Can the Alabama Crimson Tide bounce back from their humbling loss to give their playoff hopes a boost before the end of the regular season? Can the Michigan Wolverines reach a New Year’s Day bowl game despite having two losses? Last but not least, after getting left on the outside looking in when last week’s CFP rankings were announced, can the defending national champion Clemson Tigers give their own playoff hopes a lift in order to challenge for consecutive national championships? With College Football Week 12 quickly approaching, let’s find out if all three aforementioned teams can win and cash in this coming weekend.
2019 College Football Week 12 Odds, Overview & Picks
Alabama (8-1) at Mississippi State (4-5)
- When: Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 12:00 PM ET
- Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi
- TV: ESPN
- College Football Week 12 Odds: Alabama -20.5 / Total: OFF
Alabama suffered a humbling 46-41 home loss against LSU on Saturday and the Tide definitely aren’t the overpowering defensive unit that we’re used to seeing out of a Nick Saban coached team. Mississippi State rolled all over pitiful Arkansas 54- two weeks ago while cashing in with ease as a touchdown road favorite. Despite these two teams’ respective results in their last outings, there is a reason why a whopping 81 percent of public bettors are backing the Tide and it’s because Alabama is the far superior team on both sides of the ball, not to mention the fact that they’re going to be collectively ticked off after their loss this past weekend.
Alabama has gone 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game while Mississippi State has gone 1-4 ATS in their last 5 conference games. Alabama wins and covers the spread with room to spare.
Pick: Alabama 56 Mississippi State 21
Michigan State (4-5) at Michigan (7-2)
- When: Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 12:00 PM ET
- Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- TV: FOX
- College Football Week 12 Odds: Michigan -13 / Total: OFF
Michigan State is reeling right now, having lost four straight games including their shocking 37-34 collapse against Illinois on Saturday. The Spartans were limited to 10 points or less in each of their previous three games while giving up 28 or more in each of their last four and 34 or more in three of those contests. On the flip side of the coin, Michigan is well-rested after getting a bye last weekend. The Wolverines have won two straight and five of their last six games overall while putting 38 points or more on the board in three of their last four.
While these two longtime Big Ten rivals have split the last four meetings evenly, Michigan is the simple pick to get the win and ATS cover as a manageable 13-point road favorite. Michigan State has gone 0-5 ATS in their last 5 conference games and 0-6 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record. Conversely, Michigan has gone a near-perfect 5-1 ATS in their last six games, 4-1 ATS in their last five conference games and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win. I like Michigan to get the win and cover despite their awful 1-10 ATS mark in the last 11 meetings against their in-state rivals.
Pick: Michigan 35 Michigan State 14
Wake Forest (7-2) at Clemson (10-0)
- When: Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 3:30 PM ET
- Where: Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- TV: ABC
- College Football Week 12 Odds: Clemson -32.5 / Total: OFF
Wake Forest was nationally ranked and sitting pretty at 7-1 until the Demon Deacons suffered a humbling 36-17 smackdown road loss against Virginia tech as a 3-point road favorite on Saturday. Clemson has been on fire in each of their last five games while scoring 45 points or more in each contest, including their 55-10 beat-down win over NC State on Saturday. Now, with the defending national champs back in the playoff picture after getting ranked fifth a week ago in the CFP rankings, Clemson is looking to cement their playoff status with an emphatic win in this ACC showdown. The Tigers average almost eight points per game more than the demon Deacons while giving up 14.4 fewer points per game defensively.
More importantly, Clemson has far more talent on their roster and a huge reason to win this game and win it emphatically. While the Tigers have gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win and a bankroll-boosting 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 conference games, Wake Forest has gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. Clemson wins, but wake covers the chalk as nearly five-touchdown road dogs!
Pick: Clemson 42 Wake Forest 20
