The Michigan Wolverines are now 10-0 for the first time since 2006 and just the third time since 1975. When the Wolverines started 10-0 in 1997, they won a national championship. This is a huge turnaround from the end of the 2020 season, which saw the Wolverines finish 2-4 in the COVID-shortened campaign. They advanced to the College Football Playoff last season despite a loss to Michigan State, thanks to a win over Ohio State and a Big Ten Championship. Tailback Blake Corum has been a huge part of the success, with seven straight games with at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, and the defense has been stifling this year as well. As we consider Week 12 in college football, don’t miss our NCAA Football online betting suggestions.
NCAA News: Sure Losers for Week 12
→ Saturday, November 19
Navy Midshipmen (+16.5) at #17 UCF Golden Knights
(11:00am ET, ESPN2)
Navy (3-7, 3-4 AAC) took on Notre Dame last week and looked ready to deliver on the upset. However, they fell to the Fighting Irish, 35-32 – while covering the point spread. Navy only won four games in 2021, but one of those wins came against UCF (8-2, 5-1 AAC). UCF leads the conference right now after beating Tulane in a squeaker last week. The Golden Knights were up 17 in the third before Tulane mounted a big rally and scored with 1:46 left in regulation, but UCF held on for the win.
Navy brings that triple-option attack on offense, but they have a sneaky passing game that can catch opposing defenses off guard. With that slow rhythm on offense, they tend to eat up a lot of clock, which can frustrate the opposition. If they snuck within three points of Notre Dame, they will be able to cover this time. Navy to cover.
Illinois Fighting Illini (+17.5) at #3 Michigan Wolverines
(12:00 pm ET, ABC)
The potential for a trap game is immense this week, as the Michigan Wolverines face the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 13 with a berth in the Big Ten Championship on the line. Illinois has stumbled the last two weeks, losing to Michigan State and Purdue (both unranked). The defense can be stout, but it has given up a lot the last two weeks.
Michigan has Donovan Edwards to spell Blake Corum when he needs a break, and the Wolverines just rolled over Nebraska, 34-3, in their latest laugher. Can Michigan cover against Illinois, though? The Wolverines are putting up big points, and they want to send the playoff selection committee a message each week, so I see them using the first quarter or so to get through the trap game phase and then pull away. Michigan to win and cover.
#20 Oregon State Beavers (-7.5) at Arizona State Sun Devils
(2:15 pm ET, ESPN2)
Arizona State has been more competitive since firing Herm Edwards, but they still lost at home to UCLA by 14 and lost at Washington State by 10. Oregon State is just 2-2 straight up on the road this season, and the road wins came at Fresno State and Stanford. They did thump Cal last week at home, and they almost beat Washington on the road (losing by a field goal), but this seems like a big line for this game.
Arizona State has enjoyed the running of Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay, who has 986 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns this year. He has also caught 31 passes for 264 yards. He had 189 all-purpose yards against Washington State. It is up in the hair who will start at quarterback, as Emory Jones, the Florida transfer, was benched for Trenton Bourguet, but Bourguet went down to injury last week and remains questionable. Oregon State saw six starters go down to injury against Cal, including tailbacks Deshaun Fenwick and Jam Griffin, cornerback Alex Austin and safety Jaydon Grant. With all of these factors in play, I see the Sun Devils causing problems. Arizona State to cover.
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