College Football Picks: Cincinnati vs BYU Best Bets
9-1 BYU looks to maintain its path to the Big 12 Championship Game and possible playoff birth when it travels to face 7-3 Cincinnati. The Cougars are 7-3 ATS, including a 3-2 mark on the road, while the over has hit in half of their games. Cincinnati counters with a 6-4 ATS record, 4-3 at home, while the over has hit six times.
Jump into the 2025 college football season with a DraftKings Promo Code for $300 on a $5 bet if your bet wins, plus 3 free months of NBA League Pass! RotoWire has plenty of college football betting tools and info to keep you in the loop this season. From the latest college football odds to college football futures and Heisman odds, we have you covered.
Cincinnati vs BYU Betting Odds for Week 13
Spread: Cincinnati +2.5 (BetMGM); BYU -2.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Total: Over 54.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook); Under 56.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Cincinnati +120 (BetMGM); BYU -140 (ESPN Bet)
Prior to last week, we had an opening line of Cincinnati (-3), but the Bearcats lost at home to Arizona, and this quickly turned to BYU (-1.5) and has risen throughout the week. Oh, to have snagged the Cougars on the moneyline last weekend! Obviously, we've seen those odds shift with the spread, and they are currently as far apart as they've been all week. Still, they aren't high enough that BYU just winning has enough value to consider.
The total has slowly crept up from its 53.5 opening number.
Join in on the fun during the 2025 college football season with a FanDuel Sportsbook promo code featuring $150 in Bonus Bets if your $5 bet wins!
Cincinnati vs BYU Betting Picks for Week 13
Not only did Cincinnati fall last week at home, but they were destroyed at Utah two weeks ago, and it's the defense that's failed them, allowing 75 points in two games after having allowed more than 20 just twice in their first eight games.
I've been struggling in these single-game spotlights all season, so I'm not going to overthink this one. There are some obvious trends that make this pick "easy." Cincinnati is allowing a 66.4 percent completion rate to opposing quarterbacks and has only two interceptions. The Cougars are allowing just a 56.3 percent completion percentage while allowing just six touchdown passes to 14 interceptions. In Cincinnati's three losses, QB Brendan Sorsby has completed only 39-of-86 (45.3 percent) of his throws, and while he has a 21:4 TD:INT ratio on the season, it sits at 2:4 in defeats.
While you'd expect Cincinnati to play better after two losses, it's tough to do so when your quarterback isn't firing on all cylinders. BYU will make Sorsby uncomfortable in the pocket, create turnovers, and stretch this out relatively easily.
Cincinnati vs BYU Expert Pick: BYU -2.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Dig into the latest sportsbook promos available at the best online sportsbooks to get the most bang for your buck during the 2025 college football season. The Caesars Sportsbook promo code ROTO20X nets fans double winnings on their next 20 bets after placing a $1 bet!
Cincinnati vs BYU Predictions for Week 13
It really does look like a bad matchup for the Bearcats, and it's difficult to find a path to their success outside of the fact that they are at home. BYU is superior defensively in all facets and can attack Cincy's deficiencies at will.
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier is having the reins taken off him down the stretch, throwing at least 33 passes in each of his last three after not topping 30 attempts in any of the first seven, and his rushing threat keeps defenses honest. Cincinnati ranks 87th against the run as well, allowing 181 yards or more in four of their last five, which should get LJ Martin back on track. He had five 100-yard games in the Cougars' first seven, but just 138 total in his last three. Slight lean on the over, as I think BYU will find success early and often, but the play is the Cougars rolling.
BYU 38, Cincinnati 20
Cincinnati vs BYU Player Props for Saturday, November 21
Really tough spot here, as while I like the Cougars heavily, I find their lines inflated and lean towards unders as I don't foresee a game where they gash the Bearcats both on the ground and through the air. But if we're buying my narrative, their stars should shine.
Bear Bachmeier, BYU
Over 215.5 passing yards
Over 53.5 rushing yards
Something is amiss here, as Bachmeier's pass plus rush number is 276.5. I'm only kind of good with math, but the above numbers appear to total 269, so seemingly, at least one of these hits. The worry is if Martin gets going and Bachmeier isn't needed. He's hit both of these numbers just four times to date, and only once in the same game. Perhaps under 276.5 total yards is the better option.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Over 33.5 rushing yards
Over 1.5 total touchdowns
Sorsby has hit this rushing mark seven times, though not in the last two losses. He's averaging 8.2 attempts and while sacks are a concern, Cincinnati has allowed just three all year, the lowest mark in the country. Sorsby has 21 passing scores and nine rushing, so even while I believe he'll struggle, playing from behind should facilitate opportunities for at least two scores.
Will Ferrin, BYU
Over 6.5 points
Obviously, my predicted score isn't going to be right. But if it is, that looks like five PATs and a field goal, comfortably putting Ferrin over this number. He has at least one field goal in all but one game, and multiple in six, and 39 PATs to date, so he should be busy. Ferrin has just one game all year with fewer than six points, so he's going to be right at this number at a minimum.
Keep an eye out for a receptions prop on Martin, as while he has just 21 catches on the year, 10 have come in the last two weeks
