College Football Week 9 Best Bets
College Football Week 9 Best Bets
Week 8 of college football was chaotic, while answering more questions throughout this college football season’s story. James Franklin still struggles against top-5 teams. North Carolina loses a shocker to Virginia at home. USC still can’t find Utah’s number. And Michigan has former Marines spying on the Big Ten.
The Week 9 college football schedule highlights a pair of ranked matchups and a slew of conference games. Here are my Week 9 college football best bets.
College Football Week 8 Best Bets: 3-2 (60%; +1 units)
College Football Best Bets Record: 10-13 (43%; -3 units)
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#6 Oklahoma (7-0) vs. Kansas (5-2)
Kansas + 10; O/U 66
Kansas + 10 (-112)
Oklahoma is coming off a close win against Central Florida and has the last Bedlam matchup next week. Oklahoma has struggled on the ground in conference play, where their running backs have scored three times and average just 3.9 yards per carry on 103 attempts. It’s been the Dillon Gabriel show in Norman this season. Now, the Jayhawks have a week to prepare for the Sooners at home. Jason Bean has been a formidable fill-in for Jalon Daniels, and the Jayhawks have a sound duo at running back that can give the Sooners fits, similar to UCF a week ago. I think Kansas keeps this game close and could potentially upset Oklahoma in a letdown spot. Kansas and the points in this Week 9 college football matchup.
Indiana (2-5) vs. Penn State (6-1)
Penn State –32; O/U 46
Penn State –32
Tom Allen seems like a great guy, but this Indiana team has quit. The Hoosiers fired offensive coordinator Walt Bell during their Week 6 bye, and Allen was at a loss of words on the state of the season after a 31-14 homecoming loss to Rutgers. The Hoosiers have scored just 21 points in two games since the firing, and are allowing 42.3 PPG in their last three (23.7 PPG in their first three FBS matchups). Allen and the Hoosiers are just 2-9 ATS against ranked opponents since their one-off Covid season.
Penn State is coming off a frustrating loss to the Buckeyes and looks to get back on track. James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are now 12-1-1 ATS in their last 14 and 5-2 in their last seven following a loss. No reason to think the Hoosiers keep this close. Back Penn State in this Big Ten matchup.
More: Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings
Michigan State (2-5) vs. Minnesota (4-3)
Minnesota –7; O/U 40.5
Minnesota Team Total Over 23.5 (-120)
We hit on this last week with their in-state rival, Michigan. Michigan State’s opponents have now cleared their team total over in each of the five games without Mel Tucker at the helm. In that span, the Spartans allow 34.8 PPG, including 26 to Iowa and 27 to Rutgers. Minnesota saw the return of freshman running back Darius Taylor last week against Iowa. Taylor missed a month, but before his absence, had 87 carries for 532 yards (6.1 YPC) for four touchdowns to start the season. I don’t see this Spartans ship changing course this season. Expect the Gophers to score in this Big Ten matchup.
Troy (5-2) vs. Texas State (5-2)
Missouri -6.5; O/U 53
Under 53 (-110)
Troy has surrendered just 26 points in their three conference games, with the UNDER hitting in each contest. The UNDER has cashed in Troy’s last five games with an average total coming in at 35 PPG. In the last two years with Jon Sumrall as Troy’s head coach, the UNDER is 8-4 in conference games. For Texas State, the UNDER has cashed in three of their last four and four of six FBS matchups this season. This matchup features two of the three teams tied atop the Sun Belt West. Expect a clean game between two of the best in Sun Belt this week.
More: Fantasy Football Trades You Need To Make Before Week 8
#17 North Carolina (6-1) vs. Georgia Tech (3-4)
Georgia Tech +12; O/U 64.5
Georgia Tech +12 (-110)
Georgia Tech has covered nine of their last 11 as a dog, including 5-2 as a double-digit dog. North Carolina is coming off arguably the worst loss of the season, losing outright to Virginia at home as a 24-point favorite. North Carolina has failed to cover their last seven as a double-digit point favorite. Mack Brown is just 1-2 against Tech in his return to Chapel Hill (6-3-1 in his first stint). I’ll back the home dog in the ACC, where home dogs are 9-3 ATS and 5-8 SU in conference play this season.
Follow me @DrewRoberts_ and let me know your favorite Week 9 college football play
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