College Football Picks Week 14 – BYU vs Coastal Carolina
Time to check out the College Football Picks Week 14, as we are treated with a huge matchup between two undefeated teams: #13 BYU @ #18 Coastal Carolina. Also on the docket:
- #1 Alabama and #6 Florida hope to avoid upsets against rivals heading into the SEC Championship
- #12 Indiana travels to #16 Wisconsin without starting QB Michael Penix Jr.
- #5 Texas A&M gets their final big test of the year @ Auburn
- Virginia Tech will have a shot to shatter #3 Clemson’s ACC Title dreams
- #9 Iowa State can clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game with a win over West Virginia
- Arkansas and Missouri square off in a battle between two of the most underrated teams in the country
- UCLA and Arizona State will treat us to some #Pac12AfterDark fun
All projected scores are based on 1,000 simulations of each game in the CSD Prime computer model
2020 Prediction Stats
Straight Up: 327-110 (75%)
ATS Best Bets: 39-35-2 (53%)
ATS Total: 204-197-36 (51%)
Best Bets
TCU (+1.5) vs #21 Oklahoma State – 12 PM ET, ESPN2
Northern Illinois (+11.5) vs Toledo – 12 PM ET, ESPN3
Akron (-1.5) vs Bowling Green – 2 PM ET, ESPN3
Illinois (+13.5) vs #19 Iowa – 3:30 PM ET, FS1
Boston College (+7) @ Virginia – 3:30 PM ET, ACC RSN/ESPN3
LSU (+29.5) vs #1 Alabama – 8 PM ET, CBS
Thursday, December 3rd
Louisiana Tech (4-3, 3-2 C-USA) @ North Texas (3-4, 2-3 C-USA)
6 PM ET, CBSSN
Vegas Line: Louisiana Tech -4
CSD Pick: Louisiana Tech 30, North Texas 28
Air Force (2-2, 1-2 MW) @ Utah State (1-4, 1-4 MW)
9:30 PM ET, CBSSN
Vegas Line: Air Force -10.5
CSD Pick: Air Force 32, Utah State 21
Friday, December 4th
#25 Louisiana (8-1, 6-1 Sun Belt) @ Appalachian State (7-2, 5-1 Sun Belt)
8:30 PM ET, ESPN
Vegas Line: Appalachian State -3.5
CSD Pick: Appalachian State 30, Louisiana 29
Saturday, December 5th
#4 Ohio State (4-0 Big Ten) @ Michigan State (2-3 Big Ten)
12 PM ET, ABC
Vegas Line: Ohio State -23.5
CSD Pick: Ohio State 42, Michigan State 21
#5 Texas A&M (6-1 SEC) @ Auburn (5-3 SEC)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Vegas Line: Texas A&M -3.5
I was thoroughly unimpressed by Texas A&M in their 20-7 victory over LSU last week, but it isn’t like Auburn inspired much confidence in their beatdown loss to Alabama either. I expect this to be a low scoring game with both offenses struggling to move the ball, but I trust Kellen Mond to do just enough that the Aggies keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
CSD Pick: Texas A&M 25, Auburn 17
Texas (5-3, 4-3 Big 12) @ Kansas State (4-5, 4-4 Big 12)
12 PM ET, FOX
Vegas Line: Texas -8.5
CSD Pick: Texas 29, Kansas State 21
Western Carolina (0-2) @ #17 North Carolina (6-3)
12 PM ET, ACC Network
Vegas Line: North Carolina -49.5
CSD Pick: North Carolina 64, Western Carolina 5
Rice (1-2, 1-2 C-USA) @ #21 Marshall (7-0, 4-0 C-USA)
12 PM ET, ESPN+
Vegas Line: Marshall -25
CSD Pick: Marshall 39, Rice 16
#15 Oklahoma State (6-2, 5-2 Big 12) @ TCU (4-4, 4-4 Big 12)
12 PM ET, ESPN2
Vegas Line: Oklahoma State -1.5
TCU has been very inconsistent, but when they’re on, they’re on. The Horned Frogs are at home here, we’ve already seen them beat Texas, and Oklahoma State looked very shaky in the win over Texas Tech last week. Give me Gary Patterson to pull the outright upset and all but lock up an Iowa State vs Oklahoma Big 12 title game.
