Week 13 Showdowns: Expert Picks That Could Flip the Biggest College Football Games Upside Down

Each fall, as the leaves turn and the stadiums flood with cheers, we dive headfirst into the age-old ritual of college football prognostication — pitting our savvy scribes against one another in a spirited battle to master the Big Ten gridiron. With the conference’s heartbeat quickening as we edge closer to the season’s climax, it’s a showcase of wit, guts, and a hint of luck as we dissect the matchups that have fans buzzing coast to coast. The usual suspects — Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana — are strutting their stuff on the national stage, but lurking just behind the curtain, USC and Michigan are ready to shake things up, each nursing a single blemish on their records. And Penn State? Well, that’s a saga for another time. So, how will the drama unfold in Week 13? We roll up our sleeves, lay down our picks — straight up and against the spread — and unleash a compendium of insights designed to inform, entertain, and maybe even aid your betting ventures. Buckle up; it’s going to be a thrilling ride. LEARN MORE

It’s tradition now. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests throughout the season, now that conference play is in full swing.

With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana are getting a lot of national notoriety and seem to be the three teams contending for league superiority. However, you can’t count out USC and Michigan, who also have just one loss in the conference, and hope to have something to say about it all. And Penn State … well — that’s another story for another day.

So, just how will Week 13 play out in the Big Ten? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the conference straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried, yet true, coin flip, where George Washington has the say.

EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:

If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU

If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan

Here are our expert picks for Week 13 as things get deeper into conference play and we head towards the home stretch of the regular season. We throw in the top five non-Big Ten games as well to make it more interesting.

Standings so far

Follow Phil Harrison: 125-32 SU, 83-74 ATS

Follow MarkRussell: 124-33 SU, 79-78 ATS

Follow Griffin Dreifeldt: 129-28 SU, 88-69 ATS

Follow Yesh Ginsburg: 120-37 SU, 91-66 ATS

CONSENSUS PICK: 127-30 SU, 91-66 ATS

First up … Big Ten games

Rutgers at Ohio State

Nov 15, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutus Buckeye fires up the crowd during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 22

Noon p.m. ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

10:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Washington -10.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Washington

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Washington

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Washington

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Washington

CONSENSUS PICK | Washington

Next … 5 biggest non-Big Ten games

Oklahoma's Sammy Omosigho (7) celebrates a play in the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family Ã Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. — Oklahoma’s Sammy Omosigho (7) celebrates a play in the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family Ã Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

Saturday, Nov. 22

Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Oklahoma -7.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oklahoma

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oklahoma*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Oklahoma*

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Oklahoma

CONSENSUS PICK | Oklahoma

Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech

Oct 17, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) looks for a passing option against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 22

Noon ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Miami -17.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Miami

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Miami*

CONSENSUS PICK | Miami

Notre Dame wide receiver Jerome Bettis Jr. (15), cornerback Cree Thomas (20) and others celebrate after winning a NCAA football game 49-10 against Navy at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in South Bend.

Saturday, Nov. 22

3:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Notre Dame -35.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Notre Dame*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Notre Dame*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Notre Dame

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Notre Dame*

CONSENSUS PICK | Notre Dame*

Arkansas at Texas

Nov 1, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 22

3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Texas -9

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Texas

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Texas

CONSENSUS PICK | Texas

Sep 15, 2007; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow (15) celebrates after a 59-20 win against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Jason Parkhurst

Saturday, Nov. 22

7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Tennessee -4.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Florida

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Tennessee

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Florida

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Florida

CONSENSUS PICK | Florida

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten football picks and predictions: Experts weigh in for Week 13