Stanford Steve and The Bear: Week 13 college football picks, bets, nuggets
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica cover the college football season as only they can, offering their top picks, betting nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Records:
The Bear (Last week: 5-4. Season: 25-39-1)
Stanford Steve (Last week: 3-1. Season: 36-25)
Note: All lines are from Caesars Sportsbook.
The Plays
No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (-6.5, 46) at LSU Tigers
Fallica: I can't get Texas A&M's poor road effort at Ole Miss out of my head. Now the Aggies head to Baton Rouge in what should be a juiced-up environment for Coach O's final game in Tiger Stadium. I honestly have no idea who will be wearing those LSU jerseys Saturday night, but if they play with the effort and intensity they did a couple of weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, I like their chances here.
Pick: LSU +6.5
No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-19.5, 52.5) at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Steve: If Cal can come in and beat Stanford by 30, I would think Notre Dame would do the same, knowing it has an outside shot at making the playoff. I'll take the road team and lay the points.
Pick: Notre Dame -19.5 (Notre Dame 41, Stanford 10)
No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (-14, 57.5) at East Carolina Pirates
Fallica: The Bearcats have reached the top four and now have it all figured out after a rout over SMU. Be careful. Last year Cincinnati routed ECU, but the year prior, ECU nearly pulled the upset in Greenville. The Pirates have won four straight, nearly beat Houston in Houston and lost by a field goal to South Carolina early in the year. Don't be surprised at all if
Holton Ahlers and crew make this a four-quarter game.
Pick: East Carolina +14
No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers (-7, 39) at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Fallica: Feels like too many points in this one. The Gophers laid an egg in their last home game against Illinois and this is a perfect opportunity to end the year on a positive note in a game in which the Badgers, more often than not, have had their way.
Pick: Minnesota +7
Virginia Tech Hokies at Virginia Cavaliers (-7, 62.5)
Stanford Steve: I loved what I saw from
Brennan Armstrong in his return at quarterback for Virginia last week in a loss to Pitt, as he went for 487 yards and three TDs. The Wahoos haven't won a home game and covered since Oct. 23. I think they take care of business at home and cover the number.
Pick: Virginia -7 (Virginia 38, Virginia Tech 20)
No. 13 BYU Cougars (-7, 64) at USC Trojans
Fallica: Yes, I know it looks too easy. Yes, I know it looks like a complete trap. I don't care. There will be more BYU fans there than USC fans, and at the first sign of things getting bad, USC will call it a night as I don't think the Trojans will enjoy the physical pounding they will likely get here from the BYU running game. And just think ... USC has one more game next week, too!! The hell season that will never end!!!
Pick: BYU -7
Maryland Terrapins (-1.5, 53) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Stanford Steve: I just have to.
Pick: Rutgers +1.5 (Maryland 10, Rutgers 9)