College football Week 12 odds, picks, and viewing guide

It is technically Week 12 of the college football season and while just reading that surely pains Utah fans, it also means we’re far enough along that the SEC has fired its first coach of the season.

The incredibly confusing Big Ten season is taking shape, and the Big 12 has some late-season critical matchups that feel the closest to normal as any of us can get out of this 2020 season.

Let's dive into all the stats, trends, analysis and scheduling info you'll need to navigate Week 12 of the 2020 college football season.  

#14 Oklahoma State vs. #18 Oklahoma

There is something about late-season prime-time Bedlam that makes any longtime college football fan excited. While it usually has a more intimate feel when played at Oklahoma State, in 2020 beggars can’t be choosers.

We’re still fortunate to get one of the most important games in the Big 12 this year, as 5-2 Oklahoma (and 5-2 ATS) takes on 5-1 Oklahoma State (3-3 ATS) in a key game for pole positioning toward the Big 12 Championship Game. The Sooners are installed as seven-point favorites.

While Iowa State still leads the Big 12 race, the final weeks of the season could go a number of ways, and the loser of this game will likely be on the outside looking in.

After struggling at the start of the season, the Sooners and quarterback Spencer Rattler have gotten on track and welcomed back some key players, like defensive end Ronnie Perkins.

Rattler now leads the Big 12 in completion percentage, and his live arm keeps every part of the field in play.

The Sooners are not the same team that they were to start their year, while Oklahoma State has looked suspect on offense in a narrow win against Kansas State, a loss to Texas, and a narrow win against Iowa State.

Pick: Oklahoma -7

#9 Indiana vs. #3 Ohio State

The Big Ten is having one of its oddest seasons of all time. Not only did they originally cancel the season and then reconsider, but two powerhouses, Penn State and Michigan, are in shambles.

As the blue bloods struggle, longtime bottom feeders like Indiana and Northwestern are thriving at 4-0. This weekend, Indiana gets a real test, as it heads on the road to take on the one consistent thing in the Big Ten: the dominant Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS, while Indiana is 4-0 SU and 4-0 ATS. Ohio State is an enormous 20.5-point favorite, a huge spread given Indiana’s #9 ranking. Whenever a Top 10 team is an underdog by double-digits, they tend to not fare well, and I don’t expect things to be much better for the Hoosiers.

Michael Penix Jr. has been a dynamic playmaker, but at his core he isn’t an overly accurate passer. While I appreciate Indiana’s willingness to move the ball passing, Penix Jr.’s completion percentage ranks seventh in the Big Ten, and inaccuracy will cost him against the Buckeyes’ ball-hawking defensive backs, Shaun Wade and Marcus Hooker.

This should be a high-scoring contest in which a few key mistakes ultimately compound upon themselves and result in a blowout victory for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is superior at arguably every position on the field, and the step up in class will prove too much for the upstart Hoosiers.

Pick: Ohio State -20.5

Kansas State vs. #17 Iowa State

While Oklahoma State and Oklahoma battle in the evening, things around them will have much more clarity right around kickoff, as Kansas State and Iowa State conclude their pivotal matchup to decide Big 12 positioning.

Iowa State is 5-2 SU overall (3-4 ATS) and, more importantly, 5-1 in the conference and leading the Big 12 with an important win over Oklahoma on its résumé. Kansas State, meanwhile, is 4-3 SU overall (5-2 ATS), but 4-2 in conference and tied for third. It also has a key win over Oklahoma.

The loser of this game, much like the Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State game, will need serious luck to get themselves back in the conference championship picture.

Iowa State is installed as an 11-point favorite. Much of this can be contributed to Kansas State’s recent offensive struggles with freshman Will Howard starting at quarterback in place of injured starter Skylar Thompson.

Howard has just five touchdowns against five interceptions and is completing only 54.4% of his passes.

Iowa State, however, has some question marks on the offensive line, and while this has traditionally been a tightly-contested series, it has always been one dominated by the Wildcats. Kansas State has won 11 of the last 12.

I’ll take the points with a Kansas State defense that is giving up less points per game than Iowa State.

Pick: Kansas State +11

NCAAF Week 12 betting trends 

• Oklahoma is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 vs. Oklahoma State.
• Oklahoma is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 conference games.
• Ohio State is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 conference games.
• The underdog is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 matchups between Kansas State and Iowa State.
• Iowa State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games as a home favorite.

Wager on all college football Week 12 action now at BetAmerica.