College Football Week 12 Preview and Picks for Top 25 Teams

The push to the 12 team College Football Playoff continues with the biggest games and most meaningful contests remaining to determine the CFP field and conference championship game participants. That includes four Top 25 matchups in Week 12 on Sat., Nov. 15, including two top 10 showdowns in the SEC. 

Following Week 11 and 2-0 on picks plus 2-1 opinions, Fairways Forecast chips in more picks and opinions on the most watched and wagered games at the top online sportsbooks. I chip-in additional information you can bet on for select games as more teams push towards six wins and bowl eligibility.

More than a dozen teams have already fired or dismissed their head coaches this season and the coaching carousel and changes continue. I provide an update for BetOnline.  

Check out winning profiles and stats for top offenses and defensive dominators as I update those teams stats since Week 6 and ahead of Week 12 games. 

Top 25 Games and Week 12 Odds

Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Current point spread on favorites, plus game totals and updated as of Wednesday, Nov. 12. All times ET. Top 25 matchups in bold. 

Sat., Nov. 15 

- No. 1 Ohio State (-31.5) vs UCLA, 48.5 | 7:30 pm | NBC
- No. 2 Indiana (-29.5) vs Wisconsin, 44 | 12 pm | Big Ten Network 
- No. 3 Texas A&M (-19) vs South Carolina, 48 | 12 pm | ESPN
- No. 4 Alabama (-6) vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, 46 | 3:30 pm | ABC
- No. 5 Georgia (-6) vs No. 10 Texas, 49 | 7:30 pm | ABC 
- No. 6 Texas Tech (-23.5) vs UCF, 48 | 3:30 pm | FOX
- No. 7 Ole Miss (-16.5) vs Florida, 54 | 7 pm | ESPN 
- No. 8 Oregon (-25) vs Minnesota, 44 | 9 pm | FOX (Friday)
- No. 9 Notre Dame (-13) at No. 22 Pittsburgh, 56 | 12 pm ABC
- No. 12 BYU (-4.5) vs TCU, 52.5 | 10:15 pm | ESPN
- No. 13 Utah (-8) at Baylor, 60.5 | 7 pm | ESPN
- No. 14 Vanderbilt | Bye
- No. 15 Miami (-14.5) vs NC State, 55.5 | ESPN
- No. 16 Georgia Tech (-16.5) at Boston College, 59 | 3:30 pm | ACCN
- No. 17 USC (-6.5) vs No. 21 Iowa, 49.5 | 3:30 pm | Big Ten Network
- No. 18 Michigan (-11.5) at Northwestern, 41 | 12 pm | FOX
- No. 19 Virginia (-14.5) at Duke, 55.5 | 3:30 pm | ESPN2
- No. 20 Louisville (-3) vs Clemson, 50 | 7:30 pm | ESPN
- No. 23 Tennessee (-39.5) vs New Mexico State, 62 | 4:15 pm | SECN
- No. 24 South Florida (-10.5) at Navy, 64.5 | 12 pm | ESPN2
- No. 25 Cincinnati (-6.5) vs Arizona, 56 | 12 pm | FS1 

Other notable games Week 12

Teams in bold have 5 wins and playing to become bowl eligible

- Arkansas at LSU (-5.5), 56 
- Penn State (-7) at Michigan State, 50 (both teams 0-6 in Big Ten!) 
- Appalachian State at James Madison (-21), 53.5
- Memphis at East Carolina (-3), 59
- Florida Atlantic at Tulane (-17.5), 63
- North Carolina at Wake Forest (-6), 38.5
- Utah (-8) at Baylor, 60.5
- Utah State at UNLV (-6), 71
- Mississippi State at Missouri (-7), 51.5 
- Boise State at San Diego State (-3), 41
- Buffalo at Central Michigan (-2), 44 (Wednesday)
- Toledo (-4.5) at Miami O, 45.5 (Wednesday)
- Baylor, NC State and Northwestern have 5 wins in their matchups vs Top 25 opponents

Boise State and San Diego State are both 4-1 in Mountain West Conference play as they play Saturday in a first place showdown with Boise State playing this game without their starting quarterback and two most productive receivers. Hawaii (4-2) crushed SDSU 38-6 as a TD home 'Dog in Week 11 as a bonus top pick winner on these OSGA pages in non-Top 25 action. Hawaii can make the Mountain West Conference championship game by winning out at UNLV and versus Wyoming and San Diego State loses one game vs Boise State, San Jose State or at New Mexico (3-2). The NM Lobos still have a shot at the conference title game and other 3-2 teams are chasing in UNLV, Utah State and Fresno State, who is the only team to beat Boise State in conference play. 

