College Football Week 9 Best Bets

Week 9 of college football is here٫ and with it comes a loaded slate of games with huge implications for conference championship races and the College Football Playoff․

Upset Picks

Week 9 in college football offers some intriguing upset possibilities․ Here are a few underdog picks that could shake up the rankings⁚

1. Wake Forest over Florida State⁚ The Demon Deacons always seem to give the Seminoles a tough time, and this year should be no different․ Wake Forest’s offense can put up points, and if they can force Jordan Travis into a couple of mistakes, they could pull off the upset in Winston-Salem․
2. Kansas State over TCU⁚ The Wildcats are coming off a tough loss to Kansas but have proven they can compete with anyone in the Big 12․ TCU is due for a letdown after their emotional win over Texas, and K-State’s defense could cause problems for Chandler Morris and the Horned Frogs․
3. Missouri over Georgia⁚ This might be a long shot, but Missouri always seems to play Georgia tough at home․ The Bulldogs haven’t looked as dominant as expected this season, and Missouri’s offense has shown flashes of explosiveness․ If the Tigers can get their run game going and limit turnovers, they have a chance to pull off a massive upset․

Remember, upsets happen every week in college football, and these picks offer a chance for a big payout for those willing to bet against the favorites․

Top 25 Matchups and Predictions

Week 9 features several pivotal matchups with playoff implications․ Here are predictions for the top games featuring ranked teams⁚

• No; 3 Ohio State at Wisconsin⁚ The Buckeyes head to Madison in a game that could determine the Big Ten East champion․ Ohio State’s offense has been firing on all cylinders٫ while Wisconsin relies on a strong defense and running game․ Expect a close٫ physical game٫ with Ohio State’s firepower proving to be too much for the Badgers․ Prediction⁚ Ohio State 31٫ Wisconsin 20
• No․ 10 Notre Dame at North Carolina⁚ This matchup pits two of the nation’s top quarterbacks against each other in Sam Hartman and Drake Maye․ Notre Dame’s defense will be tested by North Carolina’s high-powered offense․ Expect a shootout in Chapel Hill, with the Fighting Irish edging out the Tar Heels in a thriller․ Prediction⁚ Notre Dame 38, North Carolina 35
• No․ 7 Texas at Baylor⁚ This rivalry game always seems to be a close one, and this year should be no different․ Texas is looking to stay undefeated in Big 12 play, while Baylor aims to bounce back from a surprising loss to Texas Tech․ Expect a low-scoring, defensive battle, with Texas escaping Waco with a narrow victory․ Prediction⁚ Texas 24, Baylor 20
• No․ 9 Oregon at Utah⁚ This game has major Pac-12 Championship implications․ Oregon boasts a dynamic offense led by Bo Nix, while Utah relies on a stout defense and a powerful running game․ Expect a hostile environment in Salt Lake City, with Utah’s defense making enough plays to secure a statement win․ Prediction⁚ Utah 27, Oregon 24

These are just a few of the exciting matchups in Week 9, which promises to be another thrilling week of college football action․

Expert Picks Against the Spread

Week 9 offers some intriguing opportunities for those looking to make some money betting against the spread․ Here are a few expert picks for games where the spread might not tell the whole story⁚

• Kansas State (+7․5) vs․ Oklahoma⁚ Oklahoma has looked vulnerable on defense at times this season٫ and Kansas State has the offensive firepower to keep this game close․ The Wildcats are well-coached and capable of controlling the clock with their rushing attack․ Look for Kansas State to cover the spread in what could be a surprisingly tight contest․
• Mississippi State (+3) vs․ Alabama⁚ The Bulldogs have a strong defense that could give Alabama’s offense some trouble․ While Alabama is the more talented team on paper٫ Mississippi State has a history of playing them tough٫ especially at home․ This line feels a bit inflated٫ making Mississippi State a good bet to cover the spread and potentially pull off the upset․
• Texas A&M (+14) vs․ LSU⁚ LSU is rolling, but 14 points is a lot to give up on the road in the SEC, even to a struggling Texas A&M team․ The Aggies still have talent on both sides of the ball, and their defense could do enough to keep them within striking distance․ Expect LSU to win, but Texas A&M to cover the spread in a hard-fought game․
• Washington State (+2․5) vs․ USC⁚ USC has been living dangerously all season٫ winning close games against inferior opponents․ Washington State’s passing attack is potent enough to exploit USC’s suspect secondary․ This game has the potential to be a shootout٫ and in a high-scoring affair٫ the Cougars could easily cover the spread or even pull off the upset at home․

Remember to gamble responsibly and always research before placing any bets․ Good luck!

Best Moneyline Underdogs

Week 9 in college football presents some enticing opportunities for bettors to find value on underdog money lines․ These underdogs have a legitimate shot at pulling off upsets and delivering big payouts⁚

• Kansas State (+240) vs․ Oklahoma⁚ While Oklahoma is favored, Kansas State’s defense and strong running game make them a dangerous opponent․ The Wildcats have a history of playing Oklahoma tough, and at home, they have the potential to pull off the upset․
• Washington State (+115) vs․ USC⁚ USC has shown vulnerability throughout the season, often relying on late-game heroics․ Washington State’s pass-heavy offense matches up well against USC’s weaker secondary, giving them a real chance to win outright at home․
• Missouri (+165) vs․ Kentucky⁚ Kentucky has struggled offensively this season, and Missouri’s defense has shown signs of improvement․ If Missouri’s offense can find some rhythm, they could take advantage of Kentucky’s offensive woes and steal a win in Columbia․
• Duke (+140) vs․ North Carolina⁚ Duke has been one of the most surprising teams in the country this season٫ boasting a strong defense and an efficient offense․ North Carolina has been inconsistent٫ and Duke has the talent and coaching to pull off the upset in Chapel Hill․

Betting on underdogs always carries inherent risk, but the potential rewards can be significant․ These four teams offer compelling value on the money line, and a winning wager on any of them could lead to a very profitable weekend․

Impact on Conference Championship Races

Week 9’s college football slate is loaded with pivotal matchups that could shake up conference championship races across the country․ Here are some key games with significant implications⁚

• ACC⁚ Clemson at NC State⁚ Clemson looks to maintain its grip on the ACC Atlantic, but NC State, with a strong defense and home-field advantage, could derail their title hopes․ A win for NC State would create a logjam at the top of the division․
• Big 12⁚ Oklahoma at Kansas⁚ Oklahoma aims to stay undefeated in conference play, but a trip to Lawrence to face a resurgent Kansas team is no easy feat․ A Kansas upset would send shockwaves through the Big 12 and potentially open the door for other contenders․
• Pac-12⁚ Oregon at Utah⁚ Oregon’s playoff aspirations hinge on navigating a tough Utah environment․ Utah, known for its physicality and home-field advantage, has the potential to hand Oregon a second conference loss, shaking up the Pac-12 race․
• SEC⁚ Florida vs․ Georgia (Jacksonville)⁚ While Georgia aims to stay perfect, Florida, despite a disappointing season, always presents a challenge in this rivalry game․ A Florida upset would not only be a major upset but also create chaos in the SEC East․

These games will shape the landscape of conference championship races as we head into the final stretch of the season․ Expect upsets, surprises, and thrilling finishes as teams battle for conference supremacy and playoff positioning․