College Football Week 13 Picks, DFS Plays & Podcast: FSU-UF, Michigan-Ohio State, other rivals collide

Rivalry weekend is one of if not the best tradition in the college football.

For the large part, it’s in-state schools in a battle built completely on dislike, disdain or just pure uncut hatred. And every year brings a brand new twist to the rivalry.

For some like Florida, it’s a chance to ruin your rival’s dream season. For teams like Ohio State and Michigan, it’s the only chance either team has to play a team that is worth anything so it’s for all the who knows how good either team is marbles.

This year though, we’ve got an added twist to it all and not one we see very often.

Oregon State-Oregon and Washington State-Washington are two rivalry games potentially for eternal bragging rights. In both of those games, Washington and Oregon have left their in-state counterpart, their most bitter rival on an island alone to rot.

This summer, the Huskies and Ducks followed the Los Angeles schools to the Big Ten while the rest of the conference dipped to the Big 12. Left alone? The pair noww affectionately known as 2-Pac — Washington State and Oregon State.

Think that has some bad blood for this week?

And let’s not forget that, as I write this, these four schools have said they discussed continuing their respective rivalries but nothing definitive has been announced yet. So this could be one final opportunity to hold bragging rights for today, tomorrow and every tomorrow after that.

Do you have enough hate your heart to weather that storm?

I have an immeasurable amount of hate in my heart thanks to my recent performances. Last week, I mentioned my pattern of 3-7, 7-3 and 3-7 so I was due for 7-3, but I went 3-7 instead. Naturally. My record takes another hit as I slide back to 59-68 on the season. 10-0 gets me back to .500 (no shot).

I might not have gone 7-3 last week as predicted but damn near everyone of y’all did. We had seven (7!!!!!!!) winners last week. That list included repeat winner GolferNole456, a first-time commenter in Noleyman, now three-time winner Kylefsu02, now two-time winners JGsped, medav and mr_britt and first time winner olbrannon. Congratulations to all of you! Welcome and welcome back to the Comment Section Hall of Fame to you as well! Let’s keep this hot streak going this week.

• Week Zero: MexiNole and Topnole (5-2)
• Week One: Yapo.SD and Topnole (7-3)
• Week Two: Kylefsu02 (7-3)
• Week Three: Kylefsu02 and Ukedadnole (7-3)
• Week Four: trojan24man and Brian (7-3)
• Week Five: NoleInAggieland (7-3)
• Week Six: medav (8-2)
• Week Seven: csfuu (9-1)
• Week Eight: 85 Chief and JGsped (7-3)
• Week Nine: mr_britt (8-2)
• Week Ten: MexiNole and Brian (7-3)
• Week Eleven: GolferNole456 (7-3)
• Week Twelve: Kylefsu02, Noleyman, JGsped, medav, olbrannon, GolferNole456 and mr_britt (7-3)

Could you be the next of the season? Leave your picks to the 10 games below in the comment section at the bottom of the page. You have to pick the 10 games I provided to be eligible for the Hall as those are the only ones I grab. Most correct is our winner.

On the DFS side, my co-host on the Sharpen the Point podcast — Chris Tyndall — went 5 of 6 on his recommendations with Carson Steele of UCLA being the lone miss, but he was pretty clear that he was concerned about who would get the UCLA work. The role did smash, just not Steele.

Want to get that level of detail on those picks? Listen to the Sharpen the Point podcast, where we talk in-depth on the game picks ahead as well as the Daily Fantasy Sports contests on DraftKings each weekend. New to DFS? We can help you through the thought process of building a team this week on the show.

Reminder that we are just two guys with keyboards and microphones, not gambling professionals, so follow at your own risk and play responsibly.

Let’s get to the ATS and DFS picks. All lines and DFS pricing from our friends at DraftKings.

Brian’s College Football Week 13 Picks

FRIDAY: No. 16 Oregon State Beavers (+13.5) at No. 6 Oregon Ducks (8:30pm ET, FOX)

Brian’s Pick: Oregon State +13.5

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (+3.5) at No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (Noon ET, FOX)

I gave you a hint of where this would be going at the top of the article, but I’ve had enough of watching these two teams this year. They both play boring football. They both cannot move the ball. They’re going to trade 20 punts in this one and then somebody will win 16-15 and we’ll act like that team is the new team to beat in college football. I’m tired of them of them both.

