We have entered the final phase of the 2024 regular college football season.
There are only three weeks to go before the conference’s championship week takes place the first week of December. Week 13 isn’t the most loaded slate, but it does feature two games between ranked opponents and games across the country that impact conference title races.
And again, these ranked games are in the SEC. The biggest game of the week is in Athens as Georgia plays for its College Football Playoff life against Tennessee. Missouri, meanwhile, tries to keep its CFP flame burning as a two-score underdog against a South Carolina team that defeated Texas A&M two weeks ago.
Here’s what to watch in week 13. All times are Eastern and all odds are from BetMGM.
Time: afternoon | Television: Fox | Line: Colorado -11.5 | Total: 46.5
The Buffaloes’ path to the playoff is clear. Colorado will receive a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff if it wins its final four games.
Going into the season, we thought this game could have playoff implications, but those impacts would be limited to Utah. Instead, it’s been another nightmare injury-riddled season for the Utes, as they are down to two healthy quarterbacks and lost TE Brant Kuithe to a season-ending injury against BYU in Week 11. QB Brandon Rose made his first career start in the competition. controversial loss to the Cougars and suffered a lower leg injury on the final possession. Freshman Isaac Wilson will take over as Utah’s starter. He has played in seven games so far this season.
Colorado’s defense should be tasked with slowing down Utah’s depleted offense. While Shedeur Sanders’ passing prowess and Travis Hunter’s two-way exploits are grabbing plenty of headlines in Colorado, the Buffs’ defensive improvement is the biggest reason they are in contention for the Big 12. Teams are averaging just 217 yards per game against Colorado and 5.3 yards per play. That’s a full 60 yards per play and one yard per play less than 2023.
Time: 4:15 PM | TV: SEC Network | Line: South Carolina -12.5 | Total: 44.5
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz was technically correct when he said his team was in the hunt for the playoffs after the wild win over Oklahoma. Yes, this Mizzou team has been knocked out of Texas A&M and Alabama, but it will get some serious postseason attention as it finishes the regular season at 10-2.
That task seems a lot more difficult than it seemed at the start of the season. QB Brady Cook is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game due to ankle and wrist injuries. Cook injured his ankle against Auburn and then hurt his wrist against Alabama. He missed the win over OU when Drew Pyne started in his place. The offense wasn’t nearly as good with Pyne at QB in place of Cook, but he led the Tigers on two TD drives in the fourth quarter. The Tigers only have a chance if Pyne plays like this the entire game.
South Carolina has won three straight games after losing by two points to Alabama. That includes a 44-20 win over Texas A&M. Considering the way the Gamecocks played against both teams that dominated Mizzou, you can see why the Gamecocks are significant favorites. Especially with the way LaNorris Sellers is playing. He has accounted for five touchdowns and nearly 500 passing yards over the past two games and has yet to throw an interception.
Time: 7:30 PM | Television: NBC | Line: Oregon -14 | Total: 52.5
Is this the toughest game left in the Ducks’ regular season? Oregon is off in Week 13 before a home game against Washington to end the season. A win in just one of those games also puts Oregon in the Big Ten title game, even though the Ducks are tied atop the conference with Indiana and just one game ahead of Ohio State and Penn State.
We won’t delve deeply into the tiebreakers here, but if Oregon wins Saturday night, it will likely be against the winner of the Indiana vs. Ohio State will play next week’s Big Ten title game in Indianapolis. And since Oregon is out, it will be able to watch that game up close.
Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel’s pursuit of Bo Nix’s completion percentage record will likely be futile, although he could ultimately get the Heisman at the end of the season. Gabriel is responsible for 28 touchdowns and will surpass 3,000 passing yards for the season if he throws for 153 yards on Saturday night.
Wisconsin enters the game on a two-game losing streak after three straight wins. The Badgers fell 28-13 at Penn State on Oct. 26 and were eliminated 42-10 at Iowa on Nov. 2. Wisconsin is averaging just 25 points per game in 2024 as Tyler Van Dyke is out for the season with a knee injury. .
