Week 13 Predictions – 2025
Last Week: Ohio State once again did what they have done all year, take care of business. I have grown tired of the media narrative describing the OSU schedule as ‘soft’. The bottom line, they are beating the team across from them the way they are supposed too. They have one more ‘lesser’ opponent before starting a streak of 4-5 games against the top teams in the country, hopefully with the same success as last season. For our staff predictions, Andy, John, Trout, Dave, Mike and Gregg were 4-1 and that will also move Andy into a tie with Rick on top the standings at 42-18. With 3 weeks remaining, should be a fun race to watch. Probably 4 or 5 people that is in range to take the title. Good Luck to all.
This Week’s Games: It seems like we were just talking about the big match-up with Texas to open the season and now we are just one week away from the conference championship game. Here are the five games we will be looking at going into the final week of the season. Ohio State takes on Rutgers in the final game in Ohio Stadium for 2025. Is there anything the Scarlet Knights can do to keep this close? …. There are still six teams in the B1G with aspirations of making it to the playoffs and two of them square off this weekend. Oregon and USC will go toe-to-toe in Eugene in a game that will shape the landscape of the playoff picture. Which team will secure the win and remain in the hunt? …. About the only game in the SEC with a pulse will be Missouri at Oklahoma. Will the Sooners still be riding the momentum of their big road victory over Alabama last week? …. The ACC is still wide open and the game with Pitt vs. Georgia Tech may shape both the playoffs and the conference title game. Will the Yellow Jackets secure the big win? …. In the American Conference, BYU is going to Cincinnati to play the Bearcats. Can either of these teams make a run in the playoffs?
Buckeye Greats: As in the past, we will continue to include former Buckeye players in our prediction fun, and we are thrilled to have Vaughn Broadnax back with us as a regular participant for the 11th straight year.
Let’s have some fun! Here we go with our Week 13 Picks – Good Luck to All – Gregg
Rutgers @ (1)Ohio State
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Ohio State over Rutgers 45-3
Andy Steger: There is an interesting story developing around this game, which is how healthy are Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and some other Buckeyes? We’re nearing the point of the season where the grind really starts to wear on players. I suspect both Tate and Smith will be sidelined for this game to keep them healthy for the games to come. Rutgers has the 82nd pass defense in the country allowing an average of 220 yards through the air and a total of 20 touchdowns on the season. Normally we’d be saying how much worse this would be for Rutgers because of the injuries to Smith and Tate, but I think Ohio State will work to establish a strong run game in this game because Rutgers has one of the worst rush defenses in the country. Currently sitting at the 125th worst rush defense, the Scarlet Knights have given up on average 196 yards on the ground and 18 total rushing touchdowns on the season. Ohio State should have no problem running the football on the Knights or throwing the football. I expect Ohio State to win at home and have a smoother day on offense with or without Tate and Smith. Ohio State 38 Rutgers 6
Cory Steger: Rutgers has shown signs of life recently as the Scarlet Knights have won two of their last three. In order to become bowl-eligible, Rutgers needs to win one of their last two games, which include this week at Ohio State, and the following week against Penn State. It seems like a stretch to say they will get there. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis will need to have the game of his this week if the Scarlet Knights are to pull the upset, but the problem is that he’s prone to negative plays. He’s thrown seven picks this season and taken 29 sacks. That won’t be good enough against Ohio State’s defense. Ohio State 45, Rutgers 10
Dave Culver: Ohio State 42 Rutgers 3
Frank Berkopec: OSU 38 – 3
