College football season races on to Week 12, and the NFL enters Week 11 as we separate contenders from pretenders with our weekly best bets.
With playoff dreams and big payouts on the line, here are my two top picks for the week. You know the drill: one from college and one from the NFL.
Betting the Best: One Game to Win Big in CFB Week 12 & NFL Week 11
First Bet
​Preview: No. 10 Texas Longhorns (7-2) @ N0. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 7:30 PM EST
Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Broadcast: ABC
Spread: Georgia -6.5
In what may be the biggest game so far in the SEC and college football playoff implications, we have the red-hot Texas Longhorns on the road against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Texas enters on a four-game win streak and off a bye. Georgia just secured an impressive 20-point win over Mississippi State in a game that had upset potential.
However, we are taking the underdog Longhorns here with the points. Georgia has been Texas’ kryptonite recently after the Longhorns lost two games to the Bulldogs, including the SEC Championship game.
Quarterback Arch Manning only continues to improve each week, and the stage shouldn’t be too big for him after playing in front of hostile crowds, including at Ohio State.
The offense continues to improve each week, thanks to Head Coach Steve Sarkisian‘s development of a game plan that emphasizes getting the ball out faster, utilizing wicked screens, establishing a strong ground game, and taking shots over the top against defenses.
This season, Georgia has shown they are susceptible to giving up big plays and allowing offenses to move the ball. Georgia allows quarterbacks to be comfortable in the pocket, with minimal pressure, and the defense ranks just 62nd nationally in opposing passer rating. Look for Manning to have a solid game on the road, and expect Sarkisian to have the right game plan implemented with extra time to prepare coming off a bye.
Another edge is the fact that this is a playoff game for Texas. They have to pull off the upset if they want to have a chance at making the College Football Playoff. I expect a strong effort here in a tight one.
Betting Pick: Texas +6.5
Notes
- Georgia is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as the favorite.
- Texas is 2-6-1 ATS overall this season.
Second Bet
Preview: Chicago Bears (6-3) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-5)
Date & Time: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 1:00 PM EST
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Broadcast: FOX
Spread: Minnesota -2.5
This is the second game between Chicago and Minnesota after the Vikings beat the Bears 27-24 in Week 1. Since then, the teams have flipped, with Head Coach Ben Johnson establishing his offensive identity in this young Bears offense. Notably, NFC North rematches have favored the underdog 58% of the time since 2020, highlighting why divisional matchups can be particularly unpredictable and why lines often tighten in such games.
As for Minnesota, they continue to see week by week what they have in their young quarterback, JJ McCarthy. The team has also seen Carson Wentz play a few games after McCarthy suffered an injury that kept him sidelined multiple weeks.
McCarthy has been a wild card at quarterback this season, delivering some timely performances and then some, which makes you scratch your head.
However, I do expect this week to be a solid performance by McCarthy that will be aided by a strong defensive performance for Minnesota.
The key matchup to watch for in this one will be Bears offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams vs. Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his heavy pressure schemes.
I do expect this Vikings offense and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell to have a game plan that will help his young QB limit the turnovers. This is a Bears defense that leads the league in takeaways with 20 and has an NFL-best +14 turnover margin.
Nevertheless, I think the Bears’ heroic comebacks the past two weeks have finally caught up to them here. Chicago was lucky to escape with a win against the New York Giants last week. New York looked in control until quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered another concussion injury, causing the offense to fall apart, and Chicago took advantage of it.
This is a Bears defense that allows offenses to be able to move the ball on them, and that is a perfect recipe for success for a young quarterback in McCarthy. I expect the Vikings offense to do enough and their defense to force turnovers to create short fields for a limited Vikings offense at times.
Betting Pick: Minnesota -2.5
Notes
- Minnesota is 8-1 in its last 9 games against Chicago, including 3 straight wins.
- The Bears have lost 8 of their last 9 matchups against divisional opponents.
- The Vikings have covered in 4 of their last 5 matchups against NFC North opponents.
Main Image: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
