College football spread picks, Week 12: Colorado-Utah, Georgia-Tennessee and more
So, uhh, about last week’s picks against the spread… we here at For The Win have had better weeks, to put it nicely, as the majority of us finished Week 11 with an abysmal 3-7 record. Whatever, can’t change the past, but we can try to predict the future.
College football’s regular season is winding down, and conference title game and College Football Playoff contenders are running out of time to build up their records and resumes. And Week 12 has plenty of games with major implications for both.
Let’s get into Week 12, where we have a couple ranked games, including No. 7 Tennessee against No. 12 Georgia, and tremendous potential for underdogs spoiling seasons or College Football Playoff hopes.
So here are our 10 college football picks against the spread for Week 12. Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Michelle Martinelli | 3-7 | 61-53 |
| Blake Schuster | 3-7 | 60-54 |
| Mitchell Northam | 3-7 | 54-60 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 3-7 | 53-61 |
| Tyler Nettuno | 4-6 | 49-65 |
All odds via BetMGM
Utah at No. 17 Colorado, Saturday, noon ET on Fox
Opening Line: Utah -7.5
Blake Schuster: Utah +11.5
Colorado hasn’t covered as a double-digit favorite under Deion, and I’m not sure it’s going to end that streak against a furious Utah team that missed a chance to play spoiler against BYU last week.
Mitchell Northam: Utah +11.5
I think Colorado wins, perhaps in come-back fashion like last week against Texas Tech. But I don’t trust the Fighting Deions to cover a double-digit spread just yet, especially against Utah team that is big mad after what happened versus BYU.
Christian D’Andrea: Utah +11.5
Utah’s gonna come out and defend the honor of its AD, right?
Michelle Martinelli: Utah +11.5
Colorado should win this game, but a double-digit spread seems like a lot. Utah is obviously struggling big time this season, but even on the road, this game should be closer.
Tyler Nettuno: Utah +11.5
I remain extremely high on Colorado and expect them to win this game against a Utah team that struggles to score. But this spread just feels too big, considering the defense remains a strength and Utah took rival BYU to the wire last week.
No. 20 Clemson at Pitt, Saturday, noon ET on ESPN
Opening Line: Clemson -9.5
Blake Schuster: Pitt +10
Clemson is good. Pitt as a two-possession home underdog is just too much to pass up.
Mitchell Northam: Pitt +10
If Eli Holstein plays, I think Pitt covers this with relative ease and makes Clemson sweat. If not, well, Pat Narduzzi can still activate the chaos super-weapon in some way.
Christian D’Andrea: Pitt +10
The Panthers don’t have a great home-field advantage and are prone to collapse. But so is Clemson, if the Louisville game is any indication.
Michelle Martinelli: Clemson -10
Picking any game involving Clemson hasn’t gone well for me this year, regardless of which way I went. So maybe don’t listen to me.
Tyler Nettuno: Clemson -10
This game looked a lot more interesting a few weeks ago, but Pitt has since dropped back-to-back games, including a blowout loss to SMU. Even on the road, I like the Tigers to roll here.
No. 25 Tulane at Navy, Saturday, noon ET on ESPN2
Opening Line: Tulane -6
Blake Schuster: Tulane -7
I hate this pick already, but I can’t trust Navy if Blake Horvath is still dealing with a thumb injury.
Mitchell Northam: Navy +7
It feels like Navy got back on track against South Florida. It’ll keep this close in Annapolis.
Christian D’Andrea: Navy +7
The Midshipmen haven’t looked great lately, but that was all cunning strategy to lull the Green Wave into a state of complacency.
Michelle Martinelli: Tulane -7
The Green Wave might feel like they have something to prove, especially after joining the CFP rankings this week. And against a Navy team with a quarterback who might not be 100 percent, gotta think Tulane will cover.
Tyler Nettuno: Tulane -7
I still think Navy is a strong Group of Five playoff contender despite some recent, less-than-impressive showings. But Tulane is really hitting its stride right now, and I think the Green Wave get the job done.
No. 4 Penn State at Purdue, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Opening Line: Penn State -28.5
Blake Schuster: Purdue +28.5
Yeah, fall into this the trap. This game will be ugly. Every late-season game in West Lafayette is ugly in it’s own beautiful way. Penn State wins, but not by nearly 30.
Mitchell Northam: Penn State -28.5
I’m not sure I believe in Penn State to beat a team by more than four touchdowns, but if they can do it against any Big Ten opponent, it’s Purdue, which might be the worst team in the Power Four.
Christian D’Andrea: Penn State -28.5
Purdue was in the Big Ten championship two years ago. I will forever miss the old, terrible format of that stupid, stupid game.
Michelle Martinelli: Purdue +28.5
Look, under no circumstances is this winless-in-the-Big-Ten Purdue team beating Penn State, and there’s a chance the Nittany Lions drop 70 points in a shutout. But the Boilermakers do some weird and unbelievable things sometimes in midseason home games against ranked teams.
Tyler Nettuno: Penn State -28.5
I feel awful picking the Nittany Lions to cover with a spread this big, but it’s been ugly every time the Boilermakers play a top team in the Big Ten this season.
No. 23 Missouri at No. 21 South Carolina, Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network
Opening Line: South Carolina -15.5
Blake Schuster: South Carolina -12.5
Whether or not Brady Cook plays for Mizzou, I just watched the Tigers come so close to blowing it at home against Oklahoma. Eli Drinkwitz makes Shane Beamer look like Bill Parcels.