CSD Pick: TCU 28, Oklahoma State 21
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – TCU +1.5
Toledo (2-2 MAC) @ Northern Illinois (0-4 MAC)
12 PM ET, ESPN3
Vegas Line: Toledo -11.5
I bet on Toledo last week, and checking out a bit of their game… this is not a good team. I know Northern Illinois is 0-4, but they are better than that record indicates, and the Huskies have the home edge. Give me NIU getting 11.5.
CSD Pick: Toledo 32, Northern Illinois 26
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – Northern Illinois +11.5
Kansas (0-8, 0-7 Big 12) @ Texas Tech (3-6, 2-6 Big 12)
12 PM ET, FS2
Vegas Line: Texas Tech -27.5
CSD Pick: Texas Tech 40, Kansas 9
Nebraska (1-4 Big Ten) @ Purdue (2-3 Big Ten)
12 PM ET, BTN
Vegas Line: Purdue -2
CSD Pick: Purdue 31, Nebraska 29
Penn State (1-5 Big Ten) @ Rutgers (2-4 Big Ten)
12 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: Penn State -9
CSD Pick: Penn State 29, Rutgers 18
Memphis (6-2, 4-2 AAC) @ Tulane (5-5, 2-5 AAC)
12 PM ET, ESPN+
Vegas Line: Tulane -2
CSD Pick: Tulane 34, Memphis 30
Arkansas (3-5 SEC) @ Missouri (4-3 SEC)
12 PM ET, SEC Network
Vegas Line: Missouri -2.5
These are two of the most underrated teams in the nation. Playing an SEC only schedule has led to both having significantly deflated records, but these are good teams that are both on the upswing. I’ve been a fan of Missouri all year, consistently ranking them in my computer model’s top 25, and there’s a reason for that, as anyone who tuned into the Tigers’ 41-0 drubbing of Vanderbilt saw. Expect a follow-up performance here.
CSD Pick: Missouri 30, Arkansas 25
Ball State (3-1 MAC) @ Central Michigan (3-1 MAC)
2 PM ET, ESPNU
Vegas Line: Central Michigan -3
CSD Pick: Central Michigan 36, Ball State 34
Troy (4-5, 2-3 Sun Belt) @ South Alabama (4-6, 3-4 Sun Belt)
2 PM ET, ESPN3
Vegas Line: Troy -1.5
CSD Pick: South Alabama 27, Troy 26
Eastern Michigan (0-4 MAC) @ Western Michigan (4-0 MAC)
2 PM ET, ESPN+
Vegas Line: Western Michigan -14
CSD Pick: Western Michigan 37, Eastern Michigan 26
Bowling Green (0-4 MAC) @ Akron (0-4 MAC)
2 PM ET, ESPN3
Vegas Line: Akron -1.5
Akron is bad, but Bowling Green is the worst team in the country. The Falcons allow almost 50 points per game on average, and while Akron won’t come close to touching that mark, the Zips will cover 1.5.
CSD Pick: Akron 23, Bowling Green 16
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – Akron -1.5
Syracuse (1-9, 1-8 ACC) @ #2 Notre Dame (9-0, 8-0 ACC)
2:30 PM ET, NBC
Vegas Line: Notre Dame -33.5
CSD Pick: Notre Dame 45, Syracuse 7
UL Monroe (0-9, 0-6 Sun Belt) @ Arkansas State (3-7, 1-6 Sun Belt)
3 PM ET, ESPN3
Vegas Line: Arkansas State -21
CSD Pick: Arkansas State 40, UL Monroe 19
#6 Florida (7-1 SEC) @ Tennessee (2-5 SEC)
3:30 PM ET, CBS
Vegas Line: Florida -17
Florida looks like it is firing on all cylinders right now heading into the SEC Championship Game, and Tennessee is reeling. The Vols, led by Jarrett Guarantano, have lost five in a row, and most of those haven’t been particularly close. I just can’t see Guarantano and company scoring on the Florida defense. The Gators will roll.
