NCAAF Week 13 Best Bets

With this extraordinary 2020 college football season coming to a close, every game is vitally important. A handful of teams are still aiming for the four-team playoff. Others are striving to qualify for the best bowl game possible. With wild cards in abundance this Thanksgiving weekend, let’s pinpoint some of the best spread bets.

UMass vs. Liberty (LIB -38)*
11/27 @ 12 noon ET – ESPN3

While I confidently (and incorrectly) picked the Liberty Flames just a week ago, the Virginia-based team is looking at an extremely favorable matchup following its first loss of the year against the 0-3 UMass Minutemen. The winless adversaries don’t score much, so this one comes down to Liberty’s ability to put up enough points to cover the -38. Coming off their worst offensive output of the season, the Flames should be able to return to their high-flying ways and get the job done.

#2 Notre Dame vs. #25 North Carolina (ND -5)
11/27 @ 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC

As the Notre Dame Fighting Irish try to make the College Football Playoff in their first ACC season, they’ll have to knock off the 25thranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the process. Notre Dame is very strong on both sides of the ball every week, and will face a team that’s shown potential, but only in flashes. QB Sam Howell is one of the best in the nation, but struggles to get his team firing on all cylinders.

While these are two very talented teams, expect Notre Dame to keep their title hopes alive this week.

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#3 Ohio State vs. Illinois (OSU -28.5)
11/28 @ 12 noon ET – FS1

Justin Fields covers spreads. It’s just that simple. The Ohio State Buckeyes QB looks to be a Top 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and has gotten there by beating teams into the ground. That trend shouldn’t end this week as the Buckeyes face the pretty average Illinois Fighting Illini. Ohio State is another team that’s dominant on both sides of the ball (every season) so covering 28.5 this week is very doable.

Just like Notre Dame, look for the Bucks to keep their natty hopes alive in Champaign!

#16 Coastal Carolina vs. Texas State (CCU -17)
11/28 @ 3 p.m. ET – ESPN+

Ah, yes. The 2020 spread team of the year is back in my best bets for another week. This one seems pretty easy. The 8-0 CCU Chanticleers are coming off an 11-point victory against the one-loss Appalachian State Mountaineers, so why can’t they win by six more points against the 2-9 Texas State Bobcats side?

Coastal should win by at least three touchdowns. Don’t overthink it, this one is a gift!

#11 Northwestern vs. Michigan State (NW -13.5)
11/28 @ 3:30 p.m. ET – ESPN2

The Northwestern Wildcats (!) currently own the highest strength of record in the nation after knocking off the #10 Wisconsin Badgers just a week ago. The Wildcats have officially sent a message that they’re for real this year, and the Michigan State Spartans have been sending opposite signals.

Whenever you get a matchup between a team so clearly trending up and one so clearly trending down, you take it and don’t ask any questions. Give me the Cats!

There are several mismatches this week all across the college football landscape, so do your due diligence beyond just these five. There’s plenty of money to be handed out this weekend, so don’t miss out. Get some Black Friday reimbursement and maybe you’ll even have some left over to splurge on yourself (or put in more winners). Good luck and happy turkey day!

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*All odds from William Hill Sportsbook

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History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

February 5, 2012 — The Giants rally past the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI. It's a rematch of Super Bowl XLII four years earlier where the Giants upset the Patriots 14-10, ending New England's hopes for a perfect 19-0 season. In 2012, trailing 17-15, New York has the ball on their own 12-yard line with 3:46 remaining. Eli Manning connects with Mario Manningham for a 38-yard completion. The Giants advance to the New England six-yard line where Ahmad Bradshaw scores with 57 seconds left.

On This Day In Sports History

February 3, 2002 — The Patriots win the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history by beating the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17. The New England quarterback is second year pro Tom Brady. The Patriots win on a 48-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri as time expires.​