2 College Football Best Bets for Saturday, November 16: Retzlaff Leads BYU Against Kansas
Get fired up and ready for the Week 12 college football slate by checking out our betting guide. We’ve got 2 best bets on tap for Saturday, November 16. Best of luck with your picks this week!
Missouri Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks
In one of the few games where we get both teams ranked inside the Top 25 this weekend, the #23 Missouri Tigers will be hosted by the #21 South Carolina Gamecocks in the mid-afternoon Saturday. At 7-2 overall, Missouri is 3-2 over their last 5 games and 2 of those wins came by just 1 score. Most recently, they defeated Oklahoma at home in a game that had a wild 4th quarter.
Missouri led 10-9 heading into the 4th quarter and extended their lead to 16-9 with just under 9 minutes to play. Oklahoma answered with back-to-back touchdowns and led 23-16 with just over 2 minutes remaining. Missouri tied it up with 1 minute remaining and then forced a Jackson Arnold fumble that they returned for what would be a game-winning touchdown just seconds later.
South Carolina has had one of the toughest 7-game stretches in the country. While they dropped 3 of their 1st four games to LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama (all ranked); they have bounced back to win their last 3 games. Two of those wins came over ranked opponents.
They dismantled #10 Texas A&M 44-20 and then dominated #24 Vanderbilt 28-7 last week. They have accumulated 500 rushing yards over those 2 wins and 880 total yards. The defense has continued to be stiff and currently rank 26th in the country, allowing just 17.56ppg.
Best Bet: South Carolina -12
South Carolina is playing arguably the best football of all SEC teams right now and have been cover machines. Missouri, on the other hand, has been struggling and even in wins have barely snuck by.
We like the Gamecocks here at home to blow the doors off Missouri and make a statement before their season finale with Clemson on the road.
Key Trends for Mizzou at South Carolina
- South Carolina is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games played in November.
- South Carolina is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games.
- South Carolina is 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games against an opponent in the SEC.
Kansas Jayhawks vs BYU Cougars
The undefeated BYU Cougars will play host to the 3-6 Kansas Jayhawks Saturday evening. BYU has just 3 games left to win and they will surely be in the playoff if they can complete the regular season undefeated. They are coming off a serious scare against rival Utah last week. They trailed 21-10 at the half, but battled back to cut the lead to just 2 early in the 4th quarter.
On the final drive of the game, Jake Retzlaff orchestrated the team down the field and Will Ferrin connected on a 44-yard field goal to win the game. In the win, they did have trouble against the run and allowed 147 yards on the ground but made up for things by forcing 3 turnovers.
Kansas may be 3 games under .500 but they are coming off the biggest win of their season. They put 45 points against then #17 Iowa State last week. After building a 31-13 lead at the half, Kansas was able thwart the Cyclones comeback bid and won by the final 45-36.
The Jayhawks put up 237 yards on the ground and were a tremendous 7/13 on 3rd downs. In the other 2 wins for Kansas, they were able to gain 331 yards and 220 yards on the ground. They will be looking to run the ball again here and control the clock in their upset attempt on the road at BYU.
Best Bet: BYU -3
BYU continues to get disrespected by the oddsmakers. This looks like a trap with the spread being so low for an undefeated Cougar team at home over a weak 3-6 Kansas squad, and if it is, so be it.
We just cannot help ourselves here. BYU got their wake-up call against Utah last week and now Kansas is coming off an emotional win. We like this spot for BYU at home.
Key Trends for KU at BYU:
- Kansas is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games on the road.
- BYU is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference.
- BYU is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games.
- BYU is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games at home.
Bill Christy
Sports Betting Contributor
Bill is a high-volume sports bettor who runs his own sports investing business. He has an uncanny ability to find tons of mathematical edges on each day’s sports betting card. Bill covers all sports but his bread and butter is UFC, Golf, and College Hoops. Find him on X at @LarrysLocks2
