Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 12 picks against the spread
.500 again. So we're at 54-50-6. Blah.
North Carolina (-6) at Virginia Tech, Noon ET: Will Frank Beamer's final home game provide the Hokies a boost? North Carolina needs to keep winning and winning big to earn the respect of the College Football Playoff committee. And, let's be honest, the ACC wants UNC to keep winning too. A stronger UNC helps Clemson if the two are to meet in the ACC Championship Game. UNC's offense is rolling right now, and we're not confident that the Virginia Tech defense will stop it enough to give the offense a chance.
Iowa State at Kansas State (-6), Noon ET: There's a chance that the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State will happen next weekend with neither team having a conference loss. OK, it's not a big chance, but it's a chance. And we don't think it's a chance that will be fulfilled. It's hard to see Bill Snyder's team not having at least two wins in the conference this season. And with ISU and KU to finish the season, it's the perfect two games to win.
Michigan (-3.5) at Penn State, Noon ET: The Wolverines have played some close games over the past few weeks. Will it change in Happy Valley? The over/under on this game is at 41.5, so don't expect too much scoring. The Wolverines should stifle Christian Hackenberg and the Penn State passing attack. And if Jake Rudock continues to find Jehu Chesson, Michigan shouldn't have much trouble.
Georgia Tech at Miami (+2.5), 12:30 p.m. ET: Oh, who the hell knows in this game. Miami has been haphazard over the past month and you never know what you're going to get with Georgia Tech too. The Canes are 3 games better than the Yellow Jackets on the season and yet is somehow a home underdog. That's the oddness of this college football season for you.
LSU (+4.5) at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET: This is just a wild guess. You can make a convincing case for either team in this game, both to win it with a dominating performance and to also lose it in a haphazard way. If LSU loses this game, the rumors surrounding coach Les Miles will undoubtedly intensify. But Miles has a habit of surprising us. And the hunch here goes with LSU.
Michigan State (+13) at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ET: Is this line proof of the school of thought that Ohio State can simply start playing well when it wants to? And that since it's time to start obliterating opponents, the Buckeyes will do so? Michigan State doesn't get blown out that often. And the Buckeyes haven't been blowing people out that often this year. Sure, OSU can play a hell of a lot better than it has. But we're skeptical this is the game that is the one.
Tennessee at Missouri (+7), 7:15 p.m. ET: Like Beamer, Saturday night is Missouri coach Gary Pinkel's final home game. Missouri's offense turned a corner -- almost literally with the way the Tigers rolled the pocket with Drew Lock -- against BYU on Saturday. And Missouri has beaten Tennessee in all three of the school's SEC matchups. We're not sure four is going to happen, but this will be a close game.
Boston College (+16.5) at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. ET: The Eagles' defense is one of the best in the country. And while BC is technically on the road, the game is at Fenway Park (Notre Dame sacrificed a home game to move the game to the Red Sox' home). Boston College won't pull the upset, but this game should be low scoring and fairly close. Only one of BC's losses has been by more than 16.5 (a 17-point loss to Clemson).
Baylor at Oklahoma State (UNDER 77.5), 7:30 p.m. ET: This line is too high. Both teams' defenses can be very good, well, good enough to prevent a point total from creeping near 80. Will Mason Rudolph outduel an ailing Jarrett Stidham? Will a Baylor win throw the Big 12 into even more CFP chaos without an undefeated team? No matter what, first team to 35 wins.
Colorado at Washington State (-15), 10:45 p.m. ET: Without Sefo Liufau, Colorado is in trouble. The Cougars have been playing great football over the past few weeks and are probably the most improved team in college football over the course of the season. A win on Saturday would be No. 8 for Washington State and the first 8-or-more win season since Bill Doba's team went 10-3 in 2003.
LOCKS OF THE WEEK
Nick Bromberg (4-7) UCLA (+3) at Utah, 3:30 p.m. ET: The Utes are without star RB Devontae Booker, who had meniscus surgery. Booker has accounted for a lot of Utah's yards. A lot. He as 1,261 of the team's 1,840 rushing yards and 318 of the team's 3,051 receiving yards. Homefield advantage helps the Utes, but it's not enough without one of the best players in the conference.
Sam Cooper (3-7-1) Northwestern (+10) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. ET: Northwestern and Wisconsin are pretty evenly matched teams, right? So why are the Badgers favored by 10 points? It doesn’t quite add up, so I’m riding with the Wildcats to cover here. Badgers quarterback Joel Stave is still completely mediocre and the status of RB Corey Clement is up in the air. The Wildcats should, at the very least, keep this one close. My picks seem to be cursed, though, so Wisconsin will probably win by three touchdowns
Graham Watson (3-7-1) USC at Oregon (-5), 3:30 p.m. ET: Ever since quarterback Vernon Adams returned from a fractured finger, Oregon has looked like the team many expected to see at the beginning of the season. The Ducks still have a chance to play for the Pac-12 title, but they have to win out and hope for a Stanford loss. USC has been good this season, but it’s also had some close calls. I don’t think it can keep up with this Oregon offense and the Ducks win easily.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