Gregg Watson: The Buckeyes will win this game, and they will continue their perfect season? They should be able to run the more this week and maybe build more confidence as they head to Ann Arbor where you never know how the weather will be this late in the season. Maybe they will put in a few plays that they will never run again but give their remaining opponents something they have to prepare for. The defense has been solid all year and should have yet another dominating performance. Coach Day will have the option to pad some stats for Sayin but I doubt that will be the case. One thing for sure the starters and the students in south stands will be done by the 4th quarter. Ohio State 42 Rutgers 3
Joe Hylton: Ohio State
John Seibert: This is surprisingly a hard game to get a feel for. Not regarding who will win, as Ohio State could play their managers, waterboys and the president of Block O and still get the W. No, for yet another week, OSU is playing 1) against themselves and 2) for the gamblers out there, against the spread. The week before The Game can be a trap week. If the Bucks aren’t focused on Rutgers, then this one my not be a blowout, but will still be an Ohio State win. If the Scarlet Knights have OSU’s (almost)full attention, then this one gets ugly early. Really, the biggest question here is will Tate and Smith play? If I could be Ryan Day for a day, Tate plays if he is 100% to knock any rust off but Smith only plays if he is 100% and even then I’d probably still keep him out if Tate is good to go. Either way, it won’t matter much for this week so long as everyone stays/gets healthy. Ohio State 45 Rutgers 10
Josh Watson: This is Ohio State’s final dress rehearsal before The Game, and Ryan Day’s team walks in laser-focused at 10-0. Rutgers enters with an improved defensive front and a scrappy identity, but the talent gap is the Grand Canyon. Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt continues to develop as a runner-first threat with flashes of arm talent, but Rutgers has struggled to sustain drives against top-tier defenses. That’s a problem against Ohio State’s Silver Bullets, who rank near the top nationally in yards per play allowed and have overwhelmed far better offenses. Offensively, the Buckeyes will want to fine-tune the run game after a season-best showing against UCLA. With Bo Jackson surging, Isaiah West emerging, and James Peoples adding a burst, expect plenty of rotation to keep everyone fresh. The status of Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith will be monitored closely — but with both nursing minor issues, Day may elect to get them a series or two before shutting them down for The Game. The key storyline? Health. Execution. Efficiency. Ohio State doesn’t need style points, but they’ll get them anyway. This should be a game where the starters are out by the mid-third quarter and Julian Sayin adds another sharp, low-mistake outing to his Heisman résumé. Ohio State 45, Rutgers 14
Mike Vandevelde: Ohio State
Steven Smith: Greg Schiano, please forgive us for what we are about to do. It is strange to say about a 5 loss team, but Rutgers isn’t horrible, but they are a step or two behind, especially defensively, from fielding a truly competitive team. The Scarlet Knights are in the bottom 15 in the nation in total defense, which is very strange for a Greg Schiano coached team. If NIL money and the right transfers come, Schinao and Rutgers can right the ship. That won’t happen this year, though. Saturday will look a lot like the Purdue or UCLA games. It will be a blowout, but will feel more like a death dirge. 3 hours of drudgery and then on to Rivalry week. OSU 38-10.
Stefan Armintrout: The Scarlet Knights are not great. The Buckeyes shouldn’t have too much trouble with them even with the uncertainty of having Smith and Tate. Buckeyes cruise and begin prep for The Game next week. (Ohio State, 42-10)
Final Score: Ohio State 42 Rutgers 9
(15)USC @ (7)Oregon
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Oregon edges USC 31-28
