Taking Bets | The Weirdest Season | Week Twelve

2024 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 23-20 (Week Eleven: 0-4) 
TD Wood: 17-25-1 (Week Eleven:1-3)
Mallory McCormack: 22-21 (Week Eleven: 2-2)
Greg Bosworth: 16-27 (Week Eleven: 0-4)

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!

Blaine Duncan 
Fans, correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s my first 0-4 of the season and it stings badly. At least I keep fine company, as Brother Greg had as dismal a weekend as I. Alas, a new day dawns. 

Michigan State at Illinois (-2.5) - These two are not the highest scoring teams in the nation and it’s late in the season, so the game looks to trend towards a low score. I nearly took the under here at 47.5, but I’ll switch to something that feels more certain: the Illini get the win at home by more than a field goal. 

Tennessee at Georgia (OVER: 47.5) - It is hard not to see this one continually going back and forth unless Carson Beck sputters yet again. It’s a must win for the Dawgs. They’ll fight, and they’ll have to: Iamaleava appears fine to play. If that’s the case, he’ll have the offense ready to score. 

Boise State (-13.5) at San Jose State - Why wouldn’t Boise slow this game down, give the ball to Jeanty repeatedly, and grind out a win? I suspect late in the game they’ll go up by two or three touchdowns and that’ll be all she wrote. 

NFL Game of the Week: Rams (-4.5) at Patriots - Call me foolish for banking on the Rams two weeks in a row, especially after a bad Monday night where they made me winless last week, but they’ll get the road victory. Fewer teams in the NFL offer as good an opportunity to give a bounce back win. The Patriots are the team to play for Stafford and Co. to get back on track. 

TD Wood
I have no words. This season is reminiscent of that 2021 post-covid year that just kicked my ass, I just can’t get a grip on my picks. Funny thing about it is, on the ESPN NFL pick ‘em contest, I’m in the 99th percentile. Crazy.

UAB at Memphis (-15.5) – Man, the Trent Dilfer hire is going down as one of the worst coaching hires in sports history. It actually looked like the Blazers might’ve turned a corner after their blowout win over Tulsa, followed by jumping out to a 17-point halftime lead over UConn last week…and then the second half happened. Another bad loss for UAB under Dilfer. The Tigers lost their shot at the CFP, but a 10-win season is still on the table, and they should win the “Battle for the Bones” easily.

Florida International at Jacksonville State (-12.5) – What a turnaround for Rich Rod’s Gamecocks, right? Jax State has reeled off six straight wins after their 0-3 start, and they’re doing it in impressive style. Outside of last week's crazy Hail Mary-missed PAT-Overtime win at Louisiana Tech, their closest win was a 10-point victory at Liberty, and they’re firmly in the race for the Conference USA title.

Kansas at BYU (-2.5) – Picking against the Jayhawks burnt me last weekend, but BYU in Provo is a lot different from Iowa State in Arrowhead Stadium. The Cougars have the Big 12 title and a CFP berth on their mind, and they are absolutely a beast at home. Kansas might hang around, but BYU will prevail in the end.

NFL Game of the Week: Jaguars at Lions (-14) – Jacksonville looked pretty lifeless in a home loss to the Vikings last week, and I don’t see them showing more fight on the road in Detroit. Jared Goff makes up for his five-interception game last week (a game which Detroit still won!) and the Lions’ offense shreds the Jags en route to a big win.

Mallory McCormack 
Hey y’all! What a weekend. I rushed the field (I won’t disclose how many times), watched the water bottles rain down in Baton Rouge, and slept amazingly! Too bad my Giants couldn’t pull through, but I’m glad my Rebs made me not look too insane. It’s sad when 2-2 makes you not appear crazy, but that’s how it’s gone this year. 

Florida International at Jacksonville State (-12.5) - Jax State had a great win in OT last week. They don’t need that this week. 

LSU (-4) at Florida - I think LSU is gonna have a hard time realizing that the playoff probably isn’t happening for them this year but Florida is down to their 3rd string QB. Hopefully no one throws water bottles in the Swamp. 

Kansas at BYU (-2.5) - I don’t feel like Kansas is the Georgia Tech of this week. But I wouldn’t mind if they are…

NFL Game of the Week: Browns at Saints (-1) - I think coming off a win against a division rival and being in the Dome helps the Saints. 

Greg Bosworth 
Just when I thought things were going to turn around in November the bottom fell out. .500 was the goal and that mark is starting to look more like a fairy tale lol. But like a Phoenix in a fire I have risen for another glorious football weekend.

Texas at Arkansas (+12.5) – I keep going back to the well for Arkansas to help me finally and move to the winning column. It’s a huge game: we know how much they hate the Longhorns in Fayetteville and another non-competitive game at home could be dire for Sam Pittman’s future as Head Hog. They are coming off a bye week and still looking for that elusive sixth win for bowl eligibility. If not now, then when? Not sure if I believe in the Hogs for victory but covering should be a breeze. 

LSU (-4) at Florida – The Tigers are reeling after being demolished in their last 2 games and it’ll be interesting how they respond after being eliminated from playoff contention. On the other side it is all about the health of DJ Lagway. If he plays which is looking like that is likely this could be a great game in the Swamp. The line has stayed close all week pretty much guaranteeing Lagway starts on Saturday. I just don’t see LSU losing three straight and bounce back with a nice road win covering that four points.

Kansas at BYU (OVER: 56.5) – The Cougars survived last week with a home magic against their arch rival and are getting ever closer to the improbable undefeated regular season and a Big 12 Championship Game appearance. Kansas on the other hand has had a very disappointing season based on the expectations coming in. Despite these teams being in very different places in mid November expect a shootout. Both teams can score so this should be an easy point total to reach late night in Provo.

NFL Game of the Week: Texans (-7.5) at Cowboys – Despite my hate for every Houston pro sports team, sadly there will be little-to-no joy for me Monday Night. Expect something similar to what the Eagles did to us at home last Sunday to happen here. Any anger the Texans have from last week’s tough loss to the Lions will be taken out on Dallas. I just hope Dallas can at least win on Turkey Day lol.

Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.