Mitchell Northam: Missouri +12.5
South Carolina is playing well, but this seems like too many points, especially if Brady Cook plays.
Christian D’Andrea: Missouri +12.5
The Gamecocks are peaking, but this is too many points for a conference game that doesn’t involve 2023 Vanderbilt.
Michelle Martinelli: South Carolina -12.5
The Gamecocks have momentum on their side after a lot of underestimation in the beginning of the season, and between that, Missouri struggling to put Oklahoma away last week, Tigers QB Brady Cook possibly missing another game and home-field advantage, South Carolina’s got this. Probably.
Tyler Nettuno: South Carolina -12.5
The Gamecocks are playing really good football right now, pairing an elite defense with an improving offense. I may like them in this one even if quarterback Brady Cook’s health wasn’t in question for Mizzou.
No. 13 Boise State at San Jose State, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network
Opening Line: Boise State -14
Blake Schuster: San Jose State +13.5
Once again, if this game were in Boise, I’d have to roll with the Broncos. But there’s anyone who can scheme to slow down a run-heavy offense, it’s Ken Niumatalolo.
Mitchell Northam: San Jose State +13.5
This is quietly the best Group of Five game of the week, featuring the best running back in college football and (statistically, anyways) the best receiver in college football. The wildest part about that sentence is that it’s the latter who plays for triple-option maestro Ken Niumatalolo, who has reinvented himself and has the Spartans bowl-eligible in Year 1.
Christian D’Andrea: San Jose State +13.5
The Spartans are kinda… good?
Michelle Martinelli: San Jose State +13.5
The Spartans aren’t as good as Boise State, but they’re not bad and in the top half of the Mountain West standings. Almost two touchdowns is a little too much, but the Broncos still win.
Tyler Nettuno: Boise State -13.5
Boise State wasn’t exactly pretty last week in the win over a Nevada team that’s better than its 3-7 record shows, and I think this is a prime bounce back opportunity for Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos.
Arizona State at No. 16 Kansas State, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Opening Line: Kansas State -7
Blake Schuster: Arizona State +9
That’s a large line between two teams who love to run the ball. If Cam Skattebo is indeed healthy, take the points.
Mitchell Northam: Arizona State +9
Cam Skattebo keeps this close, I think.
Christian D’Andrea: Kansas State -9
I have so little faith in any Arizona this year, excluding Northern.
Michelle Martinelli: Arizona State +9
These two teams are more evenly matched than the spread indicates, and I’m just not that high on Kansas State this year.
Tyler Nettuno: Arizona State +9
I’m not sure the Sun Devils have what it takes to win this game straight up, but an impressive 7-2 start is more than enough for me to take the points against an inconsistent Kansas State team.
No. 1 Oregon at Wisconsin, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Opening Line: Oregon -12
Blake Schuster: Oregon -14
A few weeks ago, I would’ve taken Wisconsin here. But Oregon is so close to locking up the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff, not even a night game in Madison can slow down the Ducks.
Mitchell Northam: Oregon -14
Feels like we’re going to have some coordinator changes coming for the Badgers this offseason.
Christian D’Andrea: Oregon -14
This is free money. If betting were legal in the state of Wisconsin, Badgers fans would have swung this line by three points in the Ducks’ favor. That’s Korbel money right there.
Michelle Martinelli: Oregon -14
There is only one squad this season that has played like the obvious No. 1 team, and it’s not Wisconsin.
Tyler Nettuno: Oregon -14
Wisconsin has been a bit more dangerous than I expected entering the year, especially given the injury to Tyler Van Dyke. But I’d be stunned if the Badgers cover this spread against an Oregon team that pretty clearly looks like the nation’s best right now.
No. 7 Tennessee at No. 12 Georgia, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+
Opening Line: Georgia -16.5
Blake Schuster: Tennessee +10.5
Oh, come on! Who is laying 10 points with Carson Beck? He’s thrown more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (seven) since the start of October.
Mitchell Northam: Tennessee +10.5
Look, I know UGA beat Texas, but come on, this line?
Christian D’Andrea: Tennessee +10.5
Oh, so UGA’s still laying legacy points, I see.
Michelle Martinelli: Tennessee +10.5
No idea who’s winning this game, especially when there are notable SEC and playoff implications. But that’s an awfully big spread for two teams who desperately need a victory.
Tyler Nettuno: Tennessee +10.5
Uh, has Vegas watched this Georgia team the last few weeks? The offense is a legitimate hindrance right now, and while I’m not saying I’m confident Tennessee wins this game, I think the Vols should keep it fairly close at the very least.
Kansas at No. 6 BYU, Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Opening Line: BYU -7
Blake Schuster: BYU -3
I loved this line for Kansas a lot more at +7. The Jayhawks are fighting for bowl eligibility. The Cougars are close to guaranteeing themselves a playoff spot. This will be a close game, but not that close.
Mitchell Northam: BYU -3
It feels like if BYU was going to lose a regular season game, it would’ve been last week.
Christian D’Andrea: BYU -3
Kansas has yet to win on the road, and this is the toughest opponent it’ll face.
Michelle Martinelli: BYU -3
Honestly not sure why the undefeated Cougars aren’t bigger favorites against a just-OK Kansas team, aside from BYU barely escaping UTah last week. But Jake Retzlaff and co. are *thisclose* to being undefeated going into the Big 12 title game.
Tyler Nettuno: BYU -3
The Cougars have played with fire in recent weeks, and now they draw a Kansas team that seems to be hitting its stride. The Jayhawks had a huge win against Iowa State last week, but I don’t see them pulling off two wins of that caliber in a row.