College football’s regular season hits its glorious three-day conclusion this holiday weekend, with a couple of games Thursday, a full slate Friday (including a couple of really important games) and then rivalry Saturday. We’ll set the stage for you with this week’s NCAA Power Rankings.
NCAA Power Rankings
- Alabama (11-0, 7-4 ATS, last week: 1)
The Tide finally found a team that could play with it, at least for a half: The Citadel?!! Alabama found itself tied 10-10 and never even came close to covering the massive 53.5-point spread. Might have been interesting to be a fly on the wall of Nick Saban’s locker room at halftime.
- Clemson (11-0, 6-5 ATS, last week: 2)
The consensus closing line was Tigers -29.5 against Duke, which is an unfortunate number if you took Clemson there before their 35-6 victory. Still, the margin shows how powerful the Tigers are considering they started slow against a quality opponent.
Related: College Football Betting Guide | College Football Teasers
- Notre Dame (11-0, 6-3-2 ATS, last week: 3)
No problems in Yankee Stadium for the Irish, who are looking more and more the part of a national-title contender after pummeling Syracuse 36-3 on Saturday. The Irish have been underwhelming in a few games but have still been very profitable to bet on.
- Michigan (10-1, 6-5 ATS, last week: 4)
A bunch of field goals (six of them!) meant the Wolverines (-28.5) couldn’t add another cover to their collection this week, instead settling for a 31-20 victory over Indiana. The big game, of course, is this week at Ohio State.
- Georgia (10-1, 6-5 ATS, last week: 5)
It’s not common to see a team score 66 points and not cover, but that’s exactly what the Bulldogs managed in a 66-27 victory over hapless Massachusetts, which somehow still managed to cover the 41-point spread.
- Central Florida (10-0, 7-3 ATS, last week: 7)
Look, the Knights are probably not the sixth-best team in the country, but that fact certainly hasn’t been proven wrong yet. And as far as gambling, they’ve been one of the most profitable teams in the country. That was the case again in a 38-13 triumph over Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite.
- Washington State (10-1, 10-1 ATS, last week: 11)
Speaking of profitable teams to gamble on, the Cougars got perhaps the easiest cover in the country as 10.5-point favorites against Arizona … as they scored 55 points in the first half en route to a 69-28 victory. The Apple Cup on Friday will be an absolute doozy.
- Oklahoma (10-1, 4-7 ATS, last week: 8)
The Sooners gave up more than 400 yards rushing to lowly Kansas (Les Miles isn’t on that sideline yet) and didn’t exactly look the part of a national championship contender, but Oklahoma is still in the running and has the offense to pose a threat to anyone.
- Ohio State (10-1, 4-7 ATS, last week: 9)
Another team with a bunch of offense and not enough defense, the Buckeyes somehow managed another escape, beating Maryland in overtime as a 13.5-point favorite. Now they’ll be a home underdog (+4) for the first time in the Urban Meyer era as they take on Michigan.
- West Virginia (8-2, 6-3-1 ATS, last week: 6)
What looked like an easy victory and cover turned into a nightmare for the Mountaineers and their backers, who saw Oklahoma State come back for a victory that likely knocks WVU out of the national-title picture. They do have another huge game Friday against Oklahoma (pick ’em).
- LSU (9-2, 5-6 ATS, last week: 10)
It was surprising to see such a big spread for LSU even against one of the worst FBS teams in the country in Rice. The Tigers simply don’t score enough to cover 42 points very often, and that was the case in a 42-10 victory. This week, LSU is in a position where it thrives more often: As an underdog of two points at Texas A&M.
- Texas (8-3, 5-5-1 ATS, last week: 16)
The Longhorns have turned around their midseason swoon with a couple of important victories against Texas Tech and Iowa State. A win against Kansas puts Texas (-15) in the Big 12 championship game against either Oklahoma or West Virginia.
- Florida (8-3, 7-4 ATS, last week: 14)
One team that did manage to cover a massive spread was the Gators (-41.5), who took out Idaho 63-10. Up next is a very interesting Sunshine State showdown with Florida State (+5), which needs a win to keep its 37-year streak of playing in a bowl game alive.
- Penn State (8-3, 6-5 ATS, last week: 13)
An uninspiring 20-7 victory over Rutgers gave the Nittany Lions a loss against the spread but kept them on track for a 9-3 season. Penn State will finish up the regular season as 13.5-point home favorites against Maryland in a battle of defense vs. offense.
- Utah State (10-1, 9-2 ATS, last week: 12)
The Aggies were lucky to escape Colorado State with a victory last week, as the Rams’ apparent game-winning Hail Mary touchdown was waived off because the receiver stepped out of bounds before he caught the ball. Perhaps Utah State, which suffered just its second ATS loss of the year, was looking ahead to its trip to Boise State, which is a three-point favorite.
- Fresno State (9-2, 8-3 ATS, last week: 17)
While Utah State and Boise State battle for one division title in the Mountain West Conference, Fresno State will play San Jose State as a huge 31-point favorite, knowing it has won the other division and will play on the road in next week’s title game.
- Texas A&M (7-4, 8-3 ATS, last week: 19)
UAB came to College Station, Texas, as a trendy underdog pick (+14.5) and a surprise Top 25 team. Texas A&M put an end to that quickly, getting a scoop and score on the opening kickoff and cruising to a 41-20 win. The Aggies are two-point favorites against LSU in a game that could make their season.
- Syracuse (8-3, 7-3-1 ATS, last week: 15)
A disappointment for the Orange in the Bronx. The game against Notre Dame was never competitive and keet this from being a truly special season in Syracuse. The Orange is a seven-point underdog at Boston College to close the regular season.
- Kentucky (8-3, 4-7 ATS, last week: 20)
The Wildcats got back in the win column but were uninspiring again in a 34-23 victory against Middle Tennessee (+16.5). Kentucky is favored by the same amount in its season-ending rivalry game with lowly Louisville, with a nine-win season in its sights.
- Mississippi State (7-4, 7-4 ATS, last week: NR)
Welcome back to the rankings to the Bulldogs, who hammered Arkansas and play the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night against rival Ole Miss (+10). Washington, Oklahoma State and Missouri also had a strong claim to this spot.
Also considered (alphabetical order): Appalachian State, Auburn, Boise State, Buffalo, California, Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, Missouri, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Troy, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