Brian’s Pick: Ohio State +3.5

Kentucky Wildcats (+7.5) at No. 10 Louisville Cardinals (Noon ET, ABC)

Louisville was on upset alert last week at Miami. Tyler Van Dyke and the Hurricanes were moving the ball quite easily on a Louisville defense that I have been touting on the Seminole Wrap podcast the last few weeks. Logic says this could be a lookahead spot for the Cardinals as they eye the ACC title game, but Kentucky QB Devin Leary has been dreadful. Maybe running it a ton will be enough to overcome it, but I doubt it against this run defense.

Brian’s Pick: Louisville -7.5

Texas A&M Aggies (+11.5) at No. 14 LSU Tigers (Noon ET, ESPN)

I mentioned the Heisman trophy earlier in relation to a QB that frankly is the third best option for the award (if that). The top option plays for LSU. I’m sure many of you have only seen Jayden Daniels in LSU’s loss to Florida State and say he was pretty pedestrian that night in an FSU blowout. In that game, he threw for 356 yards and rushed for another 64 yards. On the season, he’s averaging 80 yards more per game (417.4) than the next closest player (Drake Maye’s 336.1). There’s an argument that Daniels is leading a three-loss team. Those three losses? No. 5 Florida State, No. 8 Alabama and No. 12 Ole Miss. He also has a win over No. 9 Missouri. In those four games, he’s averaging 423.5 yards of total offense to go with 13 TDs and 2 turnovers while his defense allows 45.25 points per game. He’s the best player in the sport. Make sure you watch this all-time statistical season before it’s over.

Brian’s Pick: LSU -11.5

No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (-14.5) at Auburn Tigers (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Few pains in life tougher than taking a loss in a buy game, but Auburn just did it. Handed out nearly $2 million to New Mexico State to also take a loss. That’s rough. I expected that game to widen out this number a bit and was actually looking forward to taking Alabama. This number stayed fairly in line with where I thought it would be before last week’s Auburn loss so, despite my concerns about Jalen Milroe’s consistency throwing the ball on the road, I’m going with the Tide.

Brian’s Pick: Alabama -14.5

BYU Cougars (+17.5) at No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

I’ve mentioned it a few times in recent weeks that somebody has to face Texas in the Big 12 title game and we still have no clue who it will be. Texas does still have to win against Texas Tech on Friday to punch their ticket, but they currently sit in the driver’s seat. If they do that, the next game is Oklahoma’s against TCU also on Friday. The Sooners are currently in a three-way tie with Oklahoma State and Kansas State for that second spot. Assuming Texas and OU win by this point, this game becomes a win and in scenario for Oklahoma State. BYU doesn’t have the size to contend with a healthy Ollie Gordon but he’s been picking up minor injuries here and there lately and that’s had the Cowboys looking a little average again. Could be upset potential here, but I’m still going Oklahoma State.

Brian’s Pick: Oklahoma State -17.5

Washington State Cougars (+16.5) at No. 4 Washington Huskies (4:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

I said it above about Oregon State so I won’t repeat it now. Washington State wants this Apple Cup. They won’t go down without a fight.

Brian’s Pick: Washington State +16.5

No. 5 Florida State Seminoles (-6.5) at Florida Gators (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Brian’s Pick: Florida State -6.5

No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (-24.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Georgia is a buzzsaw right now. They’re swarming everybody with that defense. Carson Beck has the offense clicking. This will be a home game for the red and black. Dawgs by a lot.

Brian’s Pick: Georgia -24.5

Iowa State Cyclones (+10.5) at No. 19 Kansas State Wildcats (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

If Oklahoma State and Oklahoma don’t win, Kansas State is next in line. There are also like nine more scenarios to get them there that involve a Texas loss, but I don’t enough space on an infinite webpage to bore you with it. I’m just giving you a game that may have stakes. I’ll honestly be watching WWE Survivor Series by this time Saturday so I wouldn’t blame you if you make a plate of leftovers and a bottle to slip into a little early Thanksgiving-fueled slumber.

