I have had the privilege of covering college football for the vast majority of the last 15 seasons. With as many screens as I can commandeer, I watch dozens of hours of college football every single week. The chaos, the collapses, the Heisman-winning plays, the atrocious clock management, the well-executed trickeration, the thrown shoes, the bad spots, the sideline tantrums, the walk-off field goals, the cowardice on fourth-and-inches — I try to watch it all.

For eight seasons, our weekly college football series, Before The Snap, relishes in the madness, analytics, debates and controversies of this absurd sport. At least once a season, we talk about how much we love the chaos of college football; that’s what we truly root for.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout all this, it is that, under no circumstances, should you follow my college football picks against the spread.

For the much easier straight-up college football picks this season, I enter Week 14 with a 40-23 record. Against the spread, it’s an embarrassing 50-79-1.

In fact, I’ve accomplished a first here at For The Win: a 0-10 record for a single week of picks. What’s more, I followed that abysmal round with a 1-9 record a few weeks later. The best I could finish the regular season is 60-79-1, and let’s face it, that ain’t happening this year.

Because of this, I have no choice but to resign from For The Win and USA TODAY. This is a sad display of prognostics from someone whose eyes are blurry every Saturday night from watching seemingly (and wonderfully) endless hours of this silly sport. Shameful even. And I cannot continue.

So with that, I am retiring from college football picks against the spread following Week 14, and after almost a decade, I am leaving For The Win at the end of the regular season. And if I may be so bold as to offer one final piece of college football advice: Do not listen to my picks against the spread, but follow me straight-up and you’ll do just fine. — Michelle R. Martinelli

Name Last Week 2025 Record
Blake Schuster 5-5 70-59-1
Christian D'Andrea 4-6 62-67-1
Michelle Martinelli 6-4 50-79-1
Tyler Nettuno 5-5 57-72-1
Prince Grimes 4-6 64-65-1

Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Friday)

Opening Line: Ole Miss -10.5

D'Andrea: Mississippi State +7

The Bulldogs capitalize on their chance to revel in Lane Kiffin's chaos.

Martinelli: Mississippi State +7

Things get weird and wild in the Egg Bowl. On paper, Ole Miss should crush the Bulldogs, but between Lane Kiffin's circus and the rivalry history, I'm assuming this one will be closer than it should be.

Nettuno: Ole Miss -7

Despite the distractions, I think Ole Miss makes a statement here.

Grimes: Ole Miss -7

Kewan Lacy is going to have so many yards in this one.

Georgia at Georgia Tech (Friday)

Opening Line: Georgia -12.5

D'Andrea: Tech +13.5

The bees are buzzing less but still dangerous enough to keep a rivalry game close.

Martinelli: Georgia -13.5

The Yellow Jackets' defense is the huge concern here. Their offense can keep up with the Bulldogs, but their defense is increasingly porous.

Nettuno: Georgia -13.5

Tech simply won't be able to stop the Bulldogs, I fear.

Grimes: Georgia Tech +13.5

That’s an explosive offense the Jackets have.

Texas A&M at Texas (Friday)

Opening Line: Texas -10

D'Andrea: Texas +2.5

The Longhorns do what they can to make Vanderbilt's worst loss look a little better.

Martinelli: Texas A&M -2.5

This feels like a true coin toss, given the ups and downs of both teams this season. Austin is a tough place to play, but overall, I think the Aggies are the better team — when they don't fall into a giant hole.

Nettuno: Texas A&M -2.5

Texas' struggling offensive line gives me very little confidence in the Longhorns to win this game.

Grimes: Texas +2.5

Texas can’t let the Aggies spank them in their house.

Arizona at Arizona State (Friday)

Opening Line: Pick 'em

D'Andrea: Arizona State +1.5

Sure, let's snag some home team value.

Martinelli: Arizona -1.5

This is looking like it will be a super close game, but I’m going with the Wildcats with a slight (rankings) upset.

Nettuno: Arizona State +1.5

This banged-up Sun Devils squad just keeps finding ways to win.

Grimes: Arizona State +1.5

A toss-up spread feels about right, so I’ll roll with the home side.

Ohio State at Michigan

Opening Line: Ohio State -5.5

D'Andrea: Michigan +10

Ryan Day wants this so badly that I could see a cathartic blowout happening. But my way is much funnier.

Martinelli: Ohio State -10

Given recent history, like, who knows?!

Nettuno: Ohio State -10

I can't find a reason to believe Michigan can score in this game, aside from recent results in this rivalry.

Grimes: Michigan +10

Ryan Day should finally get this monkey off his back, but it won’t come easy. Both teams will be fired up for this one.

Miami at Pittsburgh

Opening Line: Miami -7.5

D'Andrea: Pittsburgh +7

Credit where it's due, Pat Narduzzi has the Panthers ready for ACC games (if not Notre Dame).

Martinelli: Pitt +7

Who wants to win the ACC? Anyone? It might just be the Panthers, like everyone predicted.

Nettuno: Miami -7

I called Pitt's win last week, but I think this defense will be too much for Mason Heintschel.

Grimes: Pittsburgh +7

Miami should win but Pitt has enough offense to keep this thing tight.

Oregon at Washington

Opening Line: Oregon -11

D'Andrea: Oregon -6.5

What's Washington's best win? Illinois? Oof.

Martinelli: Oregon -6.5

Washington has shown it can be pesky, but even on the road, it seems unlikely Oregon wins by less than a touchdown.

Nettuno: Oregon -6.5

Washington hasn't quite been feisty enough against the hardest teams it has played to make me think it can slow down Oregon's run game.

Grimes: Oregon -6.5

But anything more than a touchdown, I would’ve gone the other way.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee

Opening Line: Tennessee -5.5

D'Andrea: Vanderbilt -3

My head says the Dores find a way to blow this. My heart says Diego Pavia saw he wasn't a finalist for the non-Heisman NCAA awards and scores 13 touchdowns in Knoxville.

Martinelli: Vanderbilt +3

The Commodores have two road losses, and two of the three the Volunteers' losses were at home. Taking Vandy in a nail-biter to the end.

Nettuno: Tennessee -3

A playoff spot could be on the line for the Commodores, but I worry about Vandy's defense here.

Grimes: Vandy +3

The Vols are 0-3 against ranked teams, including 0-2 at home.

LSU at Oklahoma

Opening Line: Oklahoma -8.5

D'Andrea: Oklahoma -10

Sooners stamp their playoff ticket in style.

Martinelli: Oklahoma -10

I don't have much faith in the aimless Tigers getting the best of Oklahoma's defense, especially when the Sooners have a playoff berth in sight.

Nettuno: Oklahoma -10

I still don't believe in Oklahoma's offense, but Michael Van Buren against the Sooners' defense is not a sight I'm looking forward to.

Grimes: Oklahoma -10

Sooners shouldn’t have much trouble here.

Alabama at Auburn

Opening Line: Alabama -5.5

D'Andrea: Auburn +6

The Tigers have looked rejuvenated after getting rid of Hugh Freeze. Which, hey, totally makes sense.

Martinelli: Alabama -6

Auburn probably wants to ruin Alabama's season, and it probably has the juice to keep it close for most of the game. But I'm thinking a late Crimson Tide score helps them cover.

Nettuno: Alabama -6

Auburn's defense is just good enough to make this interesting, I but I doubt it actually will.

Grimes: Alabama -6

This would be a disastrous loss for Kalen DeBoer, but it ain’t happening.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: College football picks for Week 14, including Texas-Texas A&M

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno and Michelle R. Martinelli, For The Win / For The Win

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