College football spread picks, Week 14: Clemson-South Carolina, Texas-Texas A&M and more

It’s rivalry week in college football, and that means it’s also the last regular-season weekend before conference championship games, after which the College Football Playoff selection committee will reveal the final rankings and bracket for the 12-team field.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves talking about the playoff when Week 14’s games could have a major impact on the conference title games and the playoff field.

Unfortunately, the experts at For The Win have not been great at anticipating an abundance of chaos in recent weeks, and our records against the spread show that. Onward!

Going into Week 14, we have three ranked matchups: No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson and No. 24 Kansas State at No. 18 Iowa State. So here are our 10 college football picks against the spread for Week 14.

Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.

All odds via BetMGM

Minnesota at Wisconsin, Friday, Noon ET on CBS

Opening Line: Wisconsin -1.5

Blake Schuster: Wisconsin -2.5

I don’t love laying points here, but the Badgers become bowl eligible if they reach six wins this week. Wisconsin retains Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

Mitchell Northam: Minnesota +2.5

I don’t have a great reason for this pick other than the Gophers are coming off a solid showing against Penn State, while the Badgers have lost four in a row, most recently in pretty ugly fashion to Nebraska. If one of these teams have any momentum, it’s Minnesota.

Christian D’Andrea: Wisconsin -2.5

It’s a must-win rivalry game for the Badgers at home. Being in Camp Randall skews the coin flip between these un-trustable teams just enough to back Bucky.

Michelle Martinelli: Wisconsin -2.5

The Golden Gophers have put up some good fights in the Big Ten, but with a spread this close in a rivalry game with a bowl game on the line for the Badgers, give me the home team all the way.

Tyler Nettuno: Minnesota +2.5

The Gophers have been a quietly competent team this fall, and I don’t really get this spread against a Wisconsin team that’s hard to trust at all.

Georgia Tech at No. 7 Georgia, Friday, 7:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Georgia -20.5

Blake Schuster: Georgia Tech +19.5

It’s not just that the Bulldogs have only covered the spread once at home this season. It’s not just that I do not trust this Georgia team at all. It’s both of those things plus the fact Georgia Tech can control the clock with their run game.

Mitchell Northam: Georgia Tech +19.5

I would feel better about this pick if the game was in Atlanta, but I think the Yellow Jackets are feisty enough — and the Dawgs are sleepy enough — where this game might actually be close.

Christian D’Andrea: Georgia Tech +19.5

There’s just enough quiet nervousness around Bulldogs fans to make me think Georgia Tech can stick around long enough to make everyone unhappy with Friday’s outcome.

Michelle Martinelli: Georgia Tech +19.5

The Yellow Jackets have had some big highs and lower lows this season, and I don’t see them pulling off the upset here. But this spread is way too big for a rivalry game, even one in Athens.

Tyler Nettuno: Georgia Tech +19.5

The Bulldogs have been able to look past this game for a decade plus, but if they do so again this time, they could have a much tougher test than many expect here. Georgia won’t lose this game, but this feels like a big spread to cover against a motivated rival.

Mississippi State at No. 14 Ole Miss, Friday, 3:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Ole Miss -19.5

Blake Schuster: Mississippi State +26.5

This is way too large of a spread for a rivalry game that’s margin of victory has exceeded 10 points just once in the last seven years.

Mitchell Northam: Mississippi State +26.5

Weird things happen in the Egg Bowl and this spread is too big.

Christian D’Andrea: Mississippi State +26.5

It’s gonna be a painful day for the Bulldogs, but they’ve kept their other losses to top 10 teams within a reasonable margin this year.

Michelle Martinelli: Mississippi State +26.5

Yeah, the Bulldogs probably aren’t winning any SEC games this year, but the Egg Bowl takes the regular chaos of college football and turns it up to the max. Maybe Ole Miss covers, but that seems unlikely, given how inconsistent Lane Kiffin’s team has been this year. A must-watch game for chaos-loving fans.

Tyler Nettuno: Mississippi State +26.5

The Bulldogs are bad but not quite as bad as the winless SEC record would have you believe. This spread is simply way too big for a rivalry as heated and unpredictable as the Egg Bowl.

Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Saturday, noon ET on Fox

Opening Line: Ohio State -10

Blake Schuster: Michigan +21

Unfortunately, I think this spread is just right. But I also think Michigan keeps this a lot closer than anyone in Ohio is comfortable and I can’t trust Ryan Day not to implode.

Mitchell Northam: Ohio State -21

It was a good run for Michigan.

Christian D’Andrea: Ohio State -21

Ryan Day’s gonna feel like Joey Chestnut after his early morning July 5 bathroom break following this one.

Michelle Martinelli: Ohio State -21

Normally, I wouldn’t pick the favorite in a rivalry game. But Ohio State has the top FBS defense and is limiting opponents to 90 rushing yards per game, and that’s about all Michigan has going for it. Buckeyes take revenge in a big way.

Tyler Nettuno: Ohio State -21

The Buckeyes are going to get all their feelings out against a Michigan team that may legitimately struggle to score a point in this game.

No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson, Saturday, noon ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Clemson -7.5

Blake Schuster: Clemson -2.5

Cade Klubnik spent the last few weeks playing like a Heisman finalist, and while I don’t deny how good the Gamecocks have been recently, I don’t see Clemson losing this one at home.

Mitchell Northam: South Carolina +2.5

I think the Gamecocks are simply the better team and they have more to play for. If they win this game, they are as deserving as any three-loss SEC team of a CFP bid.