Brian’s Pick: Kansas State -10.5

• Jayden Daniels, LSU ($11,000) — What else is there to say about Daniels at this point. Brian Kelly is clearly trying to pump up his numbers in a lost season to get Daniels the Heisman which makes sense for recruiting purposes. Having scored over sixty five fantasy points in back to back games I just do not see how you can fade Daniels in a QB spot at this point regardless of the matchup. He comes in as the second best point per dollar play at the position this week even with the highest salary. The top point per dollar play resides on the other side of this game with Jaylen Henderson of Texas A&M at $6400. He is in play as well against this porous LSU defense in a game where A&M will be chasing points. Former LSU QB Max Johnson is questionable, but I do not expect him to play though it is worth monitoring.
• John Rhys Plumlee, UCF ($8,200) — Plumlee faces off with Houston defense that is one of the worst on the slate this week. The worst is a special place reserved for Colorado each week. Over the course of the past month, Plumlee has shown to be healthy again as he has begun to utilize his legs more like the player we have seen in the past with over 45 yards rushing in each of his last four games. This game presents an opportunity for us to see a ceiling game from him and I expect to see UCF lighting up the scoreboard. Running back RJ Harvey would be in my lineups where I fade Plumlee as UCF presents a balanced offensive attack while Houston struggles equally against both.

• Jaylen Wright, Tennessee ($5,200) — On the ground, Vanderbilt far outpaces every other team on the slate as the worst run defense allowing a robust 5.08 yards per carry. What better way to attack it than play an explosive running back who is averaging over 7 yards per carry on the season and just ripped off a 75 yard run against Georgia last week. Wright is far from a workhorse running back having averaged right at 10 carries per game over his last five but he makes the most of the carries he receives. He has six games this season with more than 100 yards rushing and odds are he makes it seven this week.
• LJ Johnson, SMU ($4,800) — Johnson started off the season with a bang in week 1 then fell off a cliff for the better part of the season before emerging to take hold of the lead back role with over twenty carries each of the past two weeks. The matchup on paper does not scream to make this play as the Midshipmen have been good against the run this season but the game environment as a large favorite at home, role in the offense, and price are too difficult to ignore. We need value to fit in Daniels and these are two of the best point per dollar options on the board Saturday.

• Tet McMillan, Arizona ($7,000) — In all honesty, I just wanted a reason to talk up my guy for maybe the final time this year as this spot should have gone to more value such as Devaughn Vele ($5,000) of Utah who gets the fantasy carnival of Colorado but my concern is they can just run it up the gut and get a win. ( The Utah QB Barnes could miss due to an injury and the backup Nate Johnson has potentially left the team so unless we get word Barnes is in, it would be tough to trust the pass game with a walk on fifth string QB.) Back to the Tet love fest, Arizona scores two thirds of its touchdowns through the air which mirrors what the Sun Devil defense gives up proving he will get his chances to shine in this matchup. He also is coming in hot with a touchdown in each of his last four games and over 100 yards in the last two. The slight bump in targets coincides with fellow wideout Jacob Cowing being banged up albeit playing which has left Tet to shoulder more of the load.
• Cade Stover, Ohio State ($4,500) — Let’s get weird here. I mentioned we need value and we all love to pick a guy from a game we will be watching. Well, you simply are not a college football fan if you are not going to be tuned into this Ohio St Michigan game. This game looks like a defensive struggle on paper but we have seen it go over 60 total points for much of recent memory. Nonetheless, Michigan should be looking to stop the run game to put pressure on McCord to beat them while bracketing Maserati Marv (over/under 9.5 times we hear that this weekend), leaving Stover as the best healthy weapon to beat them since Emeka Egbuka has yet to show a pulse this season. Stover has shown sneaky upside all year with touchdowns in his last two games since returning from injury and posting 70 yards or a touchdown in seven of eight games this year.