Thursday Night Football Pick and Week 12 College Football Picks
The Pick: California (+3) vs. Stanford
The metrics say that Stanford is the superior team heading into the Big Game rivalry, ranking 30 spots higher in F+ rankings (27th to 57th). The Cardinal have also won eight straight matchups, but Stanford finished as the 18th overall team per F+ last season, and only defeated the 82nd ranked Golden Bears by 3 points at home. This Cal defense is Top 20 against the pass (65 QBR allowed), and Top 30 against the run (3.6 yards per carry allowed), and can carry the flag for them in a close game with a total at 45. The line sits at 2 in most places, and I think that +Cal wins the game on the field for the first time since 2009.
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