Time: 7:30 PM | Television: ABC | Line: Georgia -10.5 | Total: 48.5
Will Nico Iamaleava be healthy enough to play Saturday? The Tennessee QB is reportedly in a concussion condition after leaving Tennessee’s Week 11 game against Mississippi State at halftime. He is officially listed as questionable on the SEC injury report.
If Iamaleava can’t go, it’s hard to see how Tennessee has much of a chance against the Bulldogs. The Tennessee offense hasn’t lived up to its lofty expectations with him under center, and asking Gaston Moore to go out in Athens and win his first start might be a bridge too far.
The Vols are in the top 10 despite a sluggish offense due to a phenomenal defense. Tennessee has one of the best defensive lines in the country and will look to give Georgia fits like Ole Miss did in Week 11. James Pearce Jr. leads the team with 5.5 sacks and is an All-American candidate.
Georgia drops out of the College Football Playoff mix with a loss; The visit of the Vols on Saturday night gave the committee an easy time with the Bulldogs’ seeding on Tuesday. If Georgia wins, the Bulldogs will be back in the preliminary bracket after Week 12. If Tennessee pulls off the upset, Georgia will be ineligible for the playoffs for the rest of the season. A loss seems far-fetched to us. Take a look at how Kirby Smart motivated his team before the Texas game. A number 12 ranking can provide a lot of motivation.
Time: 10:15 PM | TV: ESPN | Line: BYU -3 | Total: 56.5
Yes, your eyes can’t fool you. The undefeated top-10 BYU Cougars are favored by just a field goal at home against a team with a losing record.
You can see why oddsmakers are hedging against BYU. The Cougars have escaped twice in the last three games with late scores. Overall, four of BYU’s nine wins have come on one possession and three of those wins have been by three or fewer points. Even if the Cougars win on Saturday, don’t be surprised if they are the underdogs at Arizona State in Week 13.
Kansas defeated Iowa State 45-36 in Week 11 and won two of its last three games. The Jayhawks were among the preseason favorites for the Big 12 title, but were the masters of the one-score loss. Five of Kansas’ six losses were by six points or less. That includes a two-point loss at Kansas State, a four-point loss at Arizona State and a four-point loss at West Virginia.
Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels has thrown for at least one touchdown and rushed for a score in each of KU’s last four games. Against ISU, the 2023 Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year threw for 295 yards and two scrs and rushed for 68 yards and a score. BYU will have to contain him to get the win.
Other games to watch
No. 3 Texas at Arkansas (noon, ABC): These two longtime Southwest Conference rivals meet as members of the same conference for the first time since 1991. The Longhorns are major favorites, but we’re not sure of anything with this Arkansas team. Don’t be surprised if the game is close, at least for the first half, with both QB Taylen Green and RB Ja’Quinden Jackson listed as probable.
No. 20 Clemson at Pitt (noon, ESPN): This game lost a lot of its luster with Pitt’s loss to Virginia in Week 11. Clemson still has a decent shot at the ACC title, but it needs some help. That opportunity disappears with a loss for the Panthers, who need QB Eli Holstein back on the field. He left the second-half loss to the Cavaliers with an apparent head injury.
Boston College at No. 14 SMU (3:30 p.m., ESPN): The Mustangs’ manageable path to the ACC title game starts with the Eagles at home. SMU has BC, Virginia and Cal over the final three weeks of the season. Boston College will start Grayson James at QB after he took over for Thomas Castellanos in Week 11. Castellanos will not travel with the team to Dallas and is reportedly considering a transfer.
Arizona State at No. 16 Kansas State (7 p.m., ESPN): Don’t overlook any of these teams in the race to the Big 12 title game. Both ASU and KSU are tied for third in Week 12. Kansas State has the head-to-head tiebreaker against Colorado and Arizona State hosts BYU next week. ASU RB Cam Skattebo appears ready to play after missing the Sun Devils’ Week 10 win over UCF.
