College Football's Week 13 ATS Picks

By Nostradamus

Alright. So, they are calling it "Rivalry Week.” Personally, I absolutely hate the fact that they have to label college football weekends with such ragtag media crap.

To make matters worse, they picked the wrong week for it. I have HUGE respect for Michigan vs. Ohio State, but can someone name me another noteworthy rivalry game this week?

California/Stanford?  Colorado State/Wyoming?

Maybe North Carolina/NC State? Vanderbilt/Tennessee? Washington/Washington State? BYU/Utah?

I will give you BYU/Utah, and maybe even Washington/Washington State, but for this to be called Rivalry Week is ludicrous?

You have ONE. Ohio State vs. Michigan. Wait until next week for Rivalry Week.

As puzzled as I am, I need to be steadfast in my predictions...

Last week was a disaster. ATS was 4-7, which makes me 9-13 against the number at hand the last two weeks. That is simply pathetic.

Looks like as good a week as any to improve, and improve greatly is my task at hand.

So, how do I see unlucky Week 13 unfolding? Here it is:

Iowa @ Minnesota (+ 5 1/2): The line doesn't seem right to most of the public, but it makes a ton of sense to me. Iowa has a defense, and "Minnehaha" has none. Shonne Green should have a field day. Look for Minnesota to keep faltering in the late stages of the season. Take Iowa in my only lock of the year.

Iowa 34 Minnesota 13

Illinois @ Northwestern (+ 2 1/2): Illinois needs it, Northwestern doesn't. I will take the Illini to become bowl eligible.

Illinois 34 Northwestern 24

Michigan State @ Penn State (- 14 1/2): The men in green can be Big 10 champs if they beat Penn State and Michigan beats Ohio State. I don't see either of those happening. Give PSU's defense a one-dimensional offense and a QB that will be under pressure, and I will take the Nittany Lions till the cows come home.

Penn State 44 Michigan State 17

Oregon State @ Arizona (-3): Toughest game on the card. Arizona is already bowl eligible, and OSU is looking for Pac 10 supremacy. The Beavers have their Civil War rivalry on tap next weekend, and Arizona is looking to make its way up the bowl game pecking order.

I will very much stay away from this one, but my opinion is that Arizona puts an end to the Beavers' dreams of being Pac 10 Champions this year.

Arizona 34 Oregon State 31

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati (- 5 1/2): Haven't predicted a game right on either of these teams all year. Why should I start now? Regardless of the matchup at hand, I would suggest to simply go against me as I predict Pittsburgh to cover the number and get the outright win.

Pittsburgh 27 Cincinnati 23

Mississippi @ LSU (- 4): LSU is only favored by four points in this matchup. That alone lets you know just how far the Tigers have fallen from their national championship season last year. We should fully expect a rough-and-tumble game between two of the toughest teams in the SEC. Look for...

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