Andy: This game is probably going to be best of the weekend. USC still has playoff hopes on the line with this game, but they have to win. If they don’t they’re likely out of the post season and the pressure on Lincoln Riley was compound overnight. These are two of the best offenses in the country, with USC 10th in the country in scoring offense and Oregon 7th. Under Lincoln Riley the defense has always been the issue whether it was at Oklahoma or now at USC. Currently they have the 65th best rush defense in the country, they’re allowing an average of 145 yards on the ground per game they’ve only given up 9 total rushing touchdowns on the season. Oregon has an advantage here, they’re great at running the ball coming in at 8th best in the country they’re averaging 233 yards per game, 6.3 yards per carry and averaging nearly 3 rushing touchdowns per game. They say styles make fights in the MMA world, I think this game will come down to two teams with similar styles. I do think Oregon has a slight edge not just being at home, but because I think USC will have to over commit to pressuring Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and the Ducks rushing game that Oregon will be able to get some checky pass plays like screens off against the Trojans for some chunk yards. I do think this will be a close game and I expect Lincoln Riley and staff to pull out all the stops to keep their playoff hopes alive. Oregon 30 USC 27
Cory: Right now, USC is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, but a win at Oregon this week could just cement their status. The Trojans earned a hard-fought win over a tough Iowa team last week so they’ve got some good momentum, but beating Oregon will require more than what they did last week. USC’s only two losses this season have come on the road, and in both of those losses their defense gave up more than 30 points. Oregon has been rolling since their loss to Indiana, but the Ducks have played an easy schedule, and I’m still not confident Dante Moore can play well when the pressure is on. But, since this game is in Eugene I am giving the Ducks a slight edge. Oregon 35, USC 32
Dave: Oregon 28 USC 14
Frank: Oregon 27-24
Gregg: This game we will find out which one of these teams is for real and if they still have a chance to get into the playoffs. If Oregon wins, USC is out for sure, and the Ducks will be firmly locked into hosting a first round playoff game. But if the Trojans are victorious, both teams will move to the fringe of the playoff hunt and have to hope for a few teams above lose to let them slide through the back door. Oregon is very tough at home, and I am sure Lanning will do just enough to get this win. More important, if Oregon wins, it probably keeps at least one more SEC school out of the playoffs! Oregon 27 USC 20
Joe-S-U: Oregon
John: In theory, USC still has a shot at making the CFP field, but only if they win out. That will be a tall task, as that means they have to go one the road to one of the toughest venues in college football and beat a one loss Oregon whose only loss is to (and I can’t believe I actually typing this next bit) unbeaten #2 Indiana. I think SC just has too many holes on both sides of the ball to pull off the upset. Oregon 31 USC 21
Josh: Oregon is led by former five-star QB Dante Moore, who’s finally grown into his full potential after transferring back home and settling into Will Stein’s offense. Moore has been efficient, explosive, and poised late in games — and Oregon’s balanced attack makes them one of the few Pac-12 holdovers capable of forcing USC into a track meet. USC, meanwhile, is led by Jayden Maiava, who has flashed playmaking ability but has been inconsistent behind a struggling offensive line. The Trojans remain dangerous because of their athleticism at receiver — guys like Zachariah Branch can change a game instantly — but sustaining drives against Oregon’s defensive front will be difficult in Autzen. Expect Oregon to use tempo, RPOs, and Moore’s ability to extend plays to wear down USC’s defense, which continues to suffer from tackling and gap-assignment lapses. USC will keep it close with explosive moments, but Oregon is the more complete team. Oregon 30, USC 24
Mike: Oregon
Steven: This one is basically for a playoff spot and it should come down to defense. Oregon is tops in the country against the pass, USC is 43rd. Oregon has averaged close to 44 points while giving up just above 10 points per contest at home this season. Their only loss was 30-20 to then 7th (now 2nd) ranked Indiana week 6. USC has a solid squad, led by QB Jayden Maiava, and is currently 6th in total offense. As has often been Trojan coach Lincoln Riley’s Achilles heel, the USC defense has not kept up with the team’s offensive firepower. The Trojans are giving up 344 yards per game. Oregon and USC have comparable offenses, but there’s a huge disparity on defense. Couple that with USC being on the road, it does not bode well for the men of Troy. Ducks punch their ticket to the playoff if they win this and hold serve against Washington next week. Oregon 33-27.
