Josh Pate Best Bets: Week 14 College Football Picks, Predictions

On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, college football analyst Josh Pate provides his picks aboard the Ramen Noodle Express for the coming weekend, offering a preview for Week 14. He dished out his first pick, an SEC game, on Sunday night.

Pate made his picks at the end of Sunday’s episode of the Josh Pate’s College Football Show. First, he recapped how last weekend went.

“We had a 5-8 day yesterday, very disappointing,” Pate said. “Guys, if you thought this was going to be easy, you got on board the wrong Express. We don’t just go undefeated every week, although we try to. This is a battle. This is a fight that we’re in together, and we went 5-8 yesterday, which means we’ve got to get ready.

“We are Georgia Tech. We are bloodied but we’ve got to gird our loins, figuratively or literally, I don’t really care. It’s your personal life. You do what you want to do. We’ve got to get ready for rivalry week.”

With that, here are the picks for Josh Pate in Week 14. As he makes more picks throughout the week they will be added here.

Missouri (-2.5) at Arkansas

Missouri is coming off a tough 17-6 loss to Oklahoma, though quarterback Beau Pribula was back in action. That’s the good news. The bad news is the team has lost three of the last four. Would you show confidence in the bunch at this point? Pate would.

Josh Pate: “I am doing that by taking Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri -2.5 vs. Arkansas. I think Drink and company are going to get a win this week, and I think they’re going to win by at least three, which is why I’m laying two and a half points.”

Coastal Carolina (+22.5) vs. James Madison

Coming off a stomping at the hands of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina will return home looking to end the season above .500. The team is currently 6-5 and will host red-hot James Madison in the regular season finale. Can they get it done? Well, Pate wasn’t ready to pick moneyline, but he’s taking Coastal Carolina to cover a rather large spread.

Josh Pate: “The next three that we’re going to add tonight. Coastal Carolina +22.5 against James Madison. …”

Illinois (-6.5) vs. Northwestern

Illinois has been an occasional bet for Pate this season, but he likes this line a whole lot. Illinois is coming off a humbling loss to Wisconsin and needs to beat Northwestern to feel good about how it closed the regular season. That’s no gimme, considering Northwestern is fresh off a win over Minnesota. But Pate likes the line.

Josh Pate: “Love Illinois -6.5 this week.”

Arizona State (+1.5) vs. Arizona

The final line of the Tuesday picks for Pate included a conference showdown between two ranked Big 12 teams. Arizona State has won three straight and is looking to conclude its regular season with an eighth win. But with some significant roster attrition via injury, Arizona State actually enters as a slight dog. That’s enticing for Pate.

Josh Pate: “And I’m going to take Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham. Is anyone listening? Kenny watches the show. I’m going to take Arizona State, all the sudden a ranked matchup against Arizona. So in conclusion, because the graphic didn’t work there. Missouri -2.5, Coastal Carolina +22.5, Illinois -6.5, Arizona State +1.5.”

Alabama (-5.5) at Auburn

After Auburn dominated Mercer 62-17 on Saturday, oddsmakers are beginning to believe in the Tigers. Auburn freshman quarterback Deuce Knight looked excellent his first career start. Nonetheless, Pate is confident the Crimson Tide will roll to a comfortable victory in the Iron Bowl.

Josh Pate: “Going right back to the well on Alabama. The model feels similarly to this game as it did in the Oklahoma game. … I love the way that we pegged that game. We can’t forecast turnovers. In this game, if turnovers are even, we like ‘Bama winning by over a touchdown.”

UCLA (+21.5) at USC

UCLA made some noise immediately after firing head coach DeShaun Foster. However, the Bruins have been quiet lately and are entering the regular-season finale on a four-game losing streak.

Pate expects UCLA to cover on Saturday against USC. The Trojans suffered a demoralizing loss against Oregon last week that eliminated them from College Football Playoff contention. Perhaps they’ll still be licking their wounds when they face off against UCLA this weekend.

Cincinnati (+3.5) vs. TCU

Cincinnati has lost its last three outings, most recently falling 26-14 to BYU. Evidently, Pate believes the Bearcats will finish their regular season strong and cover the spread against TCU.

It won’t be easy. TCU downed Houston 17-14 last weekend. At the time, Houston was ranked No. 23 in the country. Of course, Cincinnati has shown it can defeat elite competition too. Earlier this year, the Bearcats secured a 38-30 victory over Iowa State.

North Carolina (+7.5) at NC State

Bill Belichick‘s debut campaign at the helm of North Carolina has been a roller coaster. While the Tar Heels are no longer bowl eligible, they have a chance to build momentum heading into the offseason with a strong performance against NC State this weekend.

Josh Pate: “I may think the hire was a joke, I may think it’s not going to workout, but they keep giving us too many points with North Carolina. It’s a business decision. We’re not betting a coach or a team or a jersey or a logo. We’re betting data, and the data says North Carolina +7.5.”

UNLV (-7.5) at Nevada

Dan Mullen is having a much more successful first season with his respective program than Belichick. UNLV is 9-2 and on a three-game win streak. In their last outing, the Rebels routed Hawaii in dominant 38-10 fashion.

Josh Pate: “UNLV at Nevada, we are going to bet. UNLV laying 7.5 [points]. We think they win by 10 or more.”

Stanford (+32.5) vs. Notre Dame

Oddsmakers are sky-high on the Fighting Irish after they defeated Syracuse by 63 points last week. Pate isn’t convinced. He’s rolling with the Cardinal to cover on Saturday. Stanford is coming off an impressive 31-10 win over California.

Josh Pate: “We’re taking Stanford +32.5 as a best bet. Number’s a little too inflated after Notre Dame body-bagged Syracuse last week and everyone ever associated with the program.”

Purdue (+28.5) vs. Indiana

Indiana has been one of the most consistent teams in college football this season, but anything can happen in a rivalry game. Pate isn’t calling a Purdue win, but he has faith the Boilermakers will cover.

Josh Pate: “I’m not laying 28.5. It’s rivalry week, guys. So, Purdue +28.5.”

Washington State (-13.5) vs. Oregon State

Oregon State has won its last two meetings against Washington State, but the tides have shifted this season. Pate is going with the current and picking Washington State to cruise to a comfortable victory against the Beavers.

Josh Pate: “Washington State is hosting Oregon State. They’re laying 13.5. It could be a blood bath. Give me Washington State -13.5.”