Best College Football Bets Week 12 | CFB Picks & Predictions

The college football regular season has two weeks left. Some teams are fighting for a bowl game, and others are trying to make a push for their respective conference titles. The whole season comes down to the next two weeks, which makes betting even more exciting. 

A few big games are on the slate this week, including Washington vs. Oregon State. These two Top 10 teams are at different points in the season. Washington, who hasn’t lost yet, has their sights set on the College Football Playoff while the Beavers are trying to play spoiler. 

We break down the week's biggest games from a betting standpoint every Thursday on WSN. Check back weekly for all the picks you need to know!

Colorado @ Washington State

• Date: Friday, November 17

• Time: 10:30 pm EST

• Moneyline: Colorado (-118) | Washington State (-102)

• Spread: Colorado +4.5 (-110) | Missouri -4.5 (-110)

• Total: Over 62.5 (-110) | Under 62.5 (-110)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Bet $5 on any Moneyline and get $150 in Bonus Bets!

PICK: Colorado +4.5

Colorado started the season much more potent than they’re finishing it based on their recent results. The Buffaloes had a narrow road loss to #21 Arizona on Saturday. A game-winning field goal made the difference for Arizona, but even this was a significant accomplishment for Deion Sanders’ team. 

Colorado doesn’t have the defense to be competitive against the best teams in the country. They have a few marquee wins over teams like TCU, but they won in 2023 because of their offense. 

The Buffaloes are riding a four-game losing streak into Washington on Saturday, but they have momentum. They have covered in three straight games against Top 25 teams, and the Cougars are inferior to all these opponents. 

Colorado’s fate will be determined by their offensive success and their ability to neutralize Cameron Ward. Ward, a junior quarterback for Washington State, has been electric in 2023. He has thrown for 3127 yards, with 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions. 

Sheduer Sanders is a more dangerous passer, but Ward can still throw the ball all over the field. He has completed 65% of his passes against Pac-12 opponents, so the Buffaloes must score and create turnovers. 

Even though Washington State has been average against the run and the pass, we believe Colorado’s skill players will wear down Washington State throughout this game. Jimmy Horn Jr., Xavier Weaver, and Travis Hunter are viable threats down the field, and the Cougars don’t have the team to stop the onslaught. 

The 4.5 points are too many for a four-win football team. We’re going to take the points with the Buffaloes. We recommend betting on this game sooner rather than later, as this spread should move in favor of Colorado. 

#5 Washington @ #10 Oregon State

• Date: Saturday, November 18

• Time: 7:30 pm EST

• Moneyline: Washington (+114) | Oregon State (-137)

• Spread: Washington +2.5 (-105) | Oregon State State -2.5 (-115)

• Total: Over 63.5 (-110) | Under 63.5 (-110)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Head over to FanDuel to bet on our picks.

PICK: Washington +2.5 (-105)

The Pac-12 Championship Game will feature Washington and Oregon. The Huskies are the first-ranked team in the conference with a perfect 10-0 record. Oregon has one conference loss, which puts them in sole possession of second place in the Pac 12. 

Oregon State, who will host Washington Saturday night, are on the outside looking in at the title game. They have two conference losses, so they’re fighting to go to the best bowl game possible. A win over Washington at home would increase their chances of playing in a major bowl game to cap off their historic season. 

It’s surprising to see Washington as a 2.5-point underdog in this game. The Huskies are the better team, but the spot isn’t ideal. Washington must go on the road against a Top 10 team, which typically doesn’t end well. 

However, the Huskies can prevail and continue marching toward the Pac-12 Championship. The Huskies have been tested on the road this season and have come out on top. Their most recent road win was against USC, 52-42, on November 4. 

Oregon State’s defense is much better than USC's, but beating a high-powered offensive team on the road is an accomplishment. 

Additionally, Oregon State has played in two layup games over the past couple of weeks against Colorado and Stanford. Michael Penix Jr. is the player who steers the Washington ship. 

The quarterback is one of the Heisman favorites, and for good reason. He has thrown for 3533 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. If he brings his A-game, Washington will move to 11-0. 

The Beavers do present some issues for Penix. They’re an above-average defense and rank fourth in least points allowed in the Pac-12. This game should be close because of the home crowd, but we believe Washington will find a way to win this game.