College Football Week 13 picks

The weekend is almost here, so it’s time to make your College Football Week 13 picks at BetRivers.com and the wait is finally over!

Why not make a little money while you’re throwing together that post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich eh? The Cyclones head to Austin aiming to take control of the Big 12, Notre Dame looks to avoid a shootout in Chapel Hill, and the Ducks hope to stay perfect in the Pac-12 against their arch-rivals.

Longtime sports broadcaster and gambling expert Michael Jenkins is here to give you his favorite picks, including Saturday’s Big Ten showdown in Columbus between the Hoosiers and Buckeyes.

Since it’s the weekend, a holiday weekend at that, the latest edition of Weekend Jenks touches on Christmas trees and fire safety, with an emphasis on fire safety.

MORE: Week 13 CFB Odds Preview

College Football Week 13 Picks:

#15 Iowa State (6-2) at #20 Texas (5-2) 12:00 p.m. ET (Friday)
Moneyline: Iowa State -109, Texas -112
Spread: Texas -1.5
Over/Under: 57 points

The Cyclones have won three straight and control their own destiny in the Big 12—though the Longhorns have a path to the conference championship game as well. However, Iowa State appears to be playing its best football of the season, especially coming off an impressive 45-0 drubbing of Kansas State last Saturday in the annual “Farmageddon” battle.

Texas has also won three consecutive games but is doing it with smoke and mirrors, and the Horns will meet a Cyclones defense that is giving up only 17.7 points per game in its last three. The Horns are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six overall. The pick: Iowa State +1.5

Nebraska (1-3) at Iowa (3-2). 1:00 p.m. ET (Friday)
Moneyline: Nebraska +400, Iowa -560
Spread: Iowa -13.5
Over/Under: 52.5 points

The wheels have officially fallen off for the Huskers, who have now been reduced to getting trolled buy Illinois on Twitter after falling 41-23 to the Illini in Lincoln. Freshman quarterback Luke McCaffrey has thrown only one touchdown along with five interceptions this season—including three last week.

Defensively, Nebraska allows 34.3 points per game and will struggle to stop the talented Iowa backfield of Tyler Goodson and Mekhi Sargeant, who have 762 yards rushing between them. The Huskers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight against a team with a winning record. The pick: Iowa -13.5

#2 Notre Dame (8-0) at #25 North Carolina (6-2). 3:30 p.m. ET (Friday)
Moneyline: Notre Dame -205, North Carolina +155
Spread: North Carolina +4.5
Over/Under: 66.5 points

This line opened with the Tar Heels getting more than a touchdown at home, and bettors immediately jumped on that number. I don’t blame them. However, now that Carolina is only a 4.5 home dog, I’m siding with the Irish. Make no mistake.

Carolina can score points in a hurry, as we saw last week against Wake Forest when they put up 28 points in the fourth quarter to win 59-53. Still, Notre Dame is 5-0 against the number in its last five, and a defense that allows only 16.1 points per game should make enough stops to give the Irish the cover. The pick: Notre Dame -4.5

#9 Oregon (3-0) at Oregon State (1-2). 7:30 p.m. ET
Moneyline: Oregon -670, Oregon State +390
Spread: Oregon State +13.5
Over/Under: 63.5 points

Oregon and Oregon State no longer call their annual battle “The Civil War,” but this game remains a must-watch for Pac-12 football fans. Last week, the Ducks escaped with a 38-35 win over a suddenly improving UCLA squad, while the Beavers managed a 31-27 victory against Cal, their first win of the year.

Expect Oregon to make the Beavers beat them with quarterback Tristan Gebbia, who has already proven to be error-prone with three picks in three games. The Oregon defense forced the Bruins into four turnovers, and as long as this number stays below 14, I’m laying it. The pick: Oregon -13.5

Colorado (2-0) at #19 USC (3-0). 3:30 p.m. ET
Moneyline: Colorado +300, USC -400
Spread: USC 13.5
Over/Under: 64.5 points

I’ll give USC credit for dominating Utah last week, but the Utes looked very much like a team that had been battling COVID-19 problems. Now the Trojans return home against a live dog in Colorado that brings a balanced attack and a quarterback in Sam Noyer who has guided the Buffs to an average of 42 points per game thus far.

Kedon Slovis and the Trojans can outscore the Buffs—and probably will—but this number is far too high, and Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last five. The pick: Colorado +13.5