Trout: I think the Trojans will put up a fight with the Ducks for a while, but Oregon is the better team. They will eventually pull away and destroy USC’s chances at the playoff. (Oregon, 27-17)
Final Score: Oregon 42 USC 27
(22)Missouri @ (8)Oklahoma
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Oklahoma beats Missouri 24-14
Andy: Another styles make fights game, Missouri has one of the best running backs and rush attacks in the country averaging 241 yards on the country and 27 rushing touchdowns on the season. The Tigers have Ahmed Hardy at tailback who leads the country in rushing yards with just under 1,400 and 15 rushing touchdowns. Oklahoma on the flip side has an excellent rush defense, allowing an average of just 88 yards per game and 2.7 yards per average carry. The only way Missouri can win this game is if their quarterback Beau Pribula can come back healthy and put up a game against the Sooners. Pribula is a dual threat quarterback which consistently put extra pressure on defenses with their ability to extend pass plays and run the read option. If Beau is not healthy, Missouri faces an uphill battle as their backup quarterback Matt Zollers is a completely different player, he has -32 rush yards on the season and a QBR of 50.8. The upside is that Oklahoma’s pass defense is beatable, but I don’t think Missouri has the quarterback or receivers to get it done. Oklahoma 24 Missouri 13
Cory: Missouri righted the ship with a dominant win over Mississippi State, a game in which the Tigers rushed for 326 yards. Missouri is still without starting quarterback Beau Pribula, and now they must travel to Norman to take on a hot Oklahoma team that is coming off a terrific win at Alabama. While Missouri is a good team, their only three losses so far all came to ranked opponents. Oklahoma’s been terrific at home, and feature a stifling defense. It’s hard to see the Tigers cracking 300 rushing yards again in this one, and their backup quarterback won’t be good enough to pull the upset. Oklahoma 24, Missouri 14
Dave: Oklahoma 32 Missouri 28
Frank: Oklahoma 31-14
Gregg: Oklahoma is one of the best teams in the country, and that is not just because we enjoyed watching them defeat Michigan. Their losses came as they were losing their very talented quarterback. But Missouri has been very strong this year as well but have faltered when they play their toughest competition (Alabama, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M). Expect the Tigers to give them a good game but in the end Oklahoma wins and will likely get to earn a spot in the playoffs while sitting at home and resting championship weekend, very much like the Buckeyes got to do last season. Oklahoma 27 Missouri 20
Joe-S-U: Oklahoma
John: This one might be interesting for a while, especially if Oklahoma doesn’t avoid a letdown after last week’s big win at Alabama. The game is in Norman, so that will help. It also will help that they are playing a Missouri team that has basically lost to everyone they have played that had a pulse (their 7 wins are against a combined 20-49). Sooners roll in this one. Oklahoma 28 Missouri 13
Josh: Oklahoma has steadied its season behind quarterback Jackson Arnold, who has been efficient, poised, and increasingly comfortable in Seth Littrell’s system. Arnold protects the ball well and uses his mobility to extend plays — something that Missouri’s front seven has struggled with in 2025. Missouri’s offense, led by Brady Cook’s successor (2025 starting QB Gabe Davis), has been capable of moving the ball but inconsistent finishing drives. The Tigers are physical, they’ll run the football, and they want to shorten the game. Their defense is good enough to frustrate Oklahoma early, but their inability to generate chunk plays will ultimately be the problem. Oklahoma’s defense hasn’t been elite, but they’ve generated timely turnovers and have improved in the red zone — a major key in this matchup. Expect the Sooners to control the middle of the field, win time of possession, and grind out a disciplined, if not flashy, victory. Oklahoma 28, Missouri 20
Mike: Oklahoma
Steven: Without QB Beau Pribula, who suffered a dislocated ankle against Vanderbilt, Missouri has a 1-1 record behind backup QB Matt Zollars. Zollars unfortunately doesn’t move the meter much. Last week’s win over Mississippi State was driven by 300 yards rushing from Tiger running back Ahmad Hardy. Hardy now faces the 4th best run defense in the nation. Oklahoma should shut down the run and dare Zollars to win the game with his arm, which he has been unable to do. Sooners should roll over the Tigers, but watch out for Hardy, he will be a force to be reckoned with. OU 31-21.
