Among the many things I’m grateful for as we approach Thanksgiving Day 2025 is the fact that year after year on the final Saturday of the college football regular season, we can count on no shortage of high stakes games because each year, Rivalry Week coincides with everyone’s favorite food holiday.
This year, even though matchups that looked promising before the season – South Carolina/Clemson and Florida State/Florida – end up being huge letdowns, we still have plenty of meat left on the bone to feast on within a glorious Friday-Saturday slate of games if you didn’t fill up on Thanksgiving.
Today’s parlay will focus only at the most notable rivalry games on the schedule, and as you’ll soon see, we’ve got 5 good ones to look forward to. As always, odds are provided by BetMGM.Â
Leg 1: Vanderbilt +2.5 (+100) over Tennessee
Ten years ago, before Clark Lea and Diego Pavia breathed life into a once lifeless Vanderbilt Commodores football program, there was chatter within the Volunteer State that this rivalry game needed a nickname. Hell, it was even covered right here at Saturday Down South. But because the Vols have been so dominant throughout the years, it’s as if everyone decided that a nickname wasn’t actually necessary.
Maybe this is the year that this sentiment changes. Even though Tennessee‘s College Football Playoff chances went down the drain with its third loss of the season, Vandy is very much alive for one of those final at-large spots, and you know the Vols would love to be the group to put a tragic end to this dream season.
I’ve been going back and forth on this game for the last 48 hours, but ultimately, I don’t think this is where Pavia Mania ends. Give me the Commodores to cover, win outright, and yes, make the College Football Playoff field thanks in large part to their win in what should be referred to as “The Smoky Mountain Bowl.”
Leg 2: Georgia money line (-525) over Georgia TechÂ
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate got a little less interesting this past Saturday night when Georgia Tech couldn’t stave off Pittsburgh at home. A win against the Panthers would’ve sent Georgia Tech to the ACC Championship Game, and put the Yellow Jackets in a position where a win over Georgia might’ve been enough to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff even if it couldn’t capture its second-ever ACC Title.
Now, even with a win over its in-state rival, Tech’s chances of making the College Football Playoff are incredibly slim. The only question is whether those dashed hopes change the calculus of this matchup?
Last year Georgia Tech didn’t have the possibility of making the Playoff hanging over this matchup, and it still pushed the Bulldogs to 8 overtimes. This time around, I don’t expect an instant classic, but I do think that GT will probably keep it closer than the 2-touchdown spread. With that said though, I feel safer backing Georgia to win outright.
Leg 3: Texas +2.5 (-115) over Texas A&M
I can’t possibly be the only one who has a sneaking suspicion that the inevitable drama and controversy coming out of the CFP Selection Committee’s eventual decision on the 12-team field is going to have to do with the Texas Longhorns, right? If Texas wins this game — and as you can see, that’s where I’m leaning — I wonder if that will that be enough for the Committee to talk themselves into a 3-loss Longhorns team over other at-large options with 2 or maybe even 1 loss?
Leg 4: Ohio State moneyline (-375) over Michigan
Little known fact: if you’re a resident of Ohio — which I am — you can do 5 years of jail time if you pick Michigan over Ohio State. Wild, I know, but they take The Game pretty seriously here in the Buckeye State.
Leg 5: Alabama -5.5 (-110) over Auburn
With their loss to John Mateer’s fully recovered broken hand and the Oklahoma Sooners 2 weeks ago, this is now officially a must-win game for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Lose this one and Bama’s hopes of winning an SEC title and making the College Football Playoff are out the door, and you know darn well that the Auburn Tigers would love to cap this tumultuous season by, for all intents and purposes, ending the season of their Iron Bowl rival as well.
I just don’t see it happening. I paid — literally — for backing Alabama in that game against Oklahoma, but I’m not going to be scared away this week. There’s just too much talent in Tuscaloosa for this program to miss the 12-team Playoff for a second consecutive season.
Total: +976
Additionally, just to be sure that I come away with the win this week, I’ll be betting a Thanksgiving parlay of over 2.5 helpings of stuffing, over 1.5 pieces of pie, and over 0.5 late-night turkey salad sandwiches. Not sure if you can find my Thanksgiving Day eating odds on BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel or whatever other sportsbooks you use, but my bookie is taking bets on this one, and I’m fairly confident that I’ll be cashing in.Â
