Week 12 College Football Picks Against the Spread

• Week 12 of College Football features a loaded slate on Saturday, November 20th
• Cincinnati and SMU faceoff in a Group of Five showdown, while Wisconsin hosts Nebraska
• Read below for the best ATS picks for Week 12 of the college football season

The 2021 College Football season is heading into its 12th week, and there’s some great matchups on tap this weekend. The packed Week 12 slate on Saturday, November 20th features several matchups with betting value.

Cincinnati will look to continue its undefeated season when they host SMU, while Wisconsin continues its quest for the Big Ten West Title with a matchup against Nebraska. Over in the ACC, Clemson and Wake Forest clash in Death Valley.

Here are betting odds and three ATS picks to consider for Week 12.

SMU vs Cincinnati Odds

All odds as of November 17th at DraftKings

Pick #1: Bearcats Eat Up Mustangs

#5 Cincinnati (10-0) will look to bolster its College Football Playoff odds when it hosts SMU (8-2) at Nippert Stadium in Week 12. The Bearcats are listed fifth in the latest CFP rankings and could become the first-ever G5 school to make the playoff. The door has opened for Cincinnati with Oklahoma losing to Baylor last weekend.

The Bearcats have struggled in four straight weeks against inferior competition, failing to cover the spread each time. Cincinnati’s recent narrow victories have moved this Week 12 betting line in SMU’s favor after opening with UC as 12-point favorites. It’s easy to forget just how dominant Cincinnati was against top opponents earlier in the year.

This is the perfect breakout game for the Bearcats with spot in the CFP potentially on the line. Both SMU and Cincinnati are averaging around 40 points per game on offense, but Luke Fickell’s team holds the defensive edge. UC is only allowing 316 yards per game and held P5 opponents Notre Dame and Indiana to a combined 37 points.

It’s no secret SMU is heavy reliant on their passing game, as the Mustangs are averaging over 300 yards per game through the air. This Cincinnati secondary is one of the best in the country, allowing only 164 pass yards per contest and ranking third in average interceptions per game (1.60).

SMU’s two losses Houston and Memphis came in hostile road environments against defenses that were able to pick off QB Tanner Mordecai. Cincinnati is another tough environment, and the fans will be electric with an ACC Title game spot up for grabs. Look for UC’s defense to clamp down in another big game, while Ridder shows out in his senior day to lead the Bearcats to a big win.

• Pick: Cincinnati -10.5 (-105)

Nebraska vs Wisconsin Odds

Pick #2: Badgers Run Over Cornhuskers

#15 Wisconsin (7-3) remains in the hunt for the Big Ten West Title heading into a Week 12 Big Ten showdown with Nebraska (3-7). The Badgers have strung together six consecutive victories after beginning the season 1-3. The Badgers have covered the spread in four straight games, including a 35-7 win over Northwestern last weekend.

Nebraska has played much better than their record indicates, but their best performances have come at home. The Cornhuskers are 0-4 on the road this season, failing to cover the spread in their last two away games against Minnesota and Michigan State. Scott Frost’s team hasn’t won in Madison since 2011.

Nebraska Week 🌽

Fittingly, today's the anniversary of @Melvingordon25's historic 4⃣0⃣8⃣-yard (!) effort. 🤯#OTD x @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/VJ0ALddkCR

— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) November 15, 2021

While Nebraska has been playing teams close lately, this could be the week things come unglued. Wisconsin has one of the nation’s top defenses, allowing just 216 yards per game and 14.6 points per contest. The Badgers are also only allowing 60.6 rushing yards per game and will bottle up dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez and Nebraska’s dominant run game.

Solid rushing teams like Minnesota and Michigan have been able to win the battle in the trenches against Nebraska and establish their ground game. Wisconsin has the Big 10’s leading rush attack led by two 800-yard rushers in Chez Mellusi (now out for the season) and Braelon Allen. Look for Allen to run wild Saturday, while the Badgers defense stifles Nebraska’s offense for a convincing home win. 

• Pick: Wisconsin -9 (-110)

Wake Forest vs Clemson Odds

Pick #3: Demon Deacons Cover vs Tigers

Clemson’s 33-game home winning streak will be put to the test when the Tigers face the Demon Deacons in Week 12 at Memorial Stadium. Wake Forest (9-1) can clinch its first ACC Atlantic Division title since 2006 with a victory over the Tigers. Dave Clawson’s team has the offense to keep it close Saturday.

Wake Forest is averaging a whopping 44.7 points per game, which ranks second nationally behind only Ohio State. Senior QB Sam Hartman is a fringe contender in the 2021 Heisman Trophy odds, throwing for 3.183 yards and 30 TDS with eight picks. A.T Perry, meanwhile, is one of the nation’s best receivers with 47 receptions for 918 yards.

A.T. has been balling 📈 pic.twitter.com/UDuzyluqsW

— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) November 9, 2021

Clemson (7-3) has been struggling all season, covering the spread in just two of their 10 games. Injuries are piling up for the Tigers, including recent news that top receiver Justyn Ross will miss the Wake Forest game due to a foot injury. D.J. Uiagalelei owns the ACC’s worst quarterback rating this season and now has to deal with losing his favorite target.

The excuses have already started to come from Dabo Swinney, as he told reporters “we don’t have a single senior starting for us with Ross out… we’re still in a development stage”. This is Wake Forest’s moment to punch their ticket to the title game and eliminate Clemson from the conversation.

Uiagalelei has thrown seven picks and will get picked off by a feisty WFU secondary averaging at least one interception per game. Clemson’s defense has been a strength, but their secondary has been far more susceptible than their rush defense. Hartman hasn’t been slowed by any pass defense this season and will ball out Saturday to keep this within the number.

• Pick: Wake Forest +4.5 (-110)