College Football Expert Picks for Week 12: Will TCU's College Football Playoff Pursuit Continue?

There are two games left in the regular season for teams as they make their final statements to the College Football Playoff committee.

We have betting previews for all the big games on Saturday, which you can find here, but here are three games that are drawing betting interest from our staff including TCU vs. Baylor as the Horned Frogs look to improve to 11-0 with a second consecutive road win.

Here are expert picks for that game as well as Ohio State's final tune up ahead of the Michigan game next week and Tennessee road trip to South Carolina to face the Gamecocks.

Ohio State vs. Maryland Odds, Prediction and Pick

I’m very worried about the trap game element of this week for both Michigan and Ohio State. Michigan rolled against Nebraska last week and Ohio State had no trouble against Indiana. They could both get caught flat footed this week.

CJ Stroud wasn't the only star against the Hoosiers, Marvin Harrison Jr. caught seven passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Stroud has 34 passing touchdowns on the year, tied with Drake Maye for No. 1 in the country. He will want to add to his Heisman case before the matchup against Michigan's excellent defense.

Penn State ran all over Maryland last week because that is what the Nittany Lions do best, but Ohio State wants to throw it to Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming. The Ohio State offense averages 294.0 passing yards a game and 3.5 passing TDs. If Jaxon Smith-Njiba finally comes back from a hamstring issue, then the Buckeyes will be even more explosive. Stroud will be flinging it all over the field and beat up on Maryland's 77th ranked pass defense.

The Terrapins are limping to the finish line. If they had any life right now, I would like them to cover in a very real trap game for the Buckeyes, but they are 0-4 ATS in their last four. Taulia Tagovailoa hasn't thrown for over 100 yards in each of the past two weeks. They simply can't score enough to hang with Ohio State this week.  -- Josh Yourish

Pick: Ohio State -27.5 (-110)

TCU vs. Baylor Odds, Prediction and Pick

Max Duggan has been a magician for the Horned Frogs this year. He routinely has had to lead them back in the second half of games and TCU has the 8th best second-half scoring offense in the nation. He has 25 passing touchdowns to just two interceptions and has run for four TDs and 241 yards to go with his 2,531 passing. Duggan is still +6000 to win the Heisman which is insane. 

Blake Shapen turned the ball over twice in the loss to Kansas State last week, but that doesn’t begin to describe all the problems that Baylor had in that game. The Bears are a decent team and have been in the mix in a congested Big 12, but they are 25th in scoring offense and 45th in scoring defense. Their defense is slightly better than TCU’s, but they don’t deserve to be less than a field goal underdog. 

TCU has been undervalued all year and their 8-1-1 record against the spread is evidence of that. I’ve rode the Horned Frogs all season and I’m not going to stop now. It feels like a square bet, but sometimes you can’t overthink it. -- Josh Yourish

Pick: TCU -2.5 (-120)

Tennessee vs. South Carolina Odds, Prediction and Pick

While the Vols made sure to put up a massive number on the scoreboard against Missouri last week, I believe that South Carolina has the offense equipped to hang within three touchdowns of the vaunted Tennessee offense.

Josh Heupel heads up arguably the best offense in the country, one that is top 10 in yards per play, points per drive, success rate and plenty of other numbers, but the South Carolina O is no slouch either, 36th in yards per play. Most importantly, though, the Gamecocks have shown the ability to rip off explosive plays, top 30 in that metric, which would be paramount against a Tennessee defense that is bottom 40 on defensive explosive play rate.

Spencer Rattler has been shaky at best this season and the Gamecocks have fallen behind the sticks at times, 111th in tackles for loss allowed, but the team's ability to make big plays against a vulnerable Tennessee secondary is key to covering this massive number.

Lastly, South Carolina is No. 3 in SP+ special teams ranking. Yes, Tennessee is 20th in that same ranking, but is the Gamecocks can make a few plays with the third unit of the game, maybe that is the difference between staying within ear shot or getting their doors blown off.

I'll take a shot on the prior and see if South Carolina can put a scare into Tennessee before the Vols wrap up their regular season. -- Reed Wallach

PICK: South Carolina +22

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.