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College football Week 11 predictions: Best bets, picks against the spread
The article picks LSU to beat Texas by 4.5 points, arguing that Texas quarterback Arch Manning could be under heavy pressure in his return to Louisiana. The prediction sits within a broader criticism of college sport’s expanding playoffs, which the writer says prioritise money and risk diminishing the regular season.
The piece also offers several other Week 11 picks, including Illinois against UCLA, Miami against Duke, Ohio State against Northwestern and SMU against Wake Forest. It cites team form and betting records, such as Vanderbilt’s 13-5-1 record against the spread as an underdog since 2024, and Georgia’s average winning margin of nearly 22 points across five conference games. The supplied article text cuts off before all the picks and details are shown.
In short
- LSU is tipped to beat Texas by 4.5 points.
- The writer criticises the move to a 24-team playoff.
- Other picks include Miami, Ohio State and Georgia.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Expanding the playoff can make more teams’ seasons meaningful, give deserving sides a route to the title despite an early defeat, and create games that attract audiences and revenue. Supporters may see the regular season’s value in its depth and rivalries, while accepting that a larger postseason makes the championship more inclusive.
The case against
A larger playoff can make individual regular-season games feel less consequential if teams have more chances to recover from losses, weakening the urgency that gives college football its appeal. Critics may also argue that expansion is driven too heavily by revenue and adds demands to players’ schedules, putting commercial priorities ahead of the sport’s traditions and athletes’ welfare.