Taking Bets | Rivals! | Week Thirteen

Every Friday evening, Taking Bets gets you ready for the weekend's football with some ideas on the bets to make. It's Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast, Blaine Duncan, editor-in-chief and host of the TV podcast Taking It Down, and TD Wood, host of Takin' On Sports.

2023 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 17-28-2 (Week Twelve: 2-2)
TD Wood: 26-20-1 (Week Twelve: 3-1)
Mallory McCormack: 27-18-2 (Week Twelve: 2-2)

Blaine Duncan 
Look towards any window this week: record books will be flying out of them.

Texas A&M at LSU (-11.5) -- The Aggies are in shambles and the Tigers want to prove that they have a Heisman candidate at QB. It makes sense that this one is a two-touchdown win in Death Valley for LSU.

Alabama at Auburn (OVER: 48.5) -- The Tide alone has fifty points in them.

North Carolina (-2.5) at NC State -- Something tells me that the Tar Heels could get a four-point win here.

NFL Game of the Week:
Panthers at Titans (-3.5) -- It's just a tough hang watching the Panthers.

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TD Wood
Rivalry Week is here, and there's really nothing like it in the sports world. It's basically the sports equivalent of a panic attack on acid that either ends with you in emotional jail or in a state of euphoric pride. Then, when that's over, you watch in gleeful delight while other fanbases go through the same torture.

Texas A&M at LSU (OVER 65) -- Jayden Daniels should be a runaway Heisman winner and I will not accept talk to the contrary. While the Aggies haven't exactly tore it up this season, the Tiger defense is putrid, and the A&M offense can put up enough points themselves, so I expect these two teams to fly by that point total.

San Jose State at UNLV (-2.5) -- Barry Odom has done a hell of a job in his first year leading the Runnin' Rebs, and with a win this weekend they wrap up a spot in the Mountain West championship game, and if that doesn't impress you, consider this: the Rebels have had exactly two winning seasons this century before this year.

Washington State at Washington (-15.5) -- Earlier this season, this matchup looked like it could decide a spot in the PAC-12 title game. Then Wazzu fell off a cliff. The Cougars did end their six-game skid in a blowout win over Colorado last week, but I don't see them being much of an obstacle for the Huskies in Seattle.

NFL Game of the Week:
Ravens (-3.5) at Chargers -- I hate this, but it's the only line I really like this weekend. The Chargers have no home field advantage whatsoever, and after coach Brandon Staley's rant last week, it seems like the wheels are falling off.

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Mallory McCormack
I do love the Egg Bowl being on Thanksgiving night. That way I can enjoy the remaining rivalry games. And I think we may see some chaos this week, which makes it even better!

Pitt at Duke (-5.5) — Duke is bowl eligible but another win helps them get a better bowl. Plus Pitt isn’t great.

Alabama (-13) at Auburn — I think Auburn’s hopes of keeping this game close went out the window along with the $1.8M paid to New Mexico State. Bama wants to make their case of being worthy of a playoff berth and they can do it Saturday.

Ohio State (+3.5) at Michigan — I know Michigan is ready to run through a brick wall for Harbaugh but I feel like Ohio State is made of something stronger than concrete.

NFL Game of the Week:
Bills at Eagles (-3.0) — I think the Eagles had their toughest game against the Chiefs last week. They recovered from mistakes better and in the end won. I think they do the same here.

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Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.