College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for top 25 games today in Week 13

Rivalry Week has arrived and with it some of the biggest college football games of the season will be going down Saturday. Bragging rights will not be the only thing on the line as division titles, conference championship game appearances and College Football Playoff invitations will all be up for grabs with 18 top 25 teams in action over the course of the day.

Ohio State and Michigan go head-to-head in The Game with the Big Ten East on the line. The Buckeyes and Wolverines each have a shot at a top spot in the College Football Playoff, but the victory in Saturday’s game must win out through the Big Ten title game. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State meet in Bedlam, each as one-loss Big 12 teams that would need a bit of help to get into the playoff. There’s also a chance the Sooners and Cowboys meet in a league title game rematch should the Sooners win.

Elsewhere, Georgia (at Georgia Tech) and Alabama (at Auburn) each have rivalry games to get through ahead of their matchup in the SEC title game.

While winning is all that matters for the standings, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for a loaded Saturday in Week 13.

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 5 Michigan

Noon| Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) — It’s so hard to go against the Buckeyes in this game. Even though I think this is the most complete Michigan team that Jim Harbaugh has fielded, after seeing the way the Buckeyes have flipped the switch the last two weeks, I don’t think the Wolverines are good enough to keep it within the number. They have an excellent defense and pass rush, but they’ve yet to face an offense even close to what Ohio State offers. If the Wolverines fall behind, they’ll have to abandon their strengths in an effort to keep up. So I’m laying the points with the Buckeyes while hoping the game is much closer. Prediction: Ohio State (-8) — Tom Fornelli

No. 3 Alabama at Auburn

3:30 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — I’ll take the points since a nearly three-touchdown spread screams “backdoor cover”. It’s impossible to trust the Crimson Tide offensive line, so I expect Auburn to force multiple empty possessions, which will allow T.J. Finley to keep his team in the game for at least three quarters. Finley will ultimately make a mistake or two that swings the game in the favor of the crimson and white … but not by three scores. Prediction: Auburn (+19.5) — Barrett Sallee

Penn State at No. 12 Michigan State

3:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — There has to be some shell shock coming out of that stunning result at Ohio State last week, and while returning home should bring a more friendly environment for Michigan State, I think Penn State comes in with a little bit more juice. Taking the under is my favorite play because this should be a low-scoring game, but ultimately I’ll side with the Nittany Lions. Prediction: Penn State (-1.5) — Chip Patterson

No. 15 Texas A&M at LSU

7 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — Both of these teams have been disappointing relative to expectations, but LSU has played poor football against quality competition. The only ranked win of the season came against Florida, which proceeded to collapse. Texas A&M can limit LSU’s running game and make them one-dimensional enough to come away victorious. Prediction: Texas A&M (-6.5) — Shehan Jeyarajah

No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State

7:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — Oklahoma was a trendy pick to win the national championship entering the season — including by this author. Unfortunately, there’s only so much waiting we can muster before we acknowledge that the proverbial Mr. Godot is not coming. Oklahoma State has been consistently better and more dominant all season long, and its playing its best football with a chance to reach its first Big 12 Championship Game. The Cowboys won’t waste this moment. Prediction: Oklahoma State (-4) — Shehan Jeyarajah

Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 13, and which top College Football Playoff contender gets a huge scare? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned almost $3,700 in profit over the past five-plus seasons — and find out.