College football predictions: Week 12 picks include key games in Big 12, ACC

Hummer (Louisville -1.5): Miami has been difficult to bet on this season. The Hurricanes are 3-1 ATS as an underdog but just 3-3 as the favorite. They’ve also just been remarkably inconsistent, playing FSU close one week with a true freshman QB under center and getting blown out by NC State the week prior. This game will be decided by how Louisville’s excellent run defense (9th nationally in yards allowed per play) helps contain a Miami offense that’s reliant on the ground game. I don’t love picking against Miami at home but give me the team with more to play for. … Louisville 31, Miami 28.

Crawford (Louisville -1.5) — This line is a bettor's paradise for those not watching the games and just going with a fade the public mentality. I haven't looked at the numbers this week, but I'm sure most of the bets are on Louisville in this one. Miami's talented, but how much gas do the Hurricanes have left in their tank after last week's heartbreaker at FSU? And another thing is the motivation factor. A win for Louisville wraps up a spot in the ACC Championship and the Cardinals don't have to worry with tiebreaker scenarios. ... Louisville 28, Miami 24.

Hummer (USC -6.5): UCLA is not playing well right now. The Bruins have managed just 15 points per game across their last three matchups (Arizona, ASU, Colorado), none of which had even top 45 defenses. USC is often a cure for that type of offensive woe, and I do expect UCLA to move the ball. I just don’t know if it can do so enough to keep up with Caleb Williams, even as the Trojans face the top defense in the Pac-12. Give me USC at home. … USC 38, UCLA 31.

Crawford (USC +6.5): With speculation involving the future of Chip Kelly leading the Bruins, there's far too many distractions this week to pick UCLA in this spot. I would've made the line higher than this, but do respect what the Bruins have been able to accomplish defensively in spots this fall. Caleb Williams will end USC's skid in a big way. ... USC 35, UCLA 27.

Hummer (Kentucky -2): South Carolina has a bit of momentum after two straight wins, but that does come with the caveat they were against Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt. Kentucky has been consistent this year: It wins against average and below average teams. It loses against really good ones. South Carolina is in the former category. The Kentucky rushing attack controls this game and Devin Leary makes enough plays to win on the road. … Kentucky 27, South Carolina 24.

Crawford (South Carolina +2): Trying to pick South Carolina games against the spread this season has been virtually impossible. I don't even want to reveal my personal record in the category, but I'll say this: Spencer Rattler's home and road splits are very interesting over his two-year career with the Gamecocks. And he could easily dissect a Kentucky secondary that's been below average this fall. Williams Brice Stadium at night can be very hostile and the Gamecocks are playing for something — a win against Kentucky sets up a bowl opportunity in the Palmetto State rivalry next weekend against Clemson. ... South Carolina 30, Kentucky 24.

Hummer (Florida +10.5): Florida has been terrible on the road this year. The Gators are 1-3 with their only win coming by two points against South Carolina, and this Missouri team is a lot better than South Carolina. The real question here is if a terrible Florida rush defense (117th nationally) can at least slow Cody Schrader down, because if he’s rolling, the Tigers become almost impossible to stop. But I’ve been a sucker for UF all year, and I think they come out swinging in this game. I like the Gators to at least cover. … Missouri 34, Florida 28.

Crawford (Florida +10.5): If the Gators are going bowling this season, it has to happen right here, but I'm not bold enough to pick Florida outright. We're playing with points in this picks and I'll gladly take the 10 if Florida's able to move the football at the rate it did in last week's loss to LSU. That's probably not going to happen considering this set of Tigers are much more efficient defensively, but the game should be competitive. Since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012, Florida leads the series, 6-5. ... Missouri 31, Florida 27.

Hummer (Oregon State +1): This line is swing hard in Oregon State’s favor, and I can understand why. Outside of Utah, the Beavers might have the most equipped defense in the Pac-12 to deal with the Huskies’ passing attack. Just as importantly, Oregon State’s offense is built to slow Washington down. The Beavers play at the 107th slowest pace nationally in terms of plays per minute, and they have a running attack capable of attacking what is a real Huskies weakness at 84th nationally in yards allowed per carry. Washington has continued to squeak by this season, but I think this is the week they get upended. … Oregon State 35, Washington 34.

Crawford (Washington -1): Is this where the perfect season ends for the Huskies? It's certainly possible and the line leads me to believe it'll happen. However, rarely can you get a team that's won the second-most consecutive games nationally behind Georgia as a 1-point favorite. I'm taking it as Michael Penix Jr. continues his march toward the Heisman ceremony in New York. ... Washington 38, Oregon State 35.

