College Football Best Bets for Week 12
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
College football Week 12 is officially upon us, and once again, we have a big week in store.
The slate is highlighted by an SEC showdown between No. 6 Tennessee and No. 11 Georgia — but before we get there, we have to discuss the noon slate, where there's plenty of betting value.
Our staff came through with three best bets for Saturday's noon games, including picks for Utah vs. Colorado, Arkansas vs. Texas and Ohio State vs. Northwestern.
Continue reading for all three of our noon college football best bets — and be sure to check out our top picks for the afternoon and evening slates.
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Utah vs. Colorado Best Bet & Pick
It physically pains me to type this, but Deion Sanders is kind of cooking this season.
The Buffs control their playoff destiny, and a game against Utah that would have looked like a guaranteed loss back in August is now one that's almost a foregone conclusion that Colorado will win.
Few teams have been bitten worse by the injury bug than Utah. Utah’s third-string quarterback, Brandon Rose, suffered a season-ending injury last week against BYU, so it’s back to Isaac Wilson — who was already benched for struggling through his freshman season.
Compounding matters for the Utes offense is also the season-ending injury to tight end Brant Kuithe, the team’s second-leading receiver. For a team that already ranks 123rd in Pass Success Rate, it can’t get much worse.
Then you have the obvious video-game combination of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter lining up for Colorado. The duo have helped lead Colorado to three straight conference wins, with Sanders ranking top-10 nationally in passing and Hunter ranking top-10 in receiving.
All of the wind was let out of Utah’s sails last week in its painfully close Holy War loss. The Utes need everything to fall their way to even secure bowl eligibility this season, which may not even be a desire for a team as injury-ridden as it is.
Colorado could not be more motivated to win out and prove the nation wrong that it is in fact a CFP-worthy team. This could be a slow start with a 10 a.m. local start, but the Buffs will easily pull away in the second half.
Pick: Colorado -11 or Better
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Texas vs. Arkansas Best Bet & Pick
The Razorbacks were in desperate need of a bye week thanks to an SEC schedule that produced a number of key injuries.
Quarterback Taylen Green was listed as questionable when his home state Texas Longhorns come to Fayetteville, but he's set to return. Running back Ja'Quinden Jackson has not played since Oct. 5 against Tennessee and will also be questionable.
Arkansas will need those pieces against a Texas defense that ranks 14th in Defensive Havoc.
The Razorbacks have struggled in pass blocking, ranking outside the top 80, per PFF.
Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski is sure to get the most out of his front against a Razorback offense that's 114th in Havoc Allowed.
The only path for the Hogs to put points on the board will be quick strike explosives from Green on the run, but those plays have also produced scoop-and-score defensive touchdowns for LSU and Ole Miss.
While the questions from a Havoc perspective loom for the Arkansas offense, Texas' passing attack should have a field day in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The Hogs rank 119th against pass explosives, generating a contested catch rate of just 123rd, per Sports Info Solutions. The Razorbacks are certainly searching for answers in the back half of the defense, as Pittman announced three of four positions in the secondary are up for competition.
The Longhorns generated 10 explosive passes against Florida in Week 11, tripling the national average in explosive drive rate at 54%.
Pick: Texas -12 (Play to -13.5)
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Ohio State vs. Northwestern Best Bet & Pick
By Stuckey
How much does Ohio State really care about this game with Indiana and rival Michigan on deck? Its Big Ten title hopes (and chance at a bye in the College Football Playoff) will essentially come down to next week's marquee matchup with the Hoosiers, who will enjoy the benefit of a bye this week.
As a result, I'm not sure Ryan Day and company will want to show much and will likely focus on staying healthy and resting up once they build a sizable lead.
Meanwhile, Northwestern is still fighting for bowl eligibility and should come out with a game effort out of the bye week.
The Wildcats offense is extremely limited, but they do have a top-30 defense that does an outstanding job of limiting explosives.
Ultimately, they should make Ohio State work for their points, which should, in essence, help shrink this game. That's an ideal formula for a conference underdog of more than four touchdowns with a low total.
This is purely a hold-your-nose special in a good situational spot, as I'm not sure you get the sharpest Ohio State effort for a sleepy noon kick at Wrigley Field, especially with bigger fish to fry coming up next.
And while Northwestern will have a hard time moving the ball, maybe it can turn one or two red-zone trips into touchdowns. Ohio State's defense is elite, but it has also been extremely fortunate inside the 20, allowing the fewest points per trip in the nation.
Pick: Northwestern +28.5
