College football in Week 11 was crazy.
LSU put up 46 in Tuscaloosa to put a hammerlock on a College Football Playoff berth. Minnesota ended Penn State’s playoff hopes with a convincing upset win at home.
Baylor needed overtime to stay undefeated, and then Illinois became bowl eligible after rallying down 31-10 as 14.5-point underdogs to claim its fourth straight win.
Ohio State did Ohio State things, and Clemson continued to destroy every team in front of it not named North Carolina.
We are coming down the stretch in the regular season and that means every game is crucial. For some, the College Football Playoffs have essentially already begun.
Here’s a look at the Week 12 college football betting odds for teams in the Top 25.
CFB Top 25 Week 12 odds
No. 1 LSU at Ole Miss
Opening line: LSU -21
The Tigers answered all questions last Saturday. LSU beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa and now everyone agrees that the best in the nation is from Baton Rouge. What’s incredible is that LSU now ranks No. 1 in strength of schedule and has yet to lose a single game. Going 4-for-4 against Top 10 teams in the country will do that for your resume.
You have to feel for Ole Miss this week. LSU has three games left and then it’s onto to Atlanta for the SEC Championship as long as the Tigers don’t slip up. The Rebels are 2-4 in the SEC and have lost three straight in conference play. It’s hard to see them keeping this one close.
No. 2 Ohio State at Rutgers
Opening line: NL
The Buckeyes looked every part the dominant team they are in a 73-14 victory over Maryland on Saturday. With a 42-0 lead at halftime, Ohio State improved to 9-0 this season ATS in the first half. With another massive line in both the first half and for the game in this one, the Buckeyes will be expected to continue to blow their opposition off the field. The last time Ohio State played at Rutgers it won 56-0. The schedule does get more difficult the rest of the way with Penn State and Michigan coming up in the next two weeks.
Wake Forest at No. 3 Clemson
Opening line: Clemson -32
While teams in the SEC and Big 10 are beating up on each other, Clemson is just coasting along in the ACC. The Tigers haven’t faced a serious test in weeks and it’s hard to see Wake Forest giving Clemson a game in Death Valley. The Demon Deacons just lost on the road at Virginia Tech as 2.5-point favorites and now have to face a team that knows it needs style points to impress the College Football Playoff Committee. One thing is pretty clear with Clemson’s schedule: the Tigers can’t afford a loss the rest of the way if they want to make the playoffs.
No. 4 Alabama at Mississippi State
Opening line: Alabama -20
Alabama gave up 46 points at home to an SEC West opponent last week. It’s still hard to believe that LSU was able to put up nearly half of a hundred on the Crimson Tide in their own building, but now Bama has to focus as it goes on the road.
MSU just snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Arkansas but that’s not that impressive. The Razorbacks fired their coach after the game. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa’s Heisman odds took a massive hit last week, so expect a big number from the Tide offense this week in Starkville
No. 5 Georgia at No. 13 Auburn
Opening line: Georgia -3
It’s time for the oldest rivalry in the deep south to be renewed with Georgia traveling to Auburn on Saturday. Last year, Auburn ended the Dawgs’ undefeated season with a 40-17 blowout win. Georgia remembers what happened and the Bulldogs want payback.
More importantly, they need another marquee win on the schedule. Auburn had an extra week to prepare for this game and would love to win its first game over a Top 10 team this season. The Tigers are 0-for-2 so far, with losses to Florida and LSU
Arizona at No. 6 Oregon
Opening line: Oregon -26.5
If the Ducks run the table and end the season 12-1, nobody is really sure what the committee would do with a one-loss Pac-12 champ. Oregon lost to Auburn on a neutral field and then beat everyone else in its path. It would be hard to put a team into the playoffs over Oregon that did not win its conference. Also, if Auburn can win a few of the big games left on their schedule, that would only help the Ducks resume. Arizona has lost 4 games in a row and gave up 56 points to Oregon State last week. It’s hard to see the Wildcats keeping this one close
No. 7 Minnesota at No. 23 Iowa
Opening line: Iowa -3
The Gophers listened to their head coach P.J. Fleck and ‘rowed the boat’ right over then-No. 4 Penn State last week in their biggest game of the season so far. After the committee told the world that Minnesota’s resume was pathetically weak, the Gophers controlled the Nittany Lions for four quarters and took home a massive win.
Now, UM is back on the road to face an Iowa team that just lost a tough game to Wisconsin. At 6-3, the Hawkeyes are playing for a bowl game but they would love to play spoiler and take home the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy for the first time in six years.
UCLA at No. 8 Utah
Opening line: Utah -21
Much like Oregon, the Utes are wondering what the committee would do if Utah won the Pac-12 with a 12-1 record. In the only game Utah lost so far, at USC, it was without their star running back Zack Moss. Would that be enough to put Utah into the playoff over a non-championship winning team from the SEC or Big 10? We’ll have to wait and see.
Utah better be focused on the Bruins or those questions aren’t going to matter. UCLA has suddenly shown signs of life, including last week where it beat Colorado for its third straight Pac-12 win. Chip Kelly’s offense is starting to come together but it will be facing one of the best defenses in the country this week
No. 24 Indiana at No. 9 Penn State
Opening line: Penn State -14
This could be a tough game for the Nittany Lions after their hopes of making the playoffs took a massive hit with the loss to Minnesota. Penn State still plays Ohio State next week on the road, but that game is more for the Big 10 East Division than a spot in the playoffs now.