Trout: I’m picking Oklahoma. Although I don’t think they great, I don’t believe in Missouri at all. The Sooners are inconsistent, even with Mateer, but I think they should get the job done. Oklahoma keeps their playoff hopes alive. (Oklahoma, 23-16)
Final Score: Oklahoma 17 Missouri 6
Pittsburgh @ (16)Georgia Tech
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Georgia Tech outlasts Pitt 24-21
Andy: A big question for this game is how healthy is Haynes King the quarterback at GT? For those who haven’t watched him play he plays the game a lot like Tim Tebow used to or a lot like Colin Klein at Kansas State. He is a physical runner who has over 800 yards rushing, the problem is he has gone through most of this season very beat up. He is perhaps the most valuable player to his team than any other player in the country because his overall production for the Yellow Jackets offense is so much. King himself accounts for over 60% of the total offensive snaps for the entire GT offense and of the 40 total offensive touchdowns GT has, King has 26 of them (12 passing and 14 rushing). Pitt is one of the best rush defenses in the country only allowing on average 90 yards on the ground to their opponent, while their pass defense is rated 90th in the country giving up an average of 234 yards in the air allowing over 11 yards per completion. King will need to throw the ball well to win this game on the road against Pitt, because I think they won’t have a ton of success running the football. Georgia Tech is a 3.5 point favorite as I write this, which means this game is largely a pick’em game which was how I saw this matchup as I was breaking it down. I am going with Pitt to beat GT at home. Pitt 21 Georgia Tech 17
Cory: We’ll get to find out just how real Georgia Tech is with their last two games of the regular season – this week against Pitt, and next week against rival Georgia. Pitt is coming off a bad loss to Notre Dame where they did not convert a single third down. Georgia Tech rebounded from their loss to North Carolina State win a close win over a bad Boston College team. The difference in a game like this comes down to the quarterback, and I love the toughness we see from Georgia Tech’s Haynes King. He’s not a terrific thrower but he can make plays through the air, and is also a great runner. Georgia Tech 31, Pitt 27
Dave: Pitt 34 GA Tech 28
Frank: Georgia Tech 31-28
Gregg: I think Pitt is a bit overrated and will not have a chance. Expect Tech to use this as launching point for their game against Georga next week. As a side note, I really need Tech QB Haynes King to have a huge game as he is my quarterback for my fantasy league. Georgia Tech 31 Pitt 24
Joe-S-U: Georgia Tech
John: It’s hard to get too excited about what is happening in the ACC this year. Tech punches their ticket for the ACC title game with a win, and probably knocks out Pitt. Should Pitt win this week, it is possible that both teams playing for the ACC title will have 3 losses going in that game, and it would be a rematch of this week. I think Georgia Tech is the slightly better team, and the game is at Bobby Dodd, so look for the Jackets to squeak by. Georgia Tech 31 Pitt 28
Josh: This is a sneaky, physical, trench-heavy matchup. Pitt’s offense has quietly clicked behind Mason Heintschel, who has shown composure, a strong intermediate passing game, and the ability to avoid mistakes. The Panthers don’t have elite weapons, but they play disciplined football and rely heavily on their defensive front to control games. Georgia Tech enters with Haynes King still running a high-variance offense — capable of big plays, but equally capable of stalling out for long stretches. The Jackets’ rushing attack has dipped in efficiency this season, making them more reliant on King’s improvisation than Brent Key would like. This one comes down to who handles late-game pressure better, and Pitt has made a habit of closing tight games. Their defense should generate just enough disruption to force a turnover or two, and Heintschel’s composure gives Pitt the edge on the road. Pittsburgh 24, Georgia Tech 20
Mike: Georgia Tech
Steven: While the ACC is down this year, Georgia Tech has been a highlight. How they ever lost to NC State is a bit of a mystery, but if the Yellow Jackets take care of business the rest of the way, they should be firmly in the playoff field. GT QB Haynes King is a monster. He’s completing over 72% of his passes and has a 10-2 TD to INT ratio. He also has 807 yards on the ground and 14 rushing touchdowns. If the Heisman was more of an MVP award rather than most outstanding player, it’s tough to think of anyone more valuable to his squad than King. Pittsburgh has a well coached team with a solid QB in Mason Heintschel. He is neither as prolific on the ground nor as accurate as King, but gets the job done. Only a Freshman, Heintschel, who came in for Sophomore QB Eli Holstein against Louisville in September, rattled off 5 straight wins until the team took a loss last week to Notre Dame. Pittsburgh looks to be a great team in waiting. If coach Pat Narduzzi can keep the core together, they should be a playoff contender next year. This year, though, they are learning, but on an upward trajectory. Tech is just a more complete team this year and should win handily. Yellow Jackets 38-21.