Christian D’Andrea: South Carolina +2.5

PLAYOFF GAMECOCKS COMIN’

Michelle Martinelli: South Carolina +2.5

I’ve been wrong all season on every pick involving Clemson — whether I had them covering or not. The Gamecocks have their first real shot at a College Football Playoff berth, and they’ve shown a lot of fight this season, especially on defense.

Tyler Nettuno: South Carolina +2.5

I don’t love this pick in a rivalry Clemson has dominated for the last decade, but the Gamecocks should be able to be very disruptive on defense against a Clemson offensive line that doesn’t seem to be built for a matchup like this.

No. 5 Notre Dame at USC, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Opening Line: Notre Dame -3.5

Blake Schuster: USC +7.5

I’m not going to pretend USC is a strong team, but it’s not incompetent. It’s mostly lost close games and Notre Dame hasn’t won by more than a touchdown in Los Angeles since 2012.

Mitchell Northam: Notre Dame -7.5

This feels like the right spread. The Irish are rolling and I don’t think there’s anything Lincoln Riley can cook up to stop them.

Christian D’Andrea: Notre Dame -7.5

USC is, uh, not good.

Michelle Martinelli: USC +7.5

The Trojans are not good, but Notre Dame hasn’t been tested much this year and hasn’t traveled this far. The Fighting Irish should win but guessing not by more than a touchdown.

Tyler Nettuno: Notre Dame -7.5

Since the ugly loss to NIU, the Irish have mostly dominated everyone they’ve played. USC has problems all over the place, and it’s hard to imagine they can hang in this one, even at home.

No. 6 Miami at Syracuse, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Miami -9.5

Blake Schuster: Syracuse +10.5

Taking Miami means trusting the Canes not to screw up a close game. I simply cannot take that bet.

Mitchell Northam: Syracuse +10.5

Miami seems incapable of playing a normal game, weird things happen at the Carrier Dome, and Kyle McCord is going to sling the ball around to keep this close.

Christian D’Andrea: Syracuse +10.5

The Orange have been so good at just messing up other people’s days. UNLV? Georgia Tech? Cal? All have been forced to bend the knee at the altar of Otto.

Michelle Martinelli: Miami -10.5

The Hurricanes have shown they have the stamina to build big late leads against opponents putting up solid fights — Georgia Tech aside. With an ACC title game appearance on the line, expect Miami to comfortably get this W.

Tyler Nettuno: Miami -10.5

This one looks like it could be dangerous for Miami given Syracuse’s ability to score. But we’ve seen teams hang around early against the Hurricanes before an offensive barrage they couldn’t keep up with. I expect a similar late run to cover here.

Auburn at No. 13 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Alabama -14

Blake Schuster: Alabama -11.5

Keeping Hugh Freeze from a bowl game is just about all Alabama has going for it at this point and that is far more than enough motivation.

Mitchell Northam: Auburn +11.5

I don’t feel great about this pick, but Alabama’s offense looks rough right now and Auburn is coming off a big win.

Christian D’Andrea: Auburn +11.5

I don’t mess with double-digit spreads in the Iron Bowl.

Michelle Martinelli: Auburn +11.5

I’m in danger, but this spread is asking a lot from a dysfunctional Alabama team in the Iron Bowl.

Tyler Nettuno: Auburn +11.5

I absolutely hate this pick and this spread, but the Tigers have played competitive games against nearly everyone on the schedule this year. I think they’ll hang around with bowl eligibility on the line.

No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Texas -6.5

Blake Schuster: Texas A&M +5.5

The Longhorns win, but I see this one staying within a touchdown at Kyle Field.

Mitchell Northam: Texas -5.5

Longhorns roll into Atlanta with another win. Maybe next year, Mike Elko.

Christian D’Andrea: Texas A&M +5.5

Since an opening week loss to Notre Dame, the Aggies have been roughly as good as you’d expect a team playing in front of a crowd of raving lunatics to be at Kyle Field.

Michelle Martinelli: Texas -5.5

Not loving this pick, but I have a feeling the Longhorns will show up and remind everyone they’re a powerhouse team looking to take full control of their new conference. I just don’t see the Aggies’ defense — which couldn’t hold off a chaotic Auburn team in four overtimes — slowing down Quinn Ewers and co. with an SEC title game berth on the line.

Tyler Nettuno: Texas -5.5

I really second guess this one with the game being in College Station, but I don’t have enough faith in the Aggies offense to score, and the defense has turned in a couple of clunkers in its losses down the stretch. Steve Sarkisian will make TAMU pay if it does so again.

No. 24 Kansas State at No. 18 Iowa State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox

Opening Line: Pick ‘Em

Blake Schuster: Kansas State +2.5

Farmageddon is a such an underrated bizarre rivalry game. Don’t trust either of these teams. Take the points.

Mitchell Northam: Iowa State -2.5

Home team by a field goal sounds right in what could be a very ugly Big 12 game.

Christian D’Andrea: Kansas State +2.5

Every Big 12 game is a dart throw. Unless Oklahoma State is involved.

Michelle Martinelli: Kansas State +2.5

The Cyclones are having a great season, and even though they’re rocking a better record, I just think Kansas State is the more complete team. But also, who really knows what the Big 12 is doing this year.

Tyler Nettuno: Kansas State +2.5

The Cyclones control their own destiny again and will play for a conference title with a win. But this is the Big 12 in 2024. Surely they’ll blow it.