By Rock Westfall
Week 12 offers three dogs with much to play for in good situational setups.
Northwestern Seeks to Clinch Bowl on Senior Day Against Purdue
Purdue (3-7, 2-5) at Northwestern (5-5, 3-4) +2
12 p.m. ET, BTN
Purdue opened as a -1 point favorite and was bet up to -2 at most books.
Purdue faces a potential letdown spot after walloping Minnesota 49-30 last week. Also, Purdue ranks a disconcerting 83rd for scoring offense and 109th for points allowed. The Boilermakers are out of the running for bowl eligibility.
Northwestern was written off for dead after coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired before fall camp opened. The Wildcats were expected to have a lost season under interim coach David Braun. Instead, they are one win away from bowl eligibility on Senior Day and are dropping the interim tag from Braun.
Purdue paid in only five of its last 15 as road chalk. The Boilers got the cash in only three of their previous eight games. Meanwhile, the Cats have covered four consecutive games. Northwestern has bossed the cashier’s cage as home dogs of a field goal or less (9-2 against the spread). Also, NU saw the payout window in four of its last five home games against Purdue.
The motivational intangibles are on the purple side of the line.
More Sports News
Northwestern has 24 points in the FIRST HALF. They lead Wisconsin 24-3. pic.twitter.com/J4qFa3WEFe
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 11, 2023
Cardinals Flying Into a Hurricane
Louisville (9-1, 6-1) at Miami-FL (6-4, 2-4) +1
12 p.m. ET, ABC
Louisville opened as a -3 point favorite but was bet down to -1 at almost all books.
Louisville is one of college football’s surprise teams under first-year head coach and alum Jeff Brohm. The Ville is in the running for a spot in the ACC championship game. But, this is an odd spot for the Cardinals. Miami went toe-to-toe in a 27-20 loss at Florida State, outgaining the powerful Seminoles 335-322 last week. And the U has the nation’s 19th-ranked defense. Hence, Louisville must earn whatever it gets offensively.
Louisville failed to get the money in five consecutive games as a road chalk of a field goal or less. Miami paid in four of its last five as home dogs in that range. Miami has covered its last two games against Louisville.
Louisville Week: Football Coach Press Conferences | 3:00 PM | 11.13.23 https://t.co/AtIdiUylxa
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) November 13, 2023
Cyclone Warning for Bevo
Texas (9-1, 6-1) at Iowa State (6-4, 5-2) +8
8 p.m. ET, FOX
Texas leads the Big 12 and is on track for the conference championship game. But the Longhorns are back to their sloppy ways with recent close calls against TCU, Kansas State, and Houston. Iowa State meanwhile has turned around their season, clinching bowl eligibility with a 45-13 win at BYU last week.
Texas got the cash in only one of its last five games. At the same time, ISU paid in four of its most recent five outings. Texas failed to cover five of its last nine as a road chalk. In comparison, Iowa State has only four losses to the oddsmakers in its last 19 games as a home dog. Iowa State has covered three in a row against the Horns. The Cyclones have also won three of their last four straight up at Jack Trice Stadium against Texas.
Call of the Game 🔊 Abu Sama III in the Cyclones win over BYU! pic.twitter.com/B5CWNHk7NZ
— Iowa State Athletics (@CycloneATH) November 13, 2023
