College football predictions, picks, odds: Georgia-Tennessee, Ohio State-Minnesota among Week 12 value plays

It’s laborious to consider we best have two complete weekends of college football left at the 2023 agenda. While Week 12 is observed as a “cupcake week” for sure meetings — permitting groups to play in opposition to perceived weaker pageant as one ultimate tune-up earlier than the regular-season finale and postseason — there are a nonetheless a couple of video games wearing nationwide implications. 

No. 5 Washington is having a look to stay its College Football Playoff hopes alive and safe a place within the Pac-12 Championship Game when it hits the street to tackle No. 11 Oregon State. The Beavers have masses at the line, as smartly. A win Saturday successfully units up a Pac-12 Championship play-in recreation in Week 13 in opposition to in-state rival Oregon. 

No. 25 Kansas hosts No. 21 Kansas State for the 121st Sunflower Showdown. The Wildcats nonetheless have a shot on the Big 12 Championship Game, as long as they win out and Texas loses once or more. Kansas would like not anything greater than to do away with its greatest rival from rivalry. 

As with each week, there is making a bet value to be present in those impactful video games. We went 3-2 in final week’s value plays column, bringing our report over the past 3 installments to 11-4. 

Here is some other crop of value plays for Week 12 of the 2023 school football season. Odds by means of SportsLine consensus

No. 18 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Georgia

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | Where: Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tennessee 

Georgia is again in its rightful No. 1 spot after a blowout win in opposition to Ole Miss, which was once ranked throughout the most sensible 10 at kickoff. Now the Bulldogs commute to Knoxville to stand a Tennessee crew that is nonetheless licking its wounds after a humbling 36-7 loss at the highway in opposition to Missouri. On the street is the important thing there. Under trainer Josh Heupel, the Vols have in large part struggled in away video games however play their highest football at house. In truth, they are driving a 14-game house profitable streak, together with a 2022 conquer Alabama. 

Saturday is when that streak involves an finish. Georgia is a mismatch for Tennessee in nearly each segment of the sport. Quarterback Carson Beck is truly hitting his stride, and now he will get to head in opposition to a hobbled Tennessee secondary that is given up no less than 270 yards in each and every of its final two video games in opposition to SEC warring parties. The Vols’ vaunted speeding offense publish a paltry 83 yards in opposition to Missouri. Georgia’s speeding protection ranks moment within the SEC. Tennessee has additionally misplaced two of its most sensible vast receivers to harm and quarterback Joe Milton wasn’t precisely lights the sector on hearth earlier than that. Factor in that the Bulldogs have an entire lot extra to play for — a loss right here units their College Football Playoff march again slightly — and Georgia wouldn’t have a lot hassle protecting a double-digit unfold, regardless of the place this recreation is performed.   Prediction: Georgia -10 (-110)

No. 2 Ohio State vs. Minnesota

When: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET | Where: Ohio Stadium — Columbus, Ohio 

Here’s a amusing truth about Ohio State that is extraordinarily pertinent to this access: The Buckeyes have best performed 3 video games this season that eclipsed the 50-point mark. One was once a 63-10 trouncing of Western Kentucky and the opposite two got here in opposition to Maryland and Rutgers, which each rank within the higher part of the Big Ten in scoring. Minnesota does no longer. The Gophers have observed their reasonable scoring general climb over the past couple weeks by way of posting large level totals at the board in opposition to Illinois and Purdue defenses that rank twelfth and 14th within the Big Ten in issues allowed, respectively. However, in opposition to Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan (all of which rank within the most sensible 5 within the convention in scoring protection) Minnesota is averaging 11.7 issues. Expect extra of the similar in opposition to an Ohio State protection that sits at No. 2 within the Big Ten in that class with 9.9 issues allowed in keeping with recreation. 

Based on averages, Ohio State must rating no less than 40 issues for this recreation to hit the over. In years previous, that might be a horny meager general. But 2023’s rendition of the Ohio State offense has scored 40 issues simply as soon as in opposition to energy convention pageant this 12 months, a 41-7 win in opposition to Purdue. Even that general fell underneath 50 issues. Prediction: Under 50 (-110)

No. 25 Kansas vs. No. 21 Kansas State 

When: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET | Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium — Lawrence, Kansas

Kansas is coming off a difficult loss to Texas Tech. The Jayhawks tied the sport at 13-13 with 25 seconds left, however their protection crumbled and allowed a last-second box purpose to finish legislation. A large explanation why Kansas struggled so mightily is as a result of quarterback Jason Bean — who has taken the beginning position because of an harm to Jalon Daniels — left the sport early with a head harm. That left the Jayhawks with a walk-on freshman in Cole Ballard at an important place at the box. Kansas trainer Lance Leipold has been somewhat assured this week in his trust that Bean will have to be capable to play Saturday. 

With Bean main the offense in a complete recreation, the Jayhawks are averaging over 35 issues in keeping with contest. Kansas put no less than 28 issues on each Iowa State and Oklahoma, two defenses that rank most sensible 5 in scoring within the Big 12. Meanwhile, Kansas State has scored no less than 40 issues in 3 out of its final 4 Big 12 outings and now faces a mean Jayhawk protection. Expect numerous issues on this recreation — definitely much more than Vegas is giving it credit for. Prediction: Over 56.5 (-110) 

No. 11 Oregon State vs. No. 5 Washington 

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Where: Reser Stadium — Corvallis, Oregon 

Washington has skated by way of on an overly skinny margin since its win in opposition to Oregon. The Huskies have been in a position to keep away from very close to upsets in opposition to Stanford and Arizona State, profitable by way of a mean of 8.5 issues. They then did simply sufficient to overcome USC and Utah. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. appeared off for a pair weeks and the protection took a significant nosedive after some sturdy performances previous within the season. That’s led some to consider (together with oddsmakers) that Washington’s bubble will in the end burst Saturday.

But this matchup in truth traces up smartly for the Huskies. Penix has returned to shape over the past couple weeks. He’s the most productive quarterback Oregon State has observed all 12 months with a couple of NFL caliber vast receivers at his disposal in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Though they have got been rather sturdy, the Beavers’ protection has been prone to high quality quarterback play this 12 months.  They gave up a blended 697 yards passing and 7 touchdowns of their two losses this 12 months, and feature surrendered no less than 240 yards in the course of the air in each and every in their final 3 video games. This one has a possibility to adapt right into a shootout. The good cash is on Washington in that scenario. Prediction: Washington ML (+116)

South Carolina vs. Kentucky

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Where: Williams-Brice Stadium — Columbia, South Carolina 

Both South Carolina and Kentucky have taken their fair proportion of lumps this season, falling in need of expectancies. The Wildcats are going bowling at 6-4 however they didn’t make any noise in opposition to vital pageant like Missouri and Tennessee. South Carolina remains to be two video games clear of securing a postseason bid. The odds are definitely in opposition to them, that means this might be the primary 12 months that the Gamecocks fail to make a bowl recreation underneath trainer Shane Beamer. 

Saturday may not lend a hand in that regard. All 4 of Kentucky’s losses got here in opposition to ranked warring parties, together with each SEC department champions Georgia and Alabama. By comparability, the Wildcats are 3-0 in opposition to SEC groups with a shedding report and feature received by way of a mean of nineteen issues in such contests. Kentucky is superb at punching beneath its weight and, sadly for South Carolina, it falls into that class this season. Prediction: Kentucky -1.5 (-110)

Which college football selections are you able to make with self belief in Week 12, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed laptop fashion that has returned smartly over $2,000 in benefit during the last seven-plus seasons — and in finding out.