NC State Wolfpack (-14.5) (-111) (Betway) @ Syracuse Orange
November 28th, 12:00pm EST, Carrier Dome
The Wolfpack head up to New York to take on the hapless Orange this week, and this is one of those near-sure-things that you just don’t overthink. 1-8 Syracuse may be the worst team in the Power Five conferences this season apart from maybe Kansas, and they have been playing their worst ball of late. That’s saying something.
Last week they were absolutely dismantled 30-0 by a Louisville program that is really not all that impressive, and a couple of weeks before that the Orange were decimated 38-14 by Wake Forest. All in all, Syracuse has fallen short of the spread by double-digit points in four of the last five games in which they were listed as underdogs of 20 points or less by betting sites.
NC State’s offense was a bit lethargic last week in a tight win, so expect them to bounce back: the Wolfpack attack has topped 30 points in six games this season while the Orange’s defensive unit has given up 30+ six times. The road team has also gone 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these two programs. The Wolfpack are poised for a big win, so get this pick in as an early lock for our parlay.
Pick: NC State Wolfpack Point Spread (-14.5) (-111) (Betway)
Kentucky Wildcats @ No. 6 Florida Gators (-25.5) (-111) (Betway)
November 28th, 12:00pm EST, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Kentucky got utterly embarrassed last week against the Crimson Tide, so I expect them to put up a bit more of a fight in Gainesville this Saturday—but not much more. In three of their last four games (the fourth was when the Wildcats scored 38 points against the winless Vanderbilt Commodores in a game Kentucky won 38-35 as 17.5-point favorites) the Wildcats have scored a combined total of 16 points.
That smells trouble against a high-scoring opponent like the Gators, who have scored 36 or more points in each of their last nine games dating back to last season. Heisman hopeful Kyle Trask has been lights out for Florida, launching 31 touchdowns to just three picks through seven games as he’s led his program into the AP Top 10. After starting out a little bit slowly last week, expect Trask and the swamp boys to come out firing in Gainesville.
The favorite has gone 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings between these programs and Kentucky is 3-12 ATS in their last 15 contests following a game in which they rushed for less than 100 yards. To top it off, Dan Mullen’s squad is 6-1 ATS in their last seven outings following an ATS loss. Expect Trask and the Gators to chomp up the Wildcats in a big win, and insert another near-lock into our parlay.
Pick: Florida Gators Point Spread (-25.5) (-111) (Betway)
Pittsburgh Panthers @ No. 4 Clemson Tigers (-23.0) (-111) (Betway)
November 28th, 3:30pm EST, Clemson Memorial Stadium
We took Clemson to whoop some Florida State Seminole butt last week, but alas, the game was postponed mere hours before kickoff was scheduled to take place. That makes it three weeks since the Tigers have taken the field, as they had their bye in Week 11. The last time Clemson got out there they did it without top QB Trevor Lawrence and they lost a tight one to Notre Dame. With all of that pent up adrenaline and aggression, the Tigers are no doubt frothing at the mouth to get back out there and assert themselves as a team that should be included in the College Football Playoff.
Unfortunately for Pitt, they drew the short end of the stick as they head to Clemson this Saturday. The Tigers clearly need to sweeten their bid for the CFP after that loss to the Fighting Irish three weeks ago, so expect Lawrence—who’s been waiting nearly a month to play—and running back Travis Etienne—who was held to a measly 28-yard day last time out—to come out with chips on their shoulders as they remind everybody that Clemson still belongs in the CFP mix.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney caused a stir earlier this week when he began talking trash about the Seminoles for calling their game off. Clearly, Swinney and his players are frustrated, and they’re going to take it all out on the poor Panthers.
Pick: Clemson Tigers Point Spread (-23.0) (-111) (Betway)
After a rough run of picks last week we’re feeling very confident about our choices for Week 13’s Saturday slate of NCAA football games. To get our parlay back in the win column, we’re looking for the Wolfpack to feast on Syracuse Orange on their trip up to New York, the Gators to devour the Wildcats in the Swamp, and the Tigers to take out all of their frustrations on the unwitting Panthers. Godspeed, and may the odds be ever in our favor.
