Scott Van Pelt, Host, SportsCenter with SVP 1y

College football Week 12: Scott Van Pelt's Winners

College Football, null

We had a winning week last week with a smaller card, so we are going to take a reasonable approach again, right? Nope. What fun is that? This card is screaming at me and I'm listening.

Season: 50-42-3


 UConn at Army (-10, 43.5)
Noon ET, Michie Stadium, West Point, New York

Van Pelt's pick: Army (-10)

Let me ask you -- if a 3-6 team is giving more points than it scored in either of the last two weeks to a team who just qualified to play in a bowl, you kind of have to take them, don't you? The 3-6 team, I mean. Yes. By rule. Army giving double digits for some unknown reason to UConn.

SVP: 4-1-1 when picking independents this season


 No. 4 TCU (-2.5, 57) at Baylor
Noon ET, McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas

Van Pelt's pick: Baylor (+2.5)

Through the years I have loved taking TCU as an underdog. Had them this year against Oklahoma, 'member? They crushed the Sooners. But boy am I a dummy to keep going against the Frogs now that they're favorites. They've stuck it to me in this segment but I'm nothing if not stubborn. Baylor in Waco plus a tiny little helper.

SVP: 8-1 all-time when picking Baylor


 Illinois at No. 3 Michigan (-18, 40.5)
Noon ET on ABC, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Van Pelt's pick:  Illinois (+18)

I'm taking Illinois to benefit from its defense and Michigan sneaking a peek at its trip to Columbus next week. Illini plus three scores feels like a lot.

SVP: 5-1 all-time when picking unranked Big Ten teams vs. top-3 Big Ten teams 


 UTSA (-13, 56.5) at Rice 
1 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Rice Stadium, Houston

Van Pelt's pick: Rice (+13)

Steve tried this Week 1 and it was a fiasco -- I'm taking a stab at it against one of our favorite squads. Rice plus nearly 2 TDs at home. Owls need one win to go bowling. A win might be a lot to ask for here, but if they can compete for 60, maybe we can too.

SVP: 0-3 all-time when picking Rice, 0-0-1 all-time when picking against UTSA


 No. 15 Kansas State (-7.5, 55) at West Virginia
2 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia

Van Pelt's pick: West Virginia (+7.5)

West Virginia ... that bad beat against TCU still stings, but our love for you remains as strong as ever. We will back you in Morgantown one more time -- obligatory -- let's go Mountaineers, let's go drink some beers.

SVP: 35-20-2 all-time when picking home teams in Big 12 conference games


 Georgia State at James Madison (-9, 52)
2 p.m. ET ESPN+, Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Van Pelt's pick: Georgia State (+9)

Who is America's No. 1 Sun Belt Tout -- you know that is me. SO, Georgia State plus the points in Harrisonburg is information you should treat like the gold it is.

SVP: 10-1 when picking Sun Belt teams this season


 Western Kentucky at Auburn (-5.5, 52.5)
4 p.m. ET, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

Van Pelt's pick: Western Kentucky (+5.5)

Western Kentucky isn't going to score on Auburn like they do on their Conference USA brethren. But they can score enough to take the points on the plains, so we will take the Toppers.

SVP: 2-1 all-time when picking Western Kentucky


 Marshall (-4.5, 52.5) at Georgia Southern 
6 p.m. ET, Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia

Van Pelt's pick: Georgia Southern

Remember the whole Sun Belt thing? Yeah, OK. Georgia Southern. Again. Plus the points against Marshall.

SVP: 3-1 all-time when picking Georgia Southern


     No. 5 Tennessee (-21.5, 66) at South Carolina
    7 p.m. ET on ESPN, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina

    Van Pelt's pick: South Carolina (+21.5)

    Not sure who has stomped on my face more this year in this segment -- TCU or Tennessee. The Vols aren't losing to South Carolina, but 21½ points? Stand up for your boy, one time, Cocky.

    SVP: 1-7 all-time when picking South Carolina


       No. 14 Ole Miss (-2.5, 65.5) at Arkansas
      7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network, Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas

      Van Pelt's pick: Arkansas (+2.5)

      Somehow Arkansas got home for us last week against LSU -- no clue how. We are calling the Hogs again in this one with Ole Miss off a gutting home loss to Bama.

      SVP: 8-2 all-time when picking Arkansas


       No. 7 USC (-2.5, 76.0) at No. 16 UCLA
      8 p.m. ET, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

      Van Pelt's pick: UCLA (+2.5)

      UCLA over USC in their annual rivalry tilt. The best uniform matchup in the sport, the Rose Bowl -- and UCLA scored 62 on these guys last year. Might need that many again. Should be a shootout.

      SVP: 22-12-1 all-time when picking ranked vs. ranked games in November

      I think that's 11. Whatever it is -- put 'em in the blender. Birdcage. This is a recipe for something good. Probably. Maybe. I don't know. We'll find out.

      ^ Back to Top ^