College Football Picks for Week 11
Oregon Ducks vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, November 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET
On its path to the playoffs, Oregon certainly looked invincible as it started the season facing teams that were far from being on its level. Gradually, the Ducks proved to have weaknesses. When they lost by ten against Indiana, the Hoosiers exposed the vulnerability of Oregon’s linebacking corps. Even an injury-ridden and generally anemic Wisconsin offense had unusual success against Oregon’s defense despite not having a quarterback who could easily throw for 100 yards in a given game. To cover the spread against Oregon, both the Hoosiers and Badgers could lean on their running backs and tight ends to exploit Oregon linebackers who struggled to make tackles and cover potential pass-catchers.
With three running backs who average over five YPC and two running backs and tight ends who are effective pass-catchers, Iowa has the necessary ingredients to succeed on offense. With the nation’s fourth-ranked pass defense and twelfth-ranked run defense, Iowa’s offense won’t need to do much. This is a very capable peaking Iowa team that, unlike Oregon, stayed within five of Indiana and blew out the Badgers. Therefore, bet on Iowa +6.5 at -112 with BetOnline.
Florida State Seminoles vs. Clemson Tigers
Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. ET
After looking at Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik’s last game, it is easy to think that he and his team’s offense have achieved a breakthrough. But that was Klubnik’s second 300-yard performance of the season. He’s had a big game before, but he fails to achieve consistent success. With this week in mind, it means nothing that he dominated the 129th-ranked pass defense. Florida State’s pass defense ranks 75 spots higher than Duke’s, so Klubnik’s success against the latter does not indicate that he’ll succeed against the former.
A Clemson team that, at home, has only scored more than 24 points at home against Troy won’t be productive enough on offense to keep pace with Florida State’s 16th-ranked scoring offense. In all three of their ACC home games, the Tigers have allowed 34 or more points. Those three games were against Syracuse, SMU, and Duke. Expect a big game from Tommy Castellanos, Florida State’s high-powered dual-threat quarterback who can replicate the success that opposing quarterbacks have been enjoying against the Tigers. Therefore, bet on Florida State ML at -105 with BetOnline.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. ET
Don’t let Virginia’s last-minute pick-six last week make you forget Virginia’s proclivity for close games. Before beating Cal by ten last week, the Cavaliers had played four consecutive games in which they were ahead by two points or fewer at the end of regulation. Three of those four games went into overtime. The only ACC team, besides Cal thanks to the last-minute pick-six, that Virginia beat by more than two points in regulation is Stanford, whose awful defense allows more than 30 points per game. Wake Forest’s defense is unequivocally better than Stanford’s, ranking over 50 spots higher at limiting opposing points.
When the Demon Deacons’ defense allows a lot of points, it’s the rushing ability of their opponent’s quarterback or running back that they struggle with. Teams with prolific rush attacks like Georgia Tech and Florida State match up well against them. But Virginia’s rush attack is nothing special. Its starting running back averages 4.6 YPC. Before being blown out by Florida State and holding pass-heavy SMU to twelve points, Wake Forest held an Oregon State team whose starting running back is comparable to Virginia’s to 14 points. Given its defensive ability, Wake will score enough against a UVA defense that has allowed at least 20 points to all of its ACC opponents besides the one with the 127th-ranked scoring offense. In sum, bet on Wake Forest +6.5 at -102 with BetOnline.
Oregon Ducks vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, November 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET
On its path to the playoffs, Oregon certainly looked invincible as it started the season facing teams that were far from being on its level. Gradually, the Ducks proved to have weaknesses. When they lost by ten against Indiana, the Hoosiers exposed the vulnerability of Oregon’s linebacking corps. Even an injury-ridden and generally anemic Wisconsin offense had unusual success against Oregon’s defense despite not having a quarterback who could easily throw for 100 yards in a given game. To cover the spread against Oregon, both the Hoosiers and Badgers could lean on their running backs and tight ends to exploit Oregon linebackers who struggled to make tackles and cover potential pass-catchers.
With three running backs who average over five YPC and two running backs and tight ends who are effective pass-catchers, Iowa has the necessary ingredients to succeed on offense. With the nation’s fourth-ranked pass defense and twelfth-ranked run defense, Iowa’s offense won’t need to do much. This is a very capable peaking Iowa team that, unlike Oregon, stayed within five of Indiana and blew out the Badgers. Therefore, bet on Iowa +6.5 at -112 with BetOnline.
Florida State Seminoles vs. Clemson Tigers
Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. ET
After looking at Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik’s last game, it is easy to think that he and his team’s offense have achieved a breakthrough. But that was Klubnik’s second 300-yard performance of the season. He’s had a big game before, but he fails to achieve consistent success. With this week in mind, it means nothing that he dominated the 129th-ranked pass defense. Florida State’s pass defense ranks 75 spots higher than Duke’s, so Klubnik’s success against the latter does not indicate that he’ll succeed against the former.
A Clemson team that, at home, has only scored more than 24 points at home against Troy won’t be productive enough on offense to keep pace with Florida State’s 16th-ranked scoring offense. In all three of their ACC home games, the Tigers have allowed 34 or more points. Those three games were against Syracuse, SMU, and Duke. Expect a big game from Tommy Castellanos, Florida State’s high-powered dual-threat quarterback who can replicate the success that opposing quarterbacks have been enjoying against the Tigers. Therefore, bet on Florida State ML at -105 with BetOnline.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. ET
Don’t let Virginia’s last-minute pick-six last week make you forget Virginia’s proclivity for close games. Before beating Cal by ten last week, the Cavaliers had played four consecutive games in which they were ahead by two points or fewer at the end of regulation. Three of those four games went into overtime. The only ACC team, besides Cal thanks to the last-minute pick-six, that Virginia beat by more than two points in regulation is Stanford, whose awful defense allows more than 30 points per game. Wake Forest’s defense is unequivocally better than Stanford’s, ranking over 50 spots higher at limiting opposing points.
When the Demon Deacons’ defense allows a lot of points, it’s the rushing ability of their opponent’s quarterback or running back that they struggle with. Teams with prolific rush attacks like Georgia Tech and Florida State match up well against them. But Virginia’s rush attack is nothing special. Its starting running back averages 4.6 YPC. Before being blown out by Florida State and holding pass-heavy SMU to twelve points, Wake Forest held an Oregon State team whose starting running back is comparable to Virginia’s to 14 points. Given its defensive ability, Wake will score enough against a UVA defense that has allowed at least 20 points to all of its ACC opponents besides the one with the 127th-ranked scoring offense. In sum, bet on Wake Forest +6.5 at -102 with BetOnline.