CSD Pick: Florida 45, Tennessee 25
#12 Indiana (5-1 Big Ten) @ #16 Wisconsin (2-1 Big Ten)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
Vegas Line: Wisconsin -10.5
Michael Penix Jr. is, unfortunately, out for Indiana, and traveling to face Wisconsin without your starting quarterback is a tall ask for any team. The Badgers turned the ball over a lot in their loss to Northwestern, but they still looked like a solid team, and are probably top-ten in the nation in terms of pure talent level. I’ll take the Badgers, at home, to win this one and improve to 3-1 as they head toward a potential matchup with Ohio State if the Buckeyes can’t qualify for the Big Ten title game.
CSD Pick: Wisconsin 33, Indiana 22
West Virginia (5-3, 4-3 Big 12) @ #9 Iowa State (7-2, 7-1 Big 12)
3:30 PM ET, ESPN
Vegas Line: Iowa State -7
Iowa State can lock up a Big 12 title berth with a win here, and I think they’ll do it. I like West Virginia a lot, the Mountaineers have the best defense in the Big 12 and they catch Iowa State riding high, but the Cyclones are just too talented and at home. RB Breece Hall is one of the best backs in the country, and I expect ISU to head into their Big 12 title showdown vs Oklahoma with their top-ten ranking intact.
CSD Pick: Iowa State 30, West Virginia 24
#19 Iowa (4-2 Big Ten) @ Illinois (2-3 Big Ten)
3:30 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: Iowa -13.5
I picked Illinois last week and they went out and beat Nebraska straight up by 18 on the road, I’m going to ride with the hot hand to easily cover the 13.5 at home. Iowa is a great team, but they aren’t going to put up a ton of points, and I think that Chase Brown and the Illini offense will do enough to keep this one within the number.
CSD Pick: Iowa 26, Illinois 23
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – Illinois +13.5
#24 Tulsa (5-1, 5-0 AAC) @ Navy (3-5, 3-3 AAC)
3:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Vegas Line: Tulsa -10.5
CSD Pick: Tulsa 33, Navy 22
Boston College (6-4, 5-4 ACC) @ Virginia (4-4, 3-4 ACC)
3:30 PM ET, ACC RSN/ESPN3
Vegas Line: Virginia -7
Jeff Hafley’s Boston College Eagles are one of the best stories of college football this season. Phil Jurkovec is great, Virginia’s secondary is terrible, and BC should easily be able to keep this within seven, with a great shot at a straight-up road upset against the red-hot Cavaliers.
CSD Pick: Virginia 28, Boston College 27
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – Boston College +7
Buffalo (4-0 MAC) @ Ohio (2-1 MAC) – CANCELED
3:30 PM ET, CBSSN
Vegas Line: Buffalo -9.5
CSD Pick: Buffalo 40, Ohio 30
Vanderbilt (0-8 SEC) @ #8 Georgia (6-2 SEC) – CANCELED
4 PM ET, SEC Network
Vegas Line: Georgia -33.5
CSD Pick: Georgia 39, Vanderbilt 8
Stanford (1-2, 1-2 Pac-12) @ #22 Washington (3-0, 3-0 Pac-12)
4 PM ET, FOX
Vegas Line: Washington -10.5
CSD Pick: Washington 31, Stanford 20
Georgia Tech (3-5, 3-4 ACC) @ NC State (7-3, 6-3 ACC)
4 PM ET, ACC Network
Vegas Line: NC State -8.5
CSD Pick: NC State 33, Georgia Tech 26
#13 BYU (9-0) @ #18 Coastal Carolina (9-0)
5:30 PM ET, ESPNU
Vegas Line: BYU -10
Only once in the past 50 years have we gotten a non-bowl undefeated vs undefeated matchup in December: #2 Alabama vs #1 Florida in the 2009 SEC Championship, the game that is considered to have started the Alabama dynasty. The Crimson Tide won that game and then defeated Texas to win Nick Saban’s first national title with the Tide.
On two days’ notice, a second game will join that limited club, as BYU will fill in for Liberty in this December “bracket buster” style game between two non-P5 unbeatens. I think BYU will win despite being on the road, Zach Wilson is better than any QB that the Chants have seen this year, but regardless of the result, this is an awesome moment for both programs, with College Gameday on hand for this clash.
