College Football Week 13 Best Bets: Saturday November twenty third Top Betting Picks

Thanksgiving and the feast that is Rivalry Week await. The Week 13 slate demands college football fans fast a bit before the holiday—SEC College Football Playoff hopefuls Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina face a powerhouse lineup of UTEP, UMass, and Wofford.

Still, the Week 13 matchups offer some enticing appetizers before the regular-season finale weekend. A platter of home underdogs provides some of the tastiest betting options of the college football campaign’s penultimate Saturday.

Kansas vs. Colorado

A lackluster start to the season might make it easy to forget that Kansas came into 2024 as a popular pick to contend for the new-look Big 12 Conference championship. It took almost two months, but the Jayhawks resembled the preseason expectations in recent weeks, knocking off a pair of top-20-ranked conference counterparts.

Coming off wins of 45-36 over Iowa State and 17-13 over BYU, Kansas faces another Big 12 title hopeful in Colorado. The Buffs are on a four-game winning streak, all by double-digit margins.

Should Colorado end Kansas’ run of upsetting Playoff contenders, don’t expect another multiple-possession point differential. Even when Kansas was struggling to win games through September and October, the Jayhawks were always competitive—and, in fact, lost five of those six games by six points or fewer.

But Kansas winning straight up is the more attractive option than the Jayhawks +2.5 at +102. The Kansas defense is among the Big 12’s best at creating turnovers, especially with interceptions. The Jayhawks are 19th nationally in picks, with Mello Dotson boasting five—including a pair of pick-sixes—and Cobee Bryant with four.

Colorado’s rushing offense is virtually nonexistent. That hasn’t been a hindrance to the Buffs, with Shedeur Sanders among the nation’s leaders in passing, but the opportunity for interceptions will be plentiful if Kansas can generate a consistent pass rush.

With KU’s Dean Miller and Jereme Robinson among the league’s leaders in sacks, the Jayhawks can create those all-important takeaway opportunities en route to a third straight upset.

Kansas ML (+126), FanDuel Sportsbook

Minnesota vs. Penn State

Penn State recovered nicely from its lone loss of the season against Ohio State, thumping both Washington and Purdue by a combined 68 points. The Nittany Lions remain alive for a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, with Saturday’s visit to Minnesota being the most significant hurdle between Penn State and 11 wins.

Minnesota’s role as a home underdog is warranted. The Golden Gophers lack the offensive punch that Penn State packs, having scored more than 27 points against FBS competition only once.

In contrast, Penn State has scored at least 28 points in seven of its nine wins. A rushing offense averaging exactly 200 yards per game with 20 combined touchdowns, split primarily among a five-man rotation, works nicely with the steady quarterbacking of Drew Allar.

Minnesota’s rushing defense has been excellent for much of the season, limiting opponents to 119.8 yards per game and only 3.7 yards per carry. What’s more, the Golden Gophers have given up only 11 total rushing touchdowns.

Minnesota denying Penn State’s aspirations of a Big Ten title game berth might be a tall order, but the Golden Gophers have consistently played opponents close and often dictated the pace this season. Keeping the score low should allow Minnesota to play the Nittany Lions within the 12-point spread.

Minnesota +12 (-110), DraftKings Sportsbook

Florida vs. Ole Miss

Credit to Billy Napier and his Florida Gators: After a rocky start to 2024 that seemed to leave the season DOA and the head coach destined for a quick dismissal, the Gators have shown grit down the stretch.

Florida completes a stretch of playing five Top 25 opponents in six weeks, during which it took Tennessee to overtime in Knoxville, led Georgia at halftime, and dominated LSU in a 27-16 victory last week.

A blowout loss at Texas was the only real blemish on the Gators during a stretch that, had it occurred earlier in the season, might have forced a coaching change before October. But with Napier returning for 2025 and a bowl bid in sight, the Gators have a prime opportunity to shake up the college football world.

Especially bold bettors might consider a conservative play on Florida +360 on the moneyline. T’is the season for upsets, after all.

Less outlandish, however, is for the Gators to keep it competitive and stay within the 12.5-point spread. Given Florida’s run defense has looked quite effective at times over the last month and a half—holding a UCF rushing attack that was among the best in the nation in September to 108 yards, limiting Tennessee to 3.3 yards per carry, and shutting LSU down a week ago—the Gators can make life difficult for the Ole Miss offense.

The Rebels’ defense has been stingy in its own right, and thus -115 for under 55.5 points is another worthwhile consideration. But given the potential for a defensive clash, expect Florida to keep it low-scoring and close.

Florida +12.5 (-110), FanDuel Sportsbook