College football Week 14: 5 best bets to take to the bank

The best bets in college football Week 14 feature an angry Ohio State team, over-ranked Iowa State and much more that you can take to the bank. 

We’ve reached the home stretch of the 2020 college football season but, even at Week 14 in this calamitous year, it only figures that nothing is settled. Just this week, we saw Coastal Carolina replace a canceled matchup against Liberty with a high-profile showdown with BYU, a battle between undefeated teams. But that big clash isn’t one of the best bets of the week, rather just one of the best games.

In terms of the best bets for college football Week 14, there are a few principles to live by. The first is that there are teams currently in the College Football Playoff picture (some more than others) that need to make statements from here on out. Another is the evenly matched Big 12. And so it goes until we’re cashing checks for how we bet on Week 14.

With that in mind, these are the five best bets for Saturday that fans can take to the bank.

College football Week 14 best bets

5. Oklahoma State vs. TCU – Under 51.5

Seeing how Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys almost hit the over by themselves last week against Texas Tech, this might seem like a strange play. But the simple truth is that’s the game the Red Raiders wanted them to play and the TCU Horned Frogs want to orchestrate something much different on Saturday in Fort Worth.

Gary Patterson has a fine offense but he knows that he can’t match an attack that features Chuba Hubbard (if he plays) and Tylan Wallace. But he does have a defense and running game that can make this a grinding affair. Combine that with a good Pokes defense and the under is the right play here.

4. West Virginia (+6.5) vs. Iowa State

It’s kind of wild that Iowa State’s come-from-behind win over Texas last week pushed them into the top 10 but here we are. Though Brock Purdy continues to leave something to be desired, Breece Hall is the driving force of this offense and Matt Campbell has a good defense as well.

The issue for the Cyclones in this game, however, is that West Virginia has one of the best run defenses in the country this season and a great overall defense as well. With a little bit of pop on offense as well, this could be a tight affair that the Mountaineers should keep within a touchdown at worst.

3. Texas A&M vs. Auburn – Under 48.5

Though I have this under as a best bet, I’d be remiss to not mention some trepidation that this is an overreaction to Kellen Mond and Texas A&M’s offensive showing last week, their worst of the season. However, their defense played big time in that game. They could cause Bo Nix and Auburn plenty of problems when the Tigers have the ball and, if the offense continues to have some hiccups as well, this should be an easy under out of the SEC.

2. Baylor vs. Oklahoma (-21.5)

As the Oklahoma Sooners sit at No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, they have only an outside chance of making it into the final four teams — if they have a chance at all. But if they’re going to make it, they not only need other teams to lose but they need to get as many style points as possible.

The return of Rhamondre Stevenson and quick maturation of Spencer Rattler have the Sooners rolling while Baylor has not found their footing yet in the 2020 season. With this game in Norman, Oklahoma isn’t just going to win but they are going to leave skid marks on the jerseys of the Bears as they blow past them and try to make a statement.

1. Ohio State (-23) vs. Michigan State

In the same vein as Oklahoma but with better odds of making the CFP, there are questions about the credentials of the Ohio State Buckeyes for the final four. Many wonder if they’ve been impressive enough while playing so few games to warrant them getting a shot at the National Championship. So it’s on Ryan Day’s team to leave no doubt about that.

While I don’t believe that Ohio State is a perfect team, their offense is still lethal and Michigan State just doesn’t have the horses to match that. The Buckeyes could hang a huge number on Sparty in this game and, even if the defense gives up some, it won’t be enough for MSU to stay within 23 points of what Justin Fields and OSU put on the scoreboard.

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