Hummer (UNC +6.5): This a matchup of an elite offense versus and elite defense. The Tar Heels rank 10th nationally in yards per play. The Tigers rank sixth nationally in yards allowed per play. So really, I’d expect this to come down to which team’s weakness – Clemson’s offense or UNC’s defense – plays better. And while UNC’s lack of general consistency makes it difficult to consider in these situations, I think the Tar Heels have an excellent chance to cover. They can score on anyone. It’s just a matter of Clemson keeping up. … Clemson 34, UNC 31.

Crawford (Clemson -6.5): I have zero faith in the Tar Heels defensively and UNC hasn't won in Death Valley since 2001 with four losses to the Tigers on the road since. Meanwhile, Clemson is playing its best football of the season and could be in for one of the ACC's top-tier bowl invites with two more wins. Dabo Swinney's group will play well at home and snuff out any of UNC's remaining ACC title game hopes. ... Clemson 34, UNC 20.

Hummer (Minnesota +27.5): That is a big line for Ohio State to clear, especially with The Game looming. In all fairness, Minnesota hasn’t played well the last two weeks. But the Gophers, in terms of a spread conversation, play at a very slow pace that will shorten the game. Minnesota does struggle defensively, but if it can get the run game going, I think the Gophers do enough to cover. … Ohio State 38, Minnesota 12.

Crawford (Minnesota +27.5): Minnesota has trouble scoring and Ohio State does not. The Golden Gophers can't match the Buckeyes athletically on defense and Jim Knowles' unit should have its way. All that being said, this one comes before the showdown with Michigan and I think Ohio State will be playing more of a get-in-and-get-out style than really laying it to P.J. Fleck and Co. ... Ohio State 34, Minnesota 14.

Hummer (Iowa State +7.5): Ames has been a house of horrors for Texas in recent memory. The Longhorns have lost three of their last four games there. This series is usually close, too. Four of the last six matchups between these two teams have been decided by a possession or less. Texas is the better team. But it’s limping into Ames. As for Iowa State, the Cyclones have an elite defense that’s kept it in almost every game this season despite an offense without a lot of pop. You could really go either way here – Iowa State is going to struggle to run, and Texas could too – but I think the safe bet is a Cyclone cover. That’s just what the history of this series has been. … Texas 27, Iowa State 20.

Crawford (Iowa State +7.5): You want Big 12 chaos? Iowa State would be the beneficiary here if the Cyclones find a way to upset the Longhorns. Jonathon Brooks was arguably the most consistent playmaker on the Texas offense this season and losing him for these final two games is going to hurt. It's survive-and-advance mode for Steve Sarkisian's team and they've been playing with fire over the last few games with so many squandered leads. Be careful, here. ... Texas 29, Iowa State 26.

Hummer (Georgia -10): I like Georgia here. Tennessee has played two great teams this year: Alabama and Missouri. Both exposed the Vols’ flaws. Tennessee struggles to run the ball consistently against good D-lines, has an inconsistent starting QB and a usually stingy defense can really get attacked deep. Georgia can expose Tennessee in all those areas. Perhaps Joe Milton has a spectacular game and the Vols crowd keeps them in it. But I think UGA wins this game by 10-plus most of the time. … Georgia 34, Tennessee 21.

Crawford (Georgia -10): Before you throw something down on an alternate line and take the Bulldogs big, remember where this one's being played and how different the Vols look inside Neyland Stadium versus elsewhere under Josh Heupel. As a fan, I'd like to see a game that's competitive in the second half with the two-time defending national champions on the ropes. I'm not sure it happens, though. Inconsistencies on offense might show up again for the Vols. ... Georgia 31, Tennessee 17.

Hummer (Michigan -19.5): This is a tough matchup for Maryland. The Terrapins struggle to run the ball (94th nationally in yards per carry), and they’re going up against one of the best run defenses in the country. That means everything is on Taulia Tagovailoa to throw against what is arguably the best pass defense in college football. I do wonder how much Michigan will put its foot down this week. The Game is on deck and the Wolverines haven’t been shy about taking their foot off the gas this season with a lead. But I just don’t see this being close given the way Maryland’s played the elite teams on its schedule this year. … Michigan 38, Maryland 17.

Crawford (Michigan -19.5) — The week before Michigan's most important game of the season might get tricky if I trust the Terrapins and Mike Locksley more in this spot, but fading Maryland has often worked in recent years against good competition. The Wolverines are on a mission and defensively, I don't see Maryland being to score enough points in this one to cover. Michigan wins at the line of scrimmage. ... Michigan 35, Maryland 13.