Taking Bets | Something's Cooking | Week Eleven

2024 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 23-16 (Week Ten: 3-1) 
TD Wood: 16-22-1 (Week Ten: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 20-19 (Week Ten: 4-0)
Greg Bosworth: 16-23 (Week Ten: 2-2)

Each Friday evening, the “Taking Bets” column readies all sports fans for their football weekend with keen ideas on the bets to make or those with potential to avoid. It’s host of The Staredown Mallory McCormack, host of Takin’ On Sports TD Wood, editor-in-chief Blaine Duncan, and co-host of Takin’ On Sports Greg Bosworth! Find the bets, which includes one NFL game per week, on the site each Friday evening at 6:30!

Blaine Duncan 
There are a lot of home dogs this week, but something seems amiss. The favorites at home have huge spreads -- maybe too large -- which never guarantees victory. It's the time in the season for a couple of big teams to stumble.  

Miami (-11.5) at Georgia Tech - It’s a little surprising that the Hurricanes aren’t a full two-touchdown favorite here even on the road. As long as Heisman candidate Cam Ward is playing, they’ll win, and they’ll win big. Plus, take into account that steal the Yellowjackets got from the ‘Canes last season. The Miami crew will want payback. 

South Carolina at Vanderbilt (+6.5) - Oh, boy! It’s a lot of fun to see a home dog on the list, especially one who has a quarterback like the Commodores have this season! It looks like the Gamecocks are getting love over their resounding win over Texas A&M last week, but you know what? That’s the past. Vandy is chugging along nicely, thank you very much. 

Maryland at Oregon (-23.5) - One of those big numbers, but there’s not a lot to like about the Terrapins. Their back-to-back road games across the nation have to be a grind. The Ducks will show off again and make a case for some home love come playoff season. 

NFL Game of the Week: Dolphins at Rams (-1) - Monday Night Football! Time to recoup all that money from the weekend losses! No way that the Rams and Matthew Stafford lose at home. L.A. looks like they’re rolling to the good, whereas Miami is not.

TD Wood
Damn, Duke, how y’all gonna let Miami through the back door like that? 2-2 is better than 1-3, I reckon, but I need winning weeks from here on if I’m gonna get back over 50% for the season. Interesting slate this week – there are the two big SEC games at the top of the marquee, but the rest of the schedule provides potential for some tricky situations.

West Virginia at Cincinnati (-3.5) – Two teams right in the middle of the muck in the Big 12 standings, both looking to keep their bowl hopes alive. West Virginia has been feasting on empty calories, though, with their wins only coming against teams with losing records and a FCS foe. The Bearcats are one win away from bowl eligibility, and with road trips to Iowa State and Kansas State looming, they need to take care of business this weekend.

Iowa State (-3) at Kansas – I know the Cyclones lost last week, but three points seems really low against a Kansas team that has been a major disappointment this season. I expect Iowa State to rebound as they try to keep pace in the Big 12 and CPF races.

Nevada at Boise State (-24.5) – Ashton Jeanty is in a major slump: his per game rushing average has dipped below 200 yards! In all seriousness, while Jeanty’s pursuit of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record might be off the table, the Broncos dream of a CFP run is alive and well. Back when Colin Kaepernick was running the pistol offense for the Wolfpack, this matchup had some classics…but he’s long gone, and Nevada doesn’t have much of a chance in this one.

NFL Game of the Week: Bills (-4) at Colts – Josh Allen and company are rolling right now, and the Colts are in danger of falling too far behind in the playoff race to catch up. Anthony Richardson is struggling, and Indy is relying on the ageless wonder Joe Flacco to keep their hopes alive. Unfortunately for them, I think Buffalo is just too strong at the moment.

Mallory McCormack 
Well, it finally happened. And I’m not talking about my amazing 4-0 record last week…no, I’m talking about the Ole Miss offense showing up! And Texas A&M losing! And, well, it’s November. Make or break time. So let’s hit it like Saquon hit that backward hurdle. 

Army (-3) at North Texas - Veteran’s day is Monday. That’s all I got. Go Army (until you play Navy).

Miami (-11.5) at Georgia Tech -  GT’s Haynes King still being iffy doesn’t give me good vibes. Miami wants to do what FSU couldn’t do last year...

Georgia at Ole Miss (+2.5) - Look I’ve never picked my Rebels and it’s been a really shitty week. Oxford is my happy place and it’s already rocking (trust me, I just escaped the square before it became a true mad house).  And gosh this feels weird, but in the spirit and memory of Ben Herbstreit and his long lost cousin Juice, I’m doing it. Seriously, does anyone lose this game?! UGA and Juice are the goodness boys of the SEC and I feel like Ben will be smiling his golden rays of love down on the Rebs. 

NFL Game of the Week: Giants (-6.5) at Panthers - Well, I’m going all out this week. Picking my teams is weird, but here we are. Because this week wasn’t weird enough…

Greg Bosworth 
Week 11 is upon us and we have a huge playoff elimination in Baton Rouge, The Big 12 is so much fun, and it’s time for my push to get above .500 lol

Georgia (-2.5) at Ole Miss - Ole Miss has been on fire since facing playoff elimination, but at the end of the day, Lane Kiffin hasn’t done well in huge, ranked games. If there is a time to catch Georgia, it is this season. However, I don’t trust the Rebels even at home. I think they keep it closer than last year but these are the games Kirby thrives in. 

BYU(-3) at Utah - Big 12 after dark has been must see tv all year and this is a must see game. This rivalry is very underrated and the hate is real. Nothing the Utes would like more than to ruin the Cougar’s season. I believe in Kalani Sitake and Jake Retzlaff. I expect a low-scoring, physical game, but covering the three points shouldn’t be a problem, even in hostile Rice-Eccles Stadium because the Utes offense is abysmal.

Colorado at Texas Tech (+4.5) - Colorado is ranked and really seems to be gaining momentum to be in the Big 12 Championship game. Now they travel to Lubbock and weird things happen there in November. Joey McGuire has a great November record but Shadeur Sanders should have a big game against that secondary; something has to give here. This should be another Big 12 classic

NFL Game of the Week: Dolphins at Rams (-1) - The Rams offense is healthy and are on a three game winning streak. The Dolphins are reeling and this isn’t a good matchup for that bad defense. This might be a fun game with a lot of points scored, but the Rams will definitely be winning by more than 1.