Indiana is hot. The Hoosiers have won four in a row and just crushed Northwestern 34-3. If Penn State isn’t ready, Indiana could stretch its win streak to five. That said, Penn State is 21-1 all-time vs. Indiana and has never lost at home to the Hoosiers
No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 12 Baylor
Opening line: Oklahoma -9.5
Are the Bears for real or not? We are going to find out after a massive, thrilling, overtime victory on the road at TCU last week to keep BU undefeated. Now, Baylor returns home to face the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 and a Sooner team with only one loss this season
OU was fortunate to beat Iowa State last week after the Cyclones went for 2 and the win but failed to convert with under a minute left in the game. If Baylor wins on Saturday it would be nearly assured a spot in the Big 12 title game with twi games to play since every other team would have at least two losses in conference. The Sooners still hope to make the playoffs but they must run the table and get a lot of help.
No. 1 Florida at Missouri
Opening line: NL
The Gators last played in Columbia in 2017 when Florida ripped the Tigers 45-16. After UF beat Vandy 56-0 last week, Missouri might be catching the Gators at a bad time.
Mizzou has lost three straight games following a 27-0 blanking on the road at Georgia. Missouri QB Kelly Bryant has been alright this season, but the Tigers need a win in one of their last three games to become bowl eligible. With Tennessee and Arkansas still to come, it’s more likely the win will come over one of those teams than this week.
Michigan State at No. 14 Michigan
Opening line: Michigan -14
What happened to the Spartans? Michigan State has lost four games in a row, with a complete meltdown (blowing a 31-10 lead) against Illinois last week being the low point of the season. Now MSU has to travel to in-state rival Michigan to face a team that is coming off a bye and crushed Maryland 38-7 in its last game.
At 4-5, the Spartans need two wins become bowl eligible. After Michigan, MSU plays at Rutgers and home versus Maryland. While this is a rivalry game, it’s more likely the Spartans end up 6-6 on the season without a win over the Wolverines.
No. 15 Wisconsin at Nebraska
Opening line: Wisconsin -13.5
In July, this game looked like it could be for the Big 10 West Division. Now, with Nebraska losing four of its last five games, this one is for pride for the Huskers. Wisconsin is two games back of Minnesota in the West and closes out the year on the road against the Gophers. UW can’t afford to slip up at all and needs someone to knock off Minnesota to make that game really matter for the Big 10 Title game. It’s a long shot, but a loss to Nebraska would end any hope of that situation unfolding.
No. 21 Navy at No. 16 Notre Dame
Opening line: Notre Dame -8
Previous to last year’s 44-22 drubbing that Notre Dame gave Navy, the five matchups before that one in 2018 were decided by 10 points or less. The last time Notre Dame hosted Navy in 2017, the Midshipmen lost 24-17 as 18-point underdogs.
This year, Navy is rolling into town on a five-game winning streak, featuring the No. 1 rushing attack in the country. The Midshipmen are averaging a ridiculous 357.9 yards per game on the ground and Notre Dame’s defense better be ready to play assignment football for four quarters. The Irish have allows nearly 160 yards per game on the ground. This could be one of the best games of the week.
No. 17 Cincinnati at South Florida
Opening line: Cincinnati -13.5
The Bearcats feel like they are being overlooked nationally and if you dig into the numbers, they might have a point. Cincinnati has won seven straight games and its only loss came on the road at Ohio State. Last week, UC destroyed UConn 48-3 to take a two-game lead for the AAC East Division crown.
South Florida has lost two of three and just got beat by Temple 17-7. With Memphis up next and then at UCF, it’s hard to see how the Bulls win two of their last three games to become bowl eligible.
No. 18 Memphis at Houston
Opening line: Memphis -9.5
The race for the American Athletic Conference West Division is coming down to the wire. Memphis, Navy, and SMU all have one loss in conference play. Memphis beat SMU and Navy, so the Tigers have the leg up, but there are still three games to play. None of the three teams can afford to slip up again.
Memphis would love to have the loss to Temple back but it has to focus on this week’s road trip to Texas. The Cougs have had a rough season but they will be able to hand Memphis a costly loss if the Tigers aren’t prepared to play.
New Mexico at No. 19 Boise State
Opening line: Boise State -27
The Broncos are 8-1 on the year and 5-0 in the Mountain West. With Air Force and Utah State right behind Boise at 4-1 in the division, every game is crucial the rest of the way. New Mexico is going to be emotional for this game after the death of one of its players canceled their game against Air Force last week. Lobos defensive lineman Nahje Flowers passed away before the game on Saturday and the game was later rescheduled to Nov. 23. At 0-5 in the Mountain West, this road game against the Broncos might be a lot to ask of New Mexico.
No. 22 Texas at Iowa State
Opening line: Iowa State -7
The Cyclones nearly pulled off another massive upset victory when they went for 2 and the win against Oklahoma last week. Iowa State will be ready when Texas comes to Ames on Saturday.
The question is: will the Longhorns be ready for a fight when they get there? Texas is 6-3 and got a big win over Kansas State last week. Texas is still alive for the Big 12 title game but it’s going to need help. That won’t matter if the Longhorns lose on Saturday.
Texas has won 14 of the last 16 games against Iowa State and won 17-7 the last time this game was played at Jack Trice Stadium.
Kansas at No. 25 Oklahoma State
Opening line: Oklahoma State -16.5
After back-to-back wins and an open week, Okie State gets back to work against a Kansas team that is 1-5 in the Big 12. The first year for Les Miles in Lawrence has been a rough one but that was expected. The Cowboys are 6-3 and while they are bowl eligible, they would love to finish year strong with wins over KU, West Virginia and in the Bedlam series against OU.
