After an action-packed Week 10, all eyes will be on Lane Kiffin and LSU. Can the head coach rally his team after losing to Alabama and keep the Tigers' College Football Playoff hopes alive?
Here are our picks and favorite bets against the spread.
👉 Check out all college football Week 11 lines on theScore Bet
Our trio of betting writers - Brenden Deeg, Dane Belbeck, and Eric Patterson - will make picks against the spread for the week's biggest games all season.
Brenden Deeg breaks down a few of this week's marquee matchups, adding his own analysis and insights. He also identifies three hidden gems the public may be overlooking.
Game time - 12 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Wake Forest (+1.5)
This is a massive matchup in the ACC title race, as Wake Forest can basically clinch a spot in the championship game against Miami with a victory, while SMU needs a win to stay alive.
I think the wrong team is favored in this contest. Wake Forest's offense has been lights out in 2026, ranking second in the nation in EPA/play, fourth in points per game, and sixth in success rate, according to TruMedia. Quarterback Gio Lopez, one of the best signal-callers in FBS this campaign, is listed as probable and should play Saturday after resting last week. The Demon Deacons have also been elite on the ground, sitting seventh in rush success rate.
Meanwhile, SMU's defense ranks 118th in rush success rate, and injuries have gashed the unit. This will be the toughest defense Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs have faced this year, with Wake Forest giving up just six completions of 20-plus air yards all season (third-best in the country) and ranking 12th in yards per play allowed. The Demon Deacons are stout on both sides of the ball.
Wake Forest is extremely well-coached under Jake Dickert, and I think it'll rise to the challenge and take down SMU on the road. 👉 Add Wake Forest to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 7:30 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: LSU (-4.5)
LSU's season is on the line Saturday, as it'll need to run the table with wins over Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Despite last weekend's loss to Alabama, the Tigers racked up 457 yards of offense and consistently moved the ball. Ranked ninth nationally in offensive success rate, they have the firepower to attack the Longhorns' defense. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been playing really well lately, totaling eight touchdowns and just one turnover over the last three games. He ranks 29th in EPA/dropback among all qualifying signal-callers this season.
On the other side, I don't trust Arch Manning against the Tigers. He played well against Missouri last week, but LSU's pass defense is nasty. The unit ranks third in the country in sacks, fourth in EPA/dropback allowed, and sixth in pressure rate. Notably, Manning has 11 turnovers this season, the 11th most among all quarterbacks, and has completed just 53% of his throws when pressured. Losing offensive tackle Trevor Goosby could also prove costly for the Longhorns in this matchup.
This is a tough spot for Texas, considering it's the team's second straight SEC road game, and it'll now be under the lights in Death Valley. I think Kiffin rallies LSU to keep its season alive. 👉 Add LSU to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 7:30 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Arizona (+2.5)
Utah has been an incredible story: 9-0, ranked No. 2 in the country, and coming off a massive Holy War win over BYU. The Utes are in the driver's seat in the Big 12, but this is a tough matchup and could be a letdown spot.
Utah running back Wayshawn Parker reportedly has a bone bruise in his knee and hasn't looked the same over the last few weeks. Arizona has also been solid against the run this year, sitting 37th in the nation in rush success rate and allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. The matchup will likely force Devon Dampier to beat them with his arm. Though the star quarterback is having a great year and is a Heisman candidate, he's prone to turning the ball over when rattled in the pocket. Ranking 11th in the country in pressure rate, the Wildcats excel at causing chaos up front.
Arizona's offense has also been one of the best in FBS this year, ranking 19th in yards per play and 23rd in EPA/dropback. Quarterback Noah Fifita has performed at a high level and should succeed against Utah's defense, which sits 103rd in the country in passing yards allowed. The Utes are a different team on the road, while the Wildcats have a rest advantage after playing on Friday last week. I like Arizona to keep this close or win outright. 👉 Add Arizona to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - Friday 10:15 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Houston (-9.5)
This is a massive mismatch between Houston's offense and Colorado's defense. The Cougars rank first in rush success rate, sixth in EPA/play, and 12th in yards per play. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, allow 243.3 passing yards per game, 113th in the country, and surrender an explosive play at a 12.5% rate, 96th nationally.
Houston's secondary is its biggest weakness, but Colorado has struggled to move the ball through the air. The Buffaloes are 112th in touchdown-to-interception ratio this year and have allowed 21 sacks, ranking 90th nationally. This offense has been severely banged up and is averaging just 19.8 points per game, the worst mark in the Big 12.
The Cougars are 7-2 this year, while Deion Sanders is 3-6 through nine games and fighting for his job. Houston should roll to a comfortable victory. 👉 Add Houston to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 12:00 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Auburn (-2.5)
With this spread under a field goal, I'll bite and keep fading Mississippi State without Kamario Taylor.
The Bulldogs have lost five straight games and have struggled without their star quarterback. During that skid, Mississippi State has averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, ranking 132nd nationally. It's also allowed a sack on 14.6% of its pass attempts during that stretch, the third-worst mark in all of FBS.
Auburn's defense has 23 sacks and 10 interceptions this season, the 15th most in the country. Quarterback Byrum Brown has taken care of the ball lately, posting eight touchdowns to just one turnover in his last four games. The Tigers' offense should do enough against this mediocre defense to win by at least a field goal on the road. 👉 Add Auburn to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 3:30 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Nevada (-6.5)
I'll fade one of the worst teams in the nation and back Nevada to cover a spread that feels way too low.
Northern Illinois is 0-9 and 3-6 against the spread this season. The Huskies have scored the second-fewest points in the country and rank 134th in line-of-scrimmage EPA. At home this year, they've posted a minus-54.5 cover margin, which ranks 129th in the FBS.
Nevada hasn't been great, but its defense has been solid, allowing just 4.9 yards per play and 156 passing yards per game, the 17th-best mark in the country. The Wolf Pack should be able to score enough points against a Northern Illinois defense that's second-last in success rate and hasn't shown any fight. 👉 Add Nevada to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
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