The long holiday weekend continues with a packed slate of college football betting action on Saturday, including a couple of rivalry showdowns in Knoxville and Columbia.
Picks SummaryÂ
- Pittsburgh-Duke Under 42½ (-109) at Unibet
- Tennessee -27 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
- South Carolina +7 (-109) at SugarHouse
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Duke Blue Devils
Saturday, November 25, 2023 – 12:00 PM ET at Wallace Wade Stadium
Pittsburgh has been a proverbial thorn in Duke’s side since joining the ACC, and the Blue Devils would like to change that by ending a 7-game losing streak against the Panthers in an early Saturday boot.
Blue Devils Still Dealing with QB Injuries
Playing well into the shadows of that little game in Columbus between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, Duke is running -6 after the opening college football odds sent the Blue Devils out a half-point higher. The oddsmakers are unanimous with 42½ for the total.
Pittsburgh just halted its second 4-game slide of the season with a 24-16 win at home over Boston College. It has been quite the belly-flop for Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers who won the ACC Championship and enjoyed an 11-win campaign last year.
Duke has dropped two in a row since becoming bowl eligible earlier this month. To their credit, the losses were close affairs on the road and the Blue Devils were playing with 3rd-string quarterback Grayson Loftis. Starter Riley Leonard (foot) is not expected back, and 2nd-stringer Henry Belin IV (upper body) is questionable.
Last 4 Meetings Go ‘Over’
The Blue Devils came close to ending the skid at 6-straight last season, but their 4th-quarter rally came up short in a 28-26 loss in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has won all five ACC matchups in Durham, and the last time Duke won a home game against the Panthers was in 1965, when Bill Murray was the Blue Devils’ head coach. No, not that Bill Murray.
That string of losing at home to Pittsburgh should come to an end, but the safer play here is on both offenses struggling and bringing home an ‘under’ winner.
NCAAF Pick: Under 42½ (-109) at Unibet
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, November 25, 2023 – 03:30 PM ET at Neyland Stadium
Rivals, yes, but it isn’t expected to be much fun on the Vanderbilt side of the field and up in the Commodores’ section of seats in Knoxville when they travel to take on Tennessee. Caesars has the Volunteers favored by 27, roughly half of the 56½-point total.
Vandy Covers Last 3 in Knoxville
Tennessee trashed the Commodores a year ago in Nashville, rolling up more than 500 yards of offense and nearly tripling Vanderbilt in time of possession. The 56-0 blanking easily covered the 14 points that sharp sportsbooks asked Volunteers backers to lay.
That was the fourth consecutive win for Tennessee in the rivalry that began in 1892. Vanderbilt won 19 of the first 21 meetings, and the Volunteers have since won 79 of 96 (with 5 ties). ‘Over’ bettors have cashed their slips three of the last four at Neyland.
Rocky Top Crushes Commodores Once Again
That loss to Tennessee last season was the start of an 8-game skid in SEC play, the conference’s worst defense is likely to be without one of its better players, Vanderbilt linebacker CJ Taylor. Consider this: Taylor is third on the Commodores in total tackles, and hasn’t played since being injured in the loss to Georgia in Week 7.
Despite consecutive losses, look for Tennessee to rediscover its offense this week and roll past the Commodores.
NCAAF Pick: Tennessee -27 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Saturday, November 25, 2023 – 07:30 PM ET at Williams-Brice Stadium
And to think, it all started over an argument in the ag department in Columbia. Bet those two farmers never thought Clemson and South Carolina would turn into a football rivalry with a bumper crop of vitriol between the two schools.
Last 3 Meetings in Columbia Fall Short of Totals
It was quite the upset that South Carolina pulled off last November at Clemson. The Gamecocks were getting two touchdowns, and rallied from an early 14-0 hole to beat the Tigers 31-30. Clemson entered that game still in the hunt for the College Football Playoffs.
The Tigers had won the previous seven matchups, a few by decisive margins. This is the first time since 2014 that Clemson isn’t favored by double-digits.
Gamecocks to Stay Inside the Spread
The road has been a struggle for Clemson this season, with the lone win in four away tilts coming at Syracuse. South Carolina, meanwhile, has righted its ship with a 3-game win streak following a 4-game skid in late September and running through October.
Clemson has the revenge thing going on, and South Carolina is looking for the magical sixth win to go bowling. Let’s take the points with our final NCAAF pick in what should be a close affair.
NCAAF Pick: South Carolina +7 (-109) at SugarHouse
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