College Football Odds Breakdown
Just when the Alabama Crimson Tide looked like their college football season was over, a glimmer of hope: The No. 5-ranked Tide destroyed their FCS foes from Western Carolina (representing the Southern Conference) on Saturday with Mac Jones at quarterback, and they got some help from Arizona State, who upset Oregon 31-28 as 14-point home dogs on the NCAA odds board. That’s the second loss for the Ducks, knocking them out of the College Football Playoff race – and devaluing one-loss Utah in the process
The Crimson Tide still need a lot more help if they want to reach the Playoff. And they just might get it Saturday afternoon in the biggest matchup on the Week 14 NCAA football lines at Bovada Sportsbook.
NCAA Odds Week 14: Best Odds and Matchups
1. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 10 Michigan Wolverines (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
They weren’t able to beat the Buckeyes (11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) in Week 13, but Penn State did ‘Bama another solid by beating the NCAA football odds, holding Ohio State to a hard-fought 28-17 victory and cashing in as 20-point road dogs. That will make it harder for OSU to make the Playoff if they lose “The Game” to Michigan (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS).
The Wolverines have the tiniest hope of cracking the top four and getting a CFP berth. They have to beat Ohio State as 9.5-point home dogs, then their fate is in the hands of the selection committee – the Buckeyes having already clinched the East Division and a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game on December 7 (8 PM ET, FOX) in Indianapolis.
2. No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 16 Auburn Tigers (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
After the Crimson Tide (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) sweat the Ohio State-Michigan game, their next step towards glory will take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where they absolutely have to beat Auburn (8-3 SU and ATS) as 4-point road favorites in the annual Iron Bowl.
Aside from being a lot closer to a CFP berth, the Tide are in much the same boat as Michigan this week, shut out of the December 7 SEC Championship Game (4 PM ET, CBS) in Atlanta between Georgia and LSU. As for Jones, he has played well in relief of Tua Tagovailoa, but can he get it done against a Top-25 team?
3. No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers at No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
There’s a definite path for either Wisconsin (9-2 SU, 6-5 ATS) or Minnesota (10-1 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) to get into the Playoff. They happen to be the two best teams in the Big Ten’s West Division; whoever wins this contest will go on to play the Buckeyes for the conference title. As a two-loss team, it will help the Badgers if Ohio State lose to Michigan, while the Gophers might not care one way or the other – Minnesota should leapfrog OSU as long as they win Paul Bunyan’s Axe as 2.5-point home dogs and go on to upset the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game.
4. No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 21 Oklahoma State Cowboys (Saturday, 8 PM ET, FOX)
Thanks to what happened in the Pac-12 last week, Oklahoma (10-1 SU, 4-7 ATS) are suddenly a coin-flip to reach the Playoff. They’ve already clinched a place in the Big 12 Championship Game against Baylor on December 7 (noon ET, ABC) at AT&T Stadium. However, the Sooners won’t get any CFP consideration if they don’t beat Oklahoma State (8-3 SU, 8-2-1 ATS) this Saturday in another tough road test, although the Cowboys are getting 13 points at home for the annual Bedlam game.
5. No. 18 Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 17 Memphis Tigers (Friday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
It’s always wise to look at the mid-majors when you bet on NCAA football, and this year, the American Athletic Conference has played at a major level. They probably won’t get any love from the selection committee regardless, but Memphis (10-1 SU, 8-3 ATS) and Cincinnati (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) still have plenty to play for this Friday; whoever wins will go on to host the AAC Championship Game on December 7 (time TBA). Although the Tigers are favored by 11 points at home, the Bearcats have already claimed the East Division, while the Tigers need a win to clinch the West ahead of Navy and SMU.