COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS (WEEK 12)
Ourlads’ Football Network host Greg DePalma and Athlon managing editor Mitch Light get together each Thursday to analyze top matchups on the week’s college football schedule and make predictions. Catch OFN College Weekly for their full exchange.
* denotes featured play
No.3 NOTRE DAME (10-0) vs. No.12 SYRACUSE (8-2)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Friday. Site: Yankee Stadium, New York.
TV: NBC. Line: Notre Dame by 10 ½.
Greg: Syracuse. Mitch: *Syracuse.
Greg says: “You figure if (Notre Dame is) going to lose one of their next two, this is probably going to be the one, the way USC’s playing. … Notre Dame might regret putting this game in the Bronx, when all is said and done, if they lose this game and their chance for the playoff.”
No.9 WEST VIRGINIA (8-1) at OKLAHOMA ST. (5-5)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Site: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla.
TV: ABC. Line: West Virginia by 5 ½.
Greg: Oklahoma St. Mitch: West Virginia.
Mitch says: “Oklahoma State has had a weird season. They beat Texas, obviously. They were in good position to beat Oklahoma. … I’m coming around on West Virginia. I actually do think they’re really good and I think they’ll end up playing in the (Big 12) championship game.”
No.24 CINCINNATI (9-1) at No.11 UCF (10-0)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Site: Spectrum Stadium, Orlando.
TV: ABC. Line: UCF by 7.
Greg: *UCF. Mitch: UCF.
Mitch says: “It’s a huge spotlight for the (UCF) program, a huge spotlight for the league. Obviously there’s tons of motivation for UCF to keep the undefeated record and all that. But I think with the ABC primetime game – (Chris) Fowler, (Kirk) Herbstreit, all that stuff there – I think we will see UCF’s best game.”
No.16 IOWA ST. (6-3) at No.15 TEXAS (7-3)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Site: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
TV: Longhorn Network. Line: Texas by 3.
Greg: *Iowa St. Mitch: Iowa St.
Greg says: “I’m going with Iowa State. They’re on a roll; I love the way they’re playing. I know (RB David) Montgomery is going to be out the first half, but I just don’t like the way Texas is playing right now. They’re in close games every week. I’m just going to ride Iowa State.”
GREG’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 23-19-2
TOTAL: +330
5-star: Iowa St. (+3) over Texas
4-star: Baylor (-2) over TCU
3-star: UCF (-7) over Cincinnati
Upset special: Illinois (+15) over Iowa (moneyline +480)
MITCH’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 19-23-2
TOTAL: -140
5-star: SMU (+7) over Memphis (Friday)
4-star: UL-Monroe (+9) over Arkansas St.
3-star: Stanford (-2) over California
Upset special: Syracuse (+11) over Notre Dame (moneyline +340)