
Texas A&M at Georgia, 2:30 p.m. CT
I think A&M gives Georgia a test today in Athens. Winners of four straight, this is a confident Aggies team that gave Clemson a challenge back in September and hung with Alabama closer than the 47-28 final would indicate. A&M discovered its running game over the last month and Mike Elko is a solid defensive coordinator, one capable of devising a game plan to limit Georgia tailback DeAndre Swift. Much like last week at Auburn, I believe Kirby Smart will try to get a lead and then lean on his running game and defense to close things out in the second half. Thus, I’ll take the two touchdowns with an A&M team that isn’t elite, but more than capable of giving playoff contenders like UGA a scare.
College Football Week 13 Selection: Texas A&M Aggies +13
Michigan at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. CT
The Wolverines have won 10 straight road meetings between these two teams but the last three were decided by seven or fewer points. I realize Michigan is playing its best football of the season but Indiana has consistently been a thorn in every opponent’s side since a 51-10 blowout loss to Ohio State. In fact, the Hoosiers have covered in three straight games and in six of their last seven overall, with their lone failed cover coming as a 6.5-point favorite in a 6-point win at Maryland on October 19. IU went on the road last week and hung with Penn State as a 15-point underdog and even out-gained the Nittany Lions by 91 yards. If the Hoosiers could have finished off a couple of drives, they may have beaten PSU outright. Michigan QB Shea Patterson is playing well and that Wolverines defense will be an issue for IU signal-caller Peyton Ramsey, who filled in for injured starter Michael Penix Jr. last week and threw for a career-high 371 yards. But ultimately, this is a bad spot for the Wolverines with Ohio State on deck. They should win, but the Hoosiers have been a covering machine and I wouldn’t put it past them to pull off the outright upset.
College Football Week 13 Selection: Indiana Hoosiers +9
Tennessee at Missouri, 6:30 p.m. CT
As the Mizzou faithful is aware, the Tigers offense has been non-existent for over a month. The 27-0 loss to Georgia with Taylor Powell making his first career start should be thrown out, but nevertheless, this Mizzou offense has still mustered only 27 points in four straight losses to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida, respectively. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s second-half turnaround can be attributed to its defense, which has been stout virtually all year. Offensively, the Vols are inconsistent. They didn’t commit to a starting quarterback in this week’s depth chart, meaning we could see Jarrett Guarantano or freshman Brian Maurer play today in Columbia. Either way, I like the Tigers to handle a Vols offense that still isn’t firing on all cylinders. The under has hit in eight of Mizzou’s last nine home games and is a perfect 5-0 in the Vols’ last five road games.
College Football Selection: Tennessee/Mizzou UNDER 45.5