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NCAA Football Week 12 Top 25 Picks

Check back by Friday for more picks and opinions with additional game analysis, stats and information you can bet on. 

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh - Pick: Pittsburgh

Notre Dame has taken money, but too many points IMO to give the home 'Dog Pitt Panthers, who enter off a bye week while Notre Dame comes off the big margin win over Navy facing the option offense. Pitt's defense matches Notre Dame with both allowing 332-334 yards per game. The Panthers run defense is top-5 in the country allowing 86 rushing ypg at 2.5 yards per rush (ND 102, 3.1). Pitt's yards per play defense of 4.6 is slightly better than Notre Dame's 4.8, but the Panthers have played a little weaker schedule with four conference wins over losing teams in ACC play. The Panthers lost to Louisville 34-27, but suffered 5 turnovers. The next game, top 11th year Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi switched to freshman QB Mason Heintchel (interview) and all he's done is lead the Panthers to 5-straight wins while passing for at least 300 yards four times (400+ once vs NC State) and 10 passing touchdowns (1 rush). The Panthers offense has scored 48, 34, 30, 53 and 35 points (1 defensive score) as they get ready to tackle Notre Dame. Pitt plays Georgia Tech (8-1/5-1) and Miami (7-2/3-2) following this big game versus Notre Dame.  

Oklahoma at Alabama - Opinion: Oklahoma

Eight straight wins for Alabama (8-1), who is 6-0 in SEC play. Late last season the 'Tide lost to the Sooners 24-3 as a 2 TD road favorite to crush their College Football Playoff hopes. Oklahoma (7-2/3-2) has a top defense allowing 15.5 points per game and has held 8-of-9 opponents to season-low yardage this season.  

Iowa at USC - Lean: Iowa

Iowa off a last second loss to Oregon 18-16 holding the Ducks quarterback to 113 passing yards. Tough travel and big test facing USC's No. 1 NCAA offense averaging 503 yards per game and 7.5 yards per play. Hawkeyes top defense holding opponents to 259 yards per game (top 5 in country) and 4.2 yards per play. 

Texas at Georgia - Opinion: Texas

The Longhorns (7-2/4-1) and Bulldogs (8-1/6-1) played twice last season and Georgia won both games as small underdogs. The Bulldogs 'Hooked 'em in Austin 30-15 holding the Longhorns to 29 rushing yards on 27 attempts and sacked Texas QB seven times. Neither team reached 300 yards offense, and then in the SEC Championship Game, Georgia won 22-19 in double overtime again reaching just 277 yards offense with Texas 389 yards offense in defeat taking six more quarterback sacks and rushing for just 31 yards on 28 carries. This year's matchup info to follow but both teams are defensive dominators again. Texas is allowing 314 yards per game vs FBS opponents including 16.4 points per game, 78 rushing (2.4 ypr) and 236 passing yards per game. Georgia's defense has allowed 325 yards per game, 21.5 points per game, 107 rushing (3.3) and 218 passing yards per game. Georgia has some escapes this season versus Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida, and if hold up to win again, it should be another close call. 

Texas Tech is now on top of the Big 12 after crushing BYU 29-7 and handing the Cougars their first loss last Saturday. Cincinnati also has just 1-loss in conference play as they push those two teams for a spot in the conference championship game. 

- TCU at No. 12 BYU - Opinion: TCU
- No. 13 Utah at Baylor - Opinion: Baylor

Baylor (5-4) was a Big 12 favorite with Utah (7-2) to start the season, and now the Bears taking back big points at home with pass-heavy offense. Utes have edges in the trenches and a 15 points per game defense. But Utah is also 1-9 ATS as road favorites of 10 or less points including 1-7 ATS off back-to-back SU and ATS wins and the Bears have solid quarterback and plenty of offensive weapons averaging 452 yards per game and off three 30+ point performances last four games. 

Non-Top 25 winner last week on Hawaii (+6.5) in easy 'Dog outright win 38-6 as part of our 2-0 picks and 2-1 opinions in Week 11. This week we add a big favorite in the Sun Belt with the best team in the conference. 

- Appalachian State at James Madison (-21) - Pick: James Madison

The ACC remains wide open with four teams 5-1 in conference play - Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia. Duke is also 4-1 and playing for bowl eligibility at 5-4 overall. Georgia Tech (8-1) is the only one loss team overall, and Pitt gets a shot a Notre Dame this week and the Panthers are a running, defensive 'Dog that will payoff with a pay out Saturday. 

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X  @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.