got a tie, I win either way here because one of my rivals loses.
Greg Bosworth
The quiet before Rivalry Week rarely disappoints and sometimes brings more chaos than the usual week everyone is already looking ahead to. That being said, I would love to put another winning week on the resume before the food coma.
Pitt at Georgia Tech (-2.5) - Another ACC elimination game, and this week, it matters if Pitt gets blown out. Georgia Tech has gotten no love since losing to NC State, but folks will have to give at least a nod this week for Brent Key’s team. They escaped last week against BC and I see them doing the same this week, but they will at least cover late qualifying them for a trip to Charlotte.
USC (+10) at Oregon - The Trojans need this to keep themselves afloat in the at-large field for the playoff. Indiana has already proven the Ducks are beatable in Autzen. I don’t necessarily believe USC will pull it off, but they will keep it close in this former Pac 13’2 rivalry showdown.
Missouri (+6.5) at Oklahoma - The trap games of all trap games after the Sooners knocked off Alabama last week in Tuscaloosa. Beau Pribula might be back, and who doesn’t want to see Ahmed Hardy go against the Oklahoma front seven? A win at homes keeps the playoff a reality in Norman, but if they are talking this game for granted, it could get tricky. Tigers should cover with OU staying alive to see another playoff ranking spot next Tuesday.
NFL Game of the Week
Jets (+13.5) at Ravens - Baltimore has won five straight and find themselves in the thick of things in the battle of the AFC North with the Steelers. The Jets can’t win a game to save their lives, but have a knack of keeping things closer than most would expect. Baltimore is still far from elite, and though I’m confident they find a way to get it done, it’s no way I’m buying the winning by 14+ even at home.
Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.