After a .500 mark in Week 11, the 12th week of the NCAA Football Season is starting down the path of success. I looked early and love some lines, but thinking they would move in my favor the closer we get to Saturday’s action, I waited some big games out. Some of my line movement predictions held true, and some stayed the same, but I think I have a nice card this weekend. Here they are, from favorites to dogs, big conference games, and little meaningless games that will prove to be big winners. Here are my free picks for week 12.
LUCKY LESTER’S Free NCAA Football Picks
Free Picks: Week 12
West Virginia Moutaineers @ Cincinnati Bearcats (+6):
(Line: Thursday, 2:00am EST: SBG Belmont)
I like the Bearcats to pull yet another Big East upset here. I think these teams are a lot closer than many people think, and that will show on Saturday. The Bearcats play well at home, and are just a flat out speedy team that will match up well with West Virginia.
Pittsburgh Panthers @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (-11.5):
(Line: Wednesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)
Pittsburgh has really surprised me a few tiems this season, and beating an absolutely horrendous Syracuse team (20-17) a couple weeks ago wasn’t one of those times. The Panther’s win over Cincinnati is probably the most amazing thing I’ve encountered this season. See, I thin the Panthers are terrible – hence they lost to Navy, got beat by 30 at Virginia, and 3 of their 4 wins came against Navy, Grambling, and Eastern Michigan. I just think the Scarlet Knights are too good everywhere on the field for Pittsburgh to hang around. I know they’re young, and getting more mature late in the season, but that team will get embarrassed by their Big East foe from New Jersey.
Iowa State Cyclones @ Kansas Jayhawks (-26):
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: WSEX)
The Cyclones are one of the worst teams in college football, despite playing well in a big game or two this season (close game against Oklahoma and a win over Iowa come to mind) but they have also absolutely sucked against superb offense (which the Jayhawks definitely have). Todd Reesing (KU’s QB) has 26 TD passes and only 4 interceptions, and Kansas has been even more amazing at home this season, outscoring opponents 52-7, 62-0, 45-13, 55-3, 58-10, and 76-39. I know those opponents have been brutal, but what’s the difference between one of those terrible foes and the Cyclones? They are all bad. Look for Kansas to get their 11th win and easily stay undefeated.
Kentucky Wildcats (+7.5) @ Georgia Bulldogs:
(Line: Wednesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)
The Wildcats have been solid on the road, 2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS. They are, in my opinion, the more balanced team, and have more consistency all over the field. Kentucky has lost 3 of their last 5 games, but wins over LSU and at Vanderbilt have allowed the Wildcats to keep on keeping on. They’ve only lost two games by more than 8 points, and consistently press the offensive action until opposing defense crumble. The Wildcats have scored less than 23 points once all season long, while Georgia has been held under 26 points 4 times this season. I think this game is too much of a toss up to ignore the chance to get the Wildcats as more than a touchdown dogs. I think last week’s dumping of Auburn will actually work against the Bulldogs in this game.
Duke Blue Devils (+6) @ Notre Dame:
(Line: Wednesday, 11:00pm EST: BodogLife)
I never thought I’d be taking Duke to beat the Fighting Irish, but there’s not much fighting about these Irish kids. The whole team is crumbling, and the coaching staff is being questioned on every decision, recruiting blunder, and crushing loss. Think how terrible this loss would be for the Irish. A loss to the Duke Blue Devils is crushing for any program, but one as grand as the historic Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Two losses to military schools and a home loss to Duke – yes, this could be a mystical seasons for those anti-Irish guys.
Five Free Dogs to Walk!
Maryland Terrapins (+7.5) @ Florida State Seminoles:
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: Belmont)
Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Tech Red Raiders (+8.5):
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: Bodog)
Tulane Green Wave (+2) @ Rice Owls:
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: Belmont)
Northwestern Wildcats (+13.5) @ Illinois Fighting Illini:
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: Belmont)
Idaho Vandals (+34.5) @ Boise State Broncos:
(Line: Thursday, 4:00pm EST: Belmont)