College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for top 25 NCAA games in Week 14
The impact of the expanded College Football Playoff has been felt during the 2024 season, but with a week until the conference championship games, many leagues still have the two teams locked in a title game. The CFP race takes up a lot of oxygen in the national debate, but the conference title games will play a big role in shaping this 12-team bracket. As such, there is still much to discover and not much time left to do so.
Rivalry week is always a bit of a quagmire when it comes to college football betting, and the shifting stakes at the conference and national level have changed the way these games are viewed. Still, it’s hard to imagine the college football season ending without games like Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn and – once again – Texas-Texas A&M.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage from kickoff. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games of week 14 with the picks cited among the best sports betting apps available.
All times Eastern
Michigan ranked second over Ohio State
Noon | Fox, fubo (Try for free) — It’s hard to think about the history of this rivalry and believe there will be an explosion, but I can’t shake the feeling. Michigan just hasn’t been good enough offensively this season to give me reason to believe they can keep this one close. Plus, given the Buckeyes’ bad blood over the past three years, you have to think they’ll show little mercy late in games. Take the Buckeyes to cover the betting line. Pick: Ohio State -21 (odds via DraftKings) –Tom Fornelli
No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson
Noon | ESPN, fubo (Try for free) — Another rivalry within the state of Texas takes up much of the attention in Week 14, but the Palmetto Bowl should not be ignored. This has ramifications in the College Football Playoff – the loser is in all likelihood out of the race – but it is one of the fiercest rivalries in college football. So here we go with a principled game. Take the points with the house dog and maybe stick around for a real upset. Pick: South Carolina +2.5 (odds via DraftKings)
No. 5 Notre Dame at USC
3:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com, CBS Sports app — Notre Dame’s running game is the key to victory. The Fighting Irish have been on a tear since losing to NIU earlier this season, and the program is on the verge of its third CFP appearance. Despite Jayden Maiava’s shift at quarterback, the inability to win close games down the stretch has been a problem under coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans are one of six FBS teams to lead in the fourth quarter of every game this season. Notre Dame leaves no doubt about its status as a CFP team this weekend and covers. Pick: Notre Dame -7.5 (odds via Caesars) – Cameron Salerno
Auburn at No. 13 Alabama
3:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try for free) — The Iron Bowl has a tendency to get weird, although that’s mostly when the game takes place inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn hasn’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2010, a wild 28-27 victory known as “Camback,” and even with Alabama licking its wounds after a loss at Oklahoma, this isn’t the year which changes. Auburn’s Hugh Freeze will come up with a great game plan to frustrate Alabama, but the Crimson Tide still has too much talent advantage to lose their home finale. Alabama will win outright, but look for Auburn to cover. Pick: Auburn +11.5 (odds via Fanatics) -John Talty
No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M
7:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try for free) — Texas is the better team, they will contend for a national title and will have more players selected in the NFL draft. The Aggies are still looking for an identity under first-year coach Mike Elko and need quarterback Marcel Reed to develop quickly. And yet, we really don’t know what will happen in the resumption of this historic rivalry game. Texas got the last one at the buzzer, and it could easily go in a similar direction this time. Either way, the line is just too long for what should be one of the most hyped games in the history of both programs. Pick: Texas A&M +5.5 (odds via DraftKings) -Shehan Jeyarajah
SportsLine’s proven computer model calls for several outright upsets in Week 14 of college football. Visit SportsLine now to see them all and get picks for every game from the model that simulates every game 10,000 times.