As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, the NFL and college football seasons are reaching their crescendos. With playoff spots and bowl bids on the line, every game takes on added significance. Our panel of gridiron gurus has pored over the Week 13 NFL and Week 14 college football slates to bring you their early insights and predictions. Buckle up for a riveting ride as we forecast which teams will rise to the occasion and which will falter under pressure.
NFL Week 13: Seahawks Soaring, Jets Plummeting
In the NFL, Week 13 presents several intriguing matchups that could have major playoff implications. Leading off, Joe Fortenbaugh is all-in on the Seattle Seahawks as 2-point home favorites against the floundering New York Jets.
The Seahawks currently find themselves atop the NFC West with everything to play for while the Jets would love nothing more than for this disaster of a season to come to an end.
Joe Fortenbaugh
Fortenbaugh notes that even when the Jets were ostensibly competitive, they consistently failed to cover, missing the spread by a whopping average of 11.6 points over their last seven losses. Look for Geno Smith to make a statement against his former team in a convincing Seattle victory.
Lions to Devour Bears on Thanksgiving
Meanwhile, Andre Snellings is feasting on the Detroit Lions as massive 11-point home favorites in their Thanksgiving tilt with the Chicago Bears. The Lions have been the talk of the league, riding a nine-game winning streak while boasting the NFL’s top scoring offense (32.7 PPG) and its second-stingiest defense (16.6 PPG).
The Bears are solid defensively but aren’t strong enough on offense to keep up with the high-powered Lions.
Andre Snellings
Though the Bears have shown signs of life under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, losing their last two by a combined four points, Snellings believes they simply lack the firepower to hang with Detroit. Expect the Lions to make the Bears’ holiday a gloomy one.
Steelers-Bengals: An Under-the-Radar Under
In a crucial AFC North clash, Tyler Fulghum spies value on the under 46.5 points in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals showdown.
If you feel more comfortable leaning into the first half under, I have no issue with that. Tomlin has the requisite defense to muddy this game up with a Bengals team whose season is on life support.
Tyler Fulghum
With the Bengals reeling and Mike Tomlin’s Steelers always a tough out, especially in divisional road games, Fulghum loves the under. He advises bettors to consider the first-half under as well if they want to dodge any backdoor cover shenanigans.
College Football Week 14: Hawkeyes to Soar Past Huskers
Shifting to the college gridiron, Pamela Maldonado is pounding the over 39.5 points in the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa Hawkeyes regular-season finale.
Iowa’s offense has shown significant improvements this season in nearly all aspects, increasing from 15 points per game in 2023 to 28 points per game in 2024.
Pamela Maldonado
Maldonado highlights the Hawkeyes’ offensive renaissance under new coordinator Tim Lester and the record-breaking exploits of running back Kaleb Johnson, who has rumbled for an Iowa-record 20 touchdowns this season. With Iowa going over in all six of their home games, Maldonado sees an easy over at this low total.
From NFL showdowns with postseason ramifications to college clashes pitting historic rivals, Week 13 and Week 14 offer up a cornucopia of betting opportunities. Equipped with our experts’ incisive analysis and pack-leading predictions, you can confidently navigate this tricky terrain and stuff your pockets like a Thanksgiving turkey. Dive into the data, trust your gut, and remember—when in doubt, bet the over. Happy hunting!
