CFB Best Bets For Week 14: Expert Picks, Predictions & Player Props
Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! I hope you all are able to spend some time with family and fill those bellies with some delicious food! And, of course, get to watch some more football.
We have more MACtion this week followed up by a critical AAC showdown. Then on Friday, we’re treated to a whole feast of games! All that said, it’s a great week to be a football fan!
We’re here to deliver on some CFB best bets for Week 14, which I’ll uncover below.
CFB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: 11/26-11/28
We’ve now hit back-to-back weeks of 4-1 records during these midweek CFB best bets, including plus money winners in both weeks too! I’ll only have three CFB picks for this edition though, as we’ll be supplying a completely separate article for the matchups on Friday.
Without further ado, here’s my official Toledo vs. Akron prediction, Memphis vs. Tulane prediction and Kent State vs. Buffalo prediction!
- Season Record: 65-70-3
- Units W/L: -10.7 Units
Toledo vs. Akron Prediction: Tuesday, November 26th
The MACtion game we’ll touch on in our CFB best bets writeup is the one taking place in Ohio. At 3-8, the Zips have obviously not met their personal expectations this season. However, they've actually played some pretty good ball as of late. Half of their wins have come in the last 4 games, and they’ve even covered the spread in 3 of those.
Even prior to this stretch, they had lost their 2 games leading up to it by a combined 17 points. This isn’t a team that’s been getting blown out by MAC schools week in and week out, and on Senior Day, they should have all the motivation they need.
On the other side, while Toledo would love to end their regular season with a win, they aren’t necessarily playing for all that much. They’ve already clinched a bowl berth with 7 wins but are also out of the MAC title race with 3 conference losses. Not to mention they’re coming off a loss to Ohio in which they looked really bad, plus they’ve struggled against conference foes on the road all season long.
The Rockets are 2-1 away from home SU against MAC competition but 1-2 ATS, and those 2 wins are by a combined 8 points. The Zips may certainly wind up losing this one in the end as they have tended to do all campaign, but the stats indicate that they should be able to keep it close, at the bare minimum.
- Expert Toledo vs. Akron Prediction: Zips +8.5 (-112 at DraftKings)
Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction: Thursday, November 28th
Let’s skip ahead a couple days to round out our midweek version of Week 14 CFB best bets. This matchup has the potential to be a really fun one, as both offenses have the ability to put up points. Rather than focus on the spread or even the game total, I’m highlighting the total points prop for the Tigers here.
They’ve quietly been one of the country’s elite offensive attacks, spearheaded by their passing game. They rank 24th in the nation in passing yards per game at 273.1 and are 20th in scoring at 35.3 points per game. They’ve put up less than 27 points just once in conference play and have amassed 36+ on 4 separate occasions.
The Green Wave defense has played well recently, but you have to consider the offenses they’ve been playing. Their last 3 games have been against Charlotte, Temple and Navy – not exactly offensive powerhouses.
When they matched up with North Texas before that, a team with similar offensive numbers to Memphis, they allowed 37 points. I’m not saying the Tigers will run wild here and score that many, but 3 touchdowns doesn’t seem like all that much for this offense.
- Expert Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction: Tigers TT Over 20.5 (-115 at DraftKings)
Best CFB Prop Bets & Other Picks This Week: November 2024
- Kent State vs. Buffalo: Bulls 2nd Half TT O16.5 (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.