College football Week 13 odds, picks, and viewing guide

Colorado running back Jarek Broussard. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire)

November 23rd, 2020

Thanksgiving week is here, and that normally means a long week of exciting rivalry games in college football.

While many of the inter-conference historical matchups have been cancelled, we still get extra day of games and some intriguing matchups in Week 13.

Let’s take a look at three of the best games of the week.

Date, time	Matchup	TV station

Fri, Nov. 27, noon	#15 Iowa State at #20 Texas	ABC
Fri, Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m.	#2 Notre Dame at #25 UNC	ABC
Fri, Nov. 27, 7 p.m.	#9 Oregon at Oregon State	ESPN
Sat, Nov. 28, noon	#3 Ohio State at Illinois	FS1
Sat, Nov. 28, noon	Kentucky at #6 Florida	ESPN
Sat, Nov. 28, noon	Maryland at #12 Indiana	ESPN 2
Sat, Nov. 28, noon	Texas at #21 Oklahoma State	FOX
Sat, Nov. 28, noon	#24 Tulsa at Houston	ESPNU
Sat, Nov. 28, 2 p.m.	Minnesota at #18 Wisconsin	BTN
Sat, Nov. 28, 3 p.m.	#16 Coastal Carolina at Texas State	ESPN+
Sat, Nov. 28, 3 p.m.	#23 Louisiana at UL Monroe	ESPN 3
Sat, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.	#22 Auburn at #1 Alabama	CBS
Sat, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh at #4 Clemson	ESPN
Sat, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.	#11 Northwestern at Michigan State	ESPN 2
Sat, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.	Colorado at #19 USC	ABC
Sat, Nov. 28, 4 p.m.	#7 Cincinnati at Temple	ESPNU
Sat, Nov. 28, 7 p.m.	LSU at #5 Texas A&M	ESPN
Sat, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.	#13 Georgia at South Carolina	SEC Network
Sat, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.	#14 Oklahoma at West Virginia	ABC

Colorado vs. #19 USC

Colorado is 2-0 overall and 2-0 against the spread, and will head to Southern California to face the 3-0 Trojans (1-2 ATS). With both teams undefeated and a shortened Pac-12 schedule, this game could decide the winner of the Pac-12 South.

In last week’s game against Utah, USC benefited from five turnovers against a team that was playing its first game of the season and breaking in a new quarterback.

USC head coach Clay Helton felt like the Trojans took a step forward defensively but have yet to reach their full potential on offense.

Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis has completed passes at a 70.7% rate, but many have been short, and he only has five touchdowns passes this season. He has also not shown any willingness to be a runner.

Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell has a history against the Trojans, as he was UCLA head coach from 2003-2007. While he struggled against the Trojans during his tenure, he kept them out of the National Championship Game in 2006.

Dorrell will certainly try to control the game with his rushing attack, as the Buffaloes average 220.5 yards per game on the ground. Running back Jarek Broussard has averaged 5.3 yards per rush and will be called on to keep the ball out of the USC offense’s hands.

Colorado RB Jarek Broussard wearing down the Stanford defense -- perhaps the most impressive 9-yard run of the day pic.twitter.com/o0G6DQFuQU
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) November 14, 2020

After two shaky wins against the Arizona schools and a comfortable win against a Utah team in flux, USC hasn't separated itself from their competition. I like the Buffaloes to cover.

Pick: Colorado +13.5

#15 Iowa State vs. #20 Texas

Iowa State is 6-2 overall, 4-4 ATS, and is first in the Big 12 standings. The Longhorns are 5-2 overall and 2-4-1 ATS.

While Iowa State enters off a 45-0 victory over COVID-depleted Kansas State, Texas has had extra time to prepare, after last week’s game against Kansas was postponed. The Longhorns would have liked to play the Jayhawks and will now need to knock off Iowa State if they want a to win the Big 12 title.

The key to this game will be the offensive lines and quarterback play. Both Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and Texas’ Sam Ehlinger are dangerous weapons when they get out of the pocket, and while both would prefer to keep their jerseys clean, the game could be decided by plays made when things break down.

Plenty of room to fit this throw but keeping the eyes downfield, feeling the rush, rolling and then relocating the over route is pretty slick. pic.twitter.com/Hji3z4XzS3
— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) August 21, 2020

Iowa State is 10-3 ATS as a road underdog in Big 12 play under head coach Matt Campbell. Campbell is an up-and-coming coach, and this feels like the year the Cyclones will break through.

Pick: Iowa State +2

Kent State vs. Buffalo

The MAC East race will be settled Saturday, as both teams are 3-0 overall and 2-1 ATS.

With a 28-14 record ATS since 2017, and an even more impressive 16-3 ATS record at home during that time, the Bulls have earned oddsmakers' respect.

The Bulls have averaged an impressive 7.6 yards per play this season (ranked fourth in the country). Kent State is narrowly behind, at 7.4 yards per play (seventh).

While Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson has racked up yards and touchdowns on the ground, there are numerous seniors on offense, on offensive line and at wide receiver, who are making things easier for the junior running back.

JARET PATTERSON WOULD NOT BE STOPPED pic.twitter.com/tQI2z4Axdx
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 18, 2020

Buffalo’s ATS record at home is hard to ignore, and the Bulls have been slightly more effective on both sides of the ball this year. I’ll side with the home team.