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NCAA Football Predictions: Week 12 Opening Line Report and Picks

by Joey House - 11/14/2023

NCAA football predictions Week 12 opening line report Jim Harbaugh Michigan Wolverines

Welcome to the Doc's Sports NCAA Opening Line Report, where we give you an early look at the upcoming week's essential games. I will also analyze the opening line of select games that caught my attention and briefly explain my initial lean.

How in the hell are there only two weeks left in the regular season of college football? It seems like just yesterday I was previewing the conferences and talking about season win totals, and now we're getting ready for conference championship games and the bowl season. Of course, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We started the season with Michigan's head coach, Jim Harbaugh, suspended, and we're finishing the season similarly. Unless an upset of epic proportion occurs, Georgia will be heading for a chance for a historic "three-peat" performance in the College Football Playoff. Ohio State's Archie Griffin's Heisman legacy remains intact after USC's quarterback Caleb Williams stopped putting up video game stats.

Remember how everybody was on the "Prime Time" train after Colorado's fantastic 3-0 start? Now they sit at 4-6, needing to win both remaining games to be bowl-eligible. Former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher was fired but will still collect over $75 million from the Aggies in a strategically constructed buyout clause. Have you ever heard of an 8-2 team with a Top 15 offense averaging 37.7 ppg firing their offensive coordinator? You have now, as Penn State fired their OC Mike Yurcich after his offenses, which went 26-4 and scored an average of 34.6 points per game, went a collective 0-6 in three seasons against Michigan and Ohio State.

Due to a family emergency, I could not write the OLR last week. The picks from the previous edition, however, were a perfect 5-0, and we'll look to keep that momentum going in the last couple of weeks and into the bowl season. Without further ado...

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

Western Michigan vs. Northern Illinois (-5/55.5) Tues. Nov. 14th, 7 pm

I think the MAC and another mid-major conference should play their games in the middle of the week all year long. These two middling programs won't set the world on fire, and that's exactly what we're hoping for. The last five home games for Northern Illinois have all gone under. The previous 10 meetings between these two MAC stalwarts have an average score of 53.1 points. PICK: UNDER 55.5

Buffalo vs. Miami, Ohio (-8.5/40.5) Wed. Nov. 15th, 7 pm

We stay in the MAC as the Bulls travel to take on the Redhawks. Miami, OH, has a solid defense, only allowing 17.1 ppg and 297.7 yards surrendered. The defense has been even better in the past three games, giving up an average of 12.3 ppg, 14th in the nation. They are a perfect 6-0 ATS when favored by a touchdown or more this season, as well as 8-1 ATS in their last nine games. PICK: Miami, OH -8.5

Boston College vs. Pittsburgh (-2.5/46.5) Thur. Nov. 16th, 7 pm

This game is a real head-scratcher, as the Panthers would have a tough time beating air in a 7-on-7 drill. Pitt is 1-5 SU in their last six games in the conference and 2-7 ATS in their nine games against FBS opponents this season. Scoring eight points less than you're allowing a game will do that. Boston College isn't much better, tallying 26.4 ppg versus giving up 28.5 ppg, but they are 5-1 SU in their last six games. PICK: Boston College +2.5

Colorado vs. Washington St. (-4.5/63.5) Fri. Nov. 17th, 10:30 pm

It only makes sense to handicap a team I discussed in the lead-up. After scoring 36 or more points in their first three games (all wins), the Buffaloes have only reached that mark twice in their last seven contests. Maybe the Pac-12 does play a little defense? In their three conference games, Colorado is averaging 16.3 ppg. The Cougars defense, while not spectacular, has only given up 40+ points twice this season. The under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two schools. PICK: UNDER 63.5

Michigan vs Maryland (+21.5/50.5) Sat. Nov. 18th, Noon

With this latest suspension, Jim Harbaugh was kind enough to bless us with a few more money-making opportunities. In the season's first three games, the NCAA made Harbaugh sit out, and the Wolverines went under every time. Last week was the first game of Harbaugh's most recent suspension, and right on cue, Michigan went under a 45.5-point total. With their big game against Ohio State next week, expect the Wolverines to keep things close to their vest. PICK: UNDER 50.5

Oklahoma vs BYU (-24/56.5) Sat. Nov. 18th, Noon

This trip is one of the reasons why Oklahoma is glad to be leaving the Big 12. Instead of playing in a possible snowy environment in Provo, Utah, the Sooners will move to warmer locales such as Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Wherever they go, they better hope their offense starts to travel with them. In three Big 12 conference games this season, they are averaging 26 ppg, making covering a 24-point spread difficult. The Sooners are also 2-4 ATS in their last six road games. PICK: BYU +24

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