CSD Pick: BYU 34, Coastal Carolina 23
Florida Atlantic (5-1) @ Georgia Southern (6-4)
6 PM ET, ESPN+
Vegas Line: Pick’em
CSD Pick: Georgia Southern 27, Florida Atlantic 24
San Jose State (4-0, 4-0 MW) @ Hawai’i (3-3, 3-3 MW)
6 PM ET, Spectrum Sports
Vegas Line: Pick’em
CSD Pick: Hawai‘i 30, San Jose State 28
#23 Oregon (3-1, 3-1 Pac-12) @ California (0-3, 0-3 Pac-12)
7 PM ET, ESPN
Vegas Line: Oregon -11
CSD Pick: Oregon 34, California 22
Colorado (3-0, 2-0 Pac-12) @ Arizona (0-3, 0-3 Pac-12)
7 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: Colorado -3.5
CSD Pick: Colorado 28, Arizona 21
Colorado State (1-2, 1-2 MW) @ San Diego State (3-3, 3-2 MW)
7 PM ET, CBSSN
Vegas Line: San Diego State -9.5
CSD Pick: San Diego State 31, Colorado State 22
#3 Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC) @ Virginia Tech (4-5, 4-4 ACC)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
Vegas Line: Clemson -21.5
Virginia Tech is better than their 4-5 record indicates, but come on, Trevor Lawrence and Clemson will roll here, even on the road. A victory in this one would lock in a Clemson vs Notre Dame ACC Championship Game, and I expect the Tigers to wrap this up by halftime.
CSD Pick: Clemson 45, Virginia Tech 25
South Carolina (2-7 SEC) @ Kentucky (3-6)
7:30 PM ET, SEC Network
Vegas Line: Kentucky -11
CSD Pick: Kentucky 26, South Carolina 19
#1 Alabama (8-0 SEC) @ LSU (3-4 SEC)
8 PM ET, CBS
Vegas Line: Alabama -29.5
I bet against Alabama last week and it didn’t go well, but I’m doing it again. LSU’s defense looked solid against Texas A&M last week, and the Tigers’ offense is getting 29.5 points here, the biggest spread ever given to a defending national champion. I have to take that on principle alone.
CSD Pick: Alabama 44, LSU 25
☆Crazy Sports Dude Best Bet Alert☆ – LSU +29.5
Baylor (2-5, 2-5 Big 12) @ #11 Oklahoma (6-2, 5-2 Big 12)
8 PM ET, FOX
Vegas Line: Oklahoma -22.5
CSD Pick: Oklahoma 39, Baylor 21
#10 Miami (7-1, 6-1 ACC) @ Duke (2-7, 1-7 ACC)
8 PM ET, ACC Network
Vegas Line: Miami -15
CSD Pick: Miami 32, Duke 19
Fresno State (3-1, 3-1 MW) @ Nevada (5-1, 5-1 MW)
10:30 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: Nevada -7.5
CSD Pick: Nevada 33, Fresno State 25
Wyoming (2-2, 2-2 MW) @ New Mexico (0-5, 0-5 MW)
10:30 PM ET, CBSSN
Vegas Line: Wyoming -16
CSD Pick: Wyoming 31, New Mexico 19
Oregon State (2-2, 2-2 Pac-12) @ Utah (0-2, 0-2 Pac-12)
10:30 PM ET, ESPN
Vegas Line: Utah -7.5
CSD Pick: Utah 31, Oregon State 28
UCLA (2-2, 2-2 Pac-12) @ Arizona State (0-1, 0-1 Pac-12)
10:30 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: Arizona State -6
The best game of the Pac-12 after dark window is probably UCLA and Arizona State on FS1. Poor Arizona State hasn’t played since they took USC to the wire on the road in week one, but they impressed me a lot in that game, so with the home edge, I’ll take them to win a close one, assuming all the COVID issues are over for the Sun Devils.
CSD Pick: Arizona State 30, UCLA 29
Sunday, December 6th
Western Kentucky (4-6, 3-3 C-USA) @ Charlotte (2-3, 2-1 C-USA)
12 PM ET, ESPN3
Vegas Line: Charlotte -1
CSD Pick: Charlotte 30, Western Kentucky 22
Washington State (1-1, 1-1 Pac-12) @ #18 USC (3-0, 3-0 Pac-12)
7:30 PM ET, FS1
Vegas Line: USC -13
CSD Pick: USC 38, Washington State 23