Week 14 College Football Betting Picks, Predictions for November 30, 2024

The 2024 edition of Rivalry Saturday takes on a new look, combining tradition that has shaped college football for decades with the stakes of the unprecedented 12-team College Football Playoff.

Three games featuring at least one team chasing a Playoff berth offer intriguing bets for this final Saturday of a historic season.

Clemson -2.5 vs. South Carolina, -115 (DraftKings)

The Palmetto State rivalry returns to Death Valley for the first time since arguably the most stunning entry in modern times of this 128-year-old series.

In 2022, the Gamecocks scored their first win over the Tigers since 2013 while also handing Clemson its first home loss since 2016.

A key difference between the defeats that bookended Clemson’s 40 straight home wins, however, was that falling to Pitt in 2016 served as a prelude to the Tigers’ first national championship under Dabo Swinney. The loss to South Carolina two years ago, on the other hand, dashed Clemson’s Playoff hopes.

The 31-30 loss also set off a stretch that wiped out Clemson’s previously held air of invincibility. Giving South Carolina a receipt in the Gamecocks’ return to Death Valley may not restore Clemson to its latter-half 2010s dominance, but it would presumably land the Tigers back in the playoffs—while denying South Carolina a possible spot in the field.

The South Carolina rush defense is statistically the best Clemson will have faced. However, the Tigers’ defense, with its ability to generate turnovers, promises to be an equalizer, capable of giving Clemson favorable field position.

In losses, South Carolina has committed multiple turnovers, averaging three in those games. With 20 total takeaways, Clemson ranks among the best turnover-generating defenses in the nation—including generating seven over the Tigers’ ongoing, three-game winning streak.

Look for a few key takeaways to play a central role in Clemson avenging its 2022 defeat and positioning itself for a Playoff berth.

Notre Dame -6.5 vs. Southern California, -122; U-52.5, -110 (FanDuel)

A late-season switch at quarterback from Miller Moss to Jayden Maiava preceded USC winning a pair of one-score games over Nebraska and UCLA, after one-possession decisions had vexed the Trojans much of the season.

The vibe shift that accompanied the change in quarterbacks saved USC’s bowl aspirations. But it may not be enough to put the Trojans into yet another one-score game with rival Notre Dame visiting Los Angeles, aiming to put an exclamation point on its Playoff resume.

Since a staggering loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2, the Fighting Irish have won 8 of 9 games by 18 points or more, thanks to a combination of stifling defense and methodical offense. The one-two punch of Jeremiyah Love and Riley Leonard carrying the ball complements a defense that’s strong against the run (3.5 yards allowed per carry) and downright incredible against the pass.

The Fighting Irish have 15 interceptions and have allowed just six touchdown passes this season, capitalizing on a multifaceted and steady pass rush. Maiava, who started slow in both of his previous two starts—including throwing a pick-six against Nebraska before settling in for three passing scores—cannot afford another slow start against the opportunistic Irish.

While USC is just a handful of scores away from playing for the Playoff itself, Notre Dame is an especially difficult matchup for a Trojans team with an inconsistent offense.

Syracuse ML +350 vs. Miami (FanDuel)

It’s never a good idea to label anything in college football as a guarantee. However, for those who have followed the sport long enough, the closest thing to a guarantee anyone can make is that the final weeks of the regular season will bring an earth-shattering result.

Week 14 offers a few possibilities involving teams currently in position to land a Playoff bid, including Texas facing historic rival Texas A&M for the first time since 2011.

Bettors looking to go for the gusto in the final week of the regular season might consider Syracuse hosting Miami.

The former Carrier Dome has been home to plenty of shocking upsets over the years, including in recent seasons. While those results have no bearing on a 2024 matchup, the atmosphere of the Dome itself plays a part in rattling visitors.

More pertinent to this ACC contest, however, is that 10-1 Miami’s defense has allowed five conference opponents to score more than their season averages. While that hasn’t cost the Hurricanes often, it has made for some too-close-for-comfort wins.

Syracuse should cover the number at +11 across a variety of books. If Kyle McCord settles in and his talented corps of top-three pass catchers—Trebor Pena, Jackson Meeks, and Oronde Gadsden II—find favorable matchups against the Hurricanes’ defense, the Orange can dramatically alter the Playoff forecast with an outright win.