Trout: I’m going to go with Georgia Tech. I think they are better than Pitt at this point. Plus they have motivation to stay alive in the playoff race. It’ll be close, but the Yellow Jackets win. (Georgia Tech, 24-21)
Final Score: Pittsburgh 42 Georgia Tech 28
(12)BYU @ Cincinnati
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): BYU overwhelms Cincy 35-20
Andy: BYU’s Cinderella season is still alive despite getting crushed at home vs Texas Tech. If BYU wins they will be in the Big 12 championship game in a rematch vs Texas Tech. If they lose they’re likely out of the conference championship and the playoff. BYU loves to run the football on offense, they’re a run heavy team with 285 pass attempts on the season compared to 388 rush attempts. They run a lot of read option and power with their quarterback Bear Bachmeier and they’re pretty good at it. Cincinnati is a really good offensive team averaging close to 35 points per game largely built similarly to BYU, they run option and power and their quarterback Brendan Soresby is their second leading rusher. Cincinnati’s rush defense isn’t that good, they’re allowing on average 4.1 yards per rush and they’re allowing an average of 159 rush yards per game to their opponent, where as BYU’s rush defense is ranked 41st in the country allowing just 129 rush yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Honestly the margins in rush offense and rush defense between these two teams is pretty negligible. The difference on defense between these two teams is BYU is 33rd in the country in pass defense and Cincinnati is 86th in the country. I think this is a close game, but BYU will be able to throw and run the ball a little bit better despite being the away team. BYU 38 Cincinnati 34
Cory: Cincinnati saw its playoff hopes end with a loss to Arizona last week. It was the second consecutive loss for the Bearcats, and gives them three on the season. BYU, on the other hand, is clinging to their slim playoff hopes. The Cougars are currently 12 in the ranking and need to win out in order to get in. Cincinnati looked great for a while, but things have fallen apart for the Bearcats as they’ve given up 75 points in the last two games. BYU’s offense is a good one, led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has 23 total touchdowns this season. BYU 38, Cincinnati 31
Dave: BYU 28 Cincinnati 24
Frank: BYU 24-20
Gregg: Cincinnati has had a solid year but dropped on of the playoff hunt, however they could still shape the field with a win this week over the Cougars. Unfortunately, I think they are going to fall short. Should be a fun game to watch but I see BYU coming out on top in the end and staying in the post season hunt. BYU 32 Cincinnati 24
Joe-S-U: BYU
John: Cincinnati is on a two-game losing streak, taking the shine of this one. After Saturday, the streak will be three. BYU 28 Cincinnati 21
Josh: One of the most underrated games of the week. BYU has been one of the toughest, most physical programs in the country in 2025, and their offense is built around creating explosive plays off play-action. Their quarterback play has been efficient, and they’ve leaned heavily on downhill running to set up big shots. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is powered by QB Brendan Sorsby, who has grown significantly this season despite the Bearcats’ inconsistency. Cincy can move the ball, and their defense plays hard — but BYU’s combination of offensive line control and situational excellence has made them a tough matchup. This one should be close throughout, but BYU has the more reliable identity and better turnover margin. Expect a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to seal it. BYU 31, Cincinnati 27
Mike: Cincinnati
Steven: Bearcat QB Brendan Sorsby has had a few good games over the season, but has not been able to elevate his play against top tier competition. He has averaged less than 150 yards in Cinicnnati’s three losses. The Bearcats are, though, top 25 in rushing, and should look to establish the run game to keep BYU and their offense off the field. Cinci has had 5 turnovers over the past 2 games, both of them losses. BYU is opportunistic, and is top 12 nationally in turnover margin. Being at home, I’ll give a little respect to the Bearcats, but BYU should be able to win a tight game. Cougars win 27-21.
Trout: As a UC alum, I’d like the Bearcats to win, but I’ll have to go with the Cougars. They are the better team. I can see it being close. BYU is the better team, but they haven’t been overly dominant. It’s a close game until the final whistle, and the Cougars squeak out a victory. (BYU, 28-24)