College Football Best Bets for Week 13 Today: Our Expert Picks, ATS Predictions & Player Props

My college football best bets for Week 13 today breaks down the action from several of the weekend’s biggest games, as teams make a last-ditch effort to improve their College Football Playoff resumes. 

Included in my college football Week 13 predictions is an upset pick involving a team that was embarrassed in a ranked vs. ranked matchup last week, as well as the Overs on two player props on an electric quarterback and running back.

💡 College football expert picks: Week 13

• College football picks against the spread Week 13
• College football picks for every top 25 game in Week 13
• College football player props Week 13
• College football anytime touchdown scorer predictions Week 13
• College football best bets Week 13

🏈 College football best bets & expert picks: Week 13

See all of our experts' college football picks for Week 13 based on the latest college football odds.

🔮 Best college football predictions: ATS, ML, O/U

☘️ Notre Dame first half spread -20.5 (-142) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Notre Dame drew plenty of ire from those outside its fan base this week when it was ranked one spot ahead of Alabama in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, as the Crimson Tide have four ranked wins this season.

The Fighting Irish only have two more opportunities to keep inching towards a top-eight seed and a home first round playoff game, and I expect them to make a statement early in their final regular season home game.

Syracuse has scored just 70 points in six games since losing quarterback Steve Angeli to a season-ending injury. It either went three-and-out or punted on four of its six first-half possessions while being held scoreless in its last game, and it should not have the offense to keep up with Notre Dame early.

The Fighting Irish are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 home games against ACC opponents. But I am limiting this play to just the first 30 minutes, as FanDuel is the only top sports betting site offering a first half spread lower than the key betting number of 21. Its -142 odds carry a 58.68% implied probability, and would net $7.04 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

🐾 Pittsburgh ML (+120) ⭐⭐⭐

Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi clearly put more emphasis on the team’s final two ACC games than last week’s non-conference matchup against Notre Dame. His squad has a chance to show why it is still a factor in the ACC race and for a potential playoff spot if it can upset Georgia Tech this weekend.

Prior to last week’s loss against a solid Fighting Irish squad, Pittsburgh had averaged 40 points per game over a five-game winning streak. It also won those games by an average of 19 points, while totaling 445 yards per game, and 303.8 yards per game through the air.

Underdog backers will find the best number at bet365, the only best sports betting app offering better than +115. Its +120 price at 45.45% implied odds would return $12 in profits on a winning $10 wager if Pittsburgh pulls the upset.

⬆️ BYU-Cincinnati Over 54.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cincinnati has averaged just 19 points during a current two-game losing streak. But reinforcements are on the way for the Bearcats offense, as wide receiver Caleb Goodie will be active, and running back Evan Pryor looks to be on the right side of questionable for this matchup.

BYU’s rushing attack should take advantage of a Cincinnati defense that ranks outside the top 110 in Defensive Line Yards and Stuff Rate. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s up-tempo attack that averages a play call every 24.5 second should keep up in the scoring, especially if Pryor suits up with his 17 explosive runs and 4.5 yards per rush after contact.

This is a sharp line with most top sports betting sites offering the standard -110 juice at an O/U of 54.5 across the market. But I am confidently backing the Over as a four-star play, and hope to net $9.09 in profits with my $10 wager.

💰 Best college football player props for Week 13

⬆️ Jordon Davison player prop: Over 53.5 rushing yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I cashed the Over on Jordan Davison’s rushing yards last week despite him being given just seven rushing attempts. I expect much more volume from Oregon’s bulldozing running back in a game of this magnitude.

Oregon would be wise to employ a similar strategy that Iowa used against USC last week, when it finished with a Success Rate on two-thirds of its 33 rushing attempts.

After Iowa ran for 183 yards and 5.5 yards per carry against USC, the Trojans fell to 128th or worse in Rushing Success Rate allowed and Defensive Line Yards.

Davison’s stock is rising, as he has run for 54 or more yards four times in the last five games, after failing to eclipse 34 yards through the first five. 

The Over is juiced as high as -122 at 54.95% implied odds at the high end of the market. Therefore, I am taking advantage of the best number at FanDuel, whose -114 odds would return $8.77 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

⬆️ Diego Pavia player prop: Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (-108) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the first year under new offensive coordinator Tim Beck last year, Vanderbilt ran the ball at the SEC’s highest rate (60.3%), and 12th-highest nationally. This season, the Commodores are running on just 51.1% of plays (ranks 11th in the SEC, 82nd nationally), to take more advantage of quarterback Diego Pavia’s arm.

Pavia has eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark three times this season after doing so just twice in his first three years in the system. He is the reason Vanderbilt ranks third in EPA per dropback and passing success rate.

With this game having a high total of 53 points, there should be plenty of opportunities for Pavia to throw for multiple touchdowns for the third straight game, after throwing for three apiece in each of the last two. If he does, my $10 winning wager at FanDuel would net $9.26 in profits.