Stanford Steve and The Bear: Week 13 college football picks, bets, nuggets (continued)
Bear bytes
No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes at Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska (3-8) is currently a one-point favorite over Iowa (9-2). It is the first time since at least 1978 -- and I'm fairly confident to say ever -- that a team 3-8 or worse is favored over a team 9-2 or better. In fact, in the other 82 instances since 1978 which saw teams with these types of records square off, every 3-8 or worse team was at least a 7.5-point underdog.
Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Longhorns
Texas has lost and failed to cover six straight. However, five of the six games in the span were all one-score games.
North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 20 NC State Wolfpack
The Tar Heels have covered four straight in the series.
No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers have won five of their last eight games outright as an underdog. Two of the three losses were by five and three points, respectively.
Tulsa at SMU Mustangs
Dating back to 2018, Tulsa is 13-3 ATS with four outright wins as an underdog. That includes a pair of one-possession losses this season to top-7 teams Cincinnati and Oklahoma State.
Washington State Cougars at Washington Huskies
Wazzu has lost seven straight and 10 of 11 vs Washington. All seven losses have been by double-digits. This is the first time since 2005 the Cougars are favored in Seattle. That year they won 26-22.
No. 6 Notre Dame at Stanford Cardinal
Notre Dame has won each of its last 39 games as a favorite. Its last outright loss as a favorite game in 2017 vs. Stanford. The Irish have also won 35 straight games as a double-digit favorite dating back to a 2016 loss to Duke.
No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys have covered nine straight games since a five-point win over Tulsa. Oklahoma State has not allowed more than 24 points this year and has allowed 23 points in the last four games combined. ... Oklahoma has won six straight and 16 of 18 in the series, covering five of six and 12 of 16. ... This is the first time since the 2017 Bedlam Game that Oklahoma is an underdog in a Big 12 game, snapping a streak of 41 straight games. It's also just the second time in the last 59 Big 12 games that OU is a 'dog.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 5 Michigan Wolverines
The Buckeyes have won all three meetings in Ann Arbor with Jim Harbaugh as head coach by double-digits (29, 11, 29), averaging 43 PPG in those three games. ... At Michigan, Jim Harbaugh is 2-13 SU and 4-11 ATS vs. top 10 opponents.
No. 23 Clemson Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks
This is the first time since 2014 the Tigers aren't a favorite of at least 13.5 points vs. South Carolina.
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