2025 Week 9 College Football Best Bets
2025 Week 9 College Football Best Bets
Week 8 had more ripples throughout the college football landscape. Miami and Texas Tech suffered their first loss of the season. BYU managed to win the Holy War over in-state rival Utah. And eight total ranked teams lost in Week 8.
Week 9 is highlighted by plenty of heavy hitting SEC matchups. Each of the three ranked matchups comes from the SEC, along with Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee going on the road. We will see more changes across the college football country as we embark one week closer to determining the 12 teams to make the College Football Playoff. Here are my Week 9 college football best bets.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Lines are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly and within your means. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
More: Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings (2025)
Week 8: 1-4 (-3.34 units)
Year to Date: 16-24 (-10.69 units)
#15 Missouri (6-1) vs. #10 Vanderbilt (6-1)
Vanderbilt -3; O/U 52.5
Vanderbilt -3 (-105)
The Diego Pavia era in Nashville has rejuvenated the program. Since Pavia joined the Commodores, Vanderbilt is 8-3 ATS in SEC play. This is now the second game on the road for Missouri. They escaped in overtime last week against Auburn. Missouri is just 1-3-1 ATS in their last five against ranked opponents. This is a huge matchup for college football playoff implications. I’m on Vanderbilt to cover the number.
More: 2025 College Football Futures
Wisconsin (2-5) vs. #6 Oregon (6-1)
Oregon -32.5; O/U 43.5
1st Half: Oregon -18.5 (-119)
This is a huge number, and pretty much calls for a flawless first half from the Ducks. But we did see the Ducks hang 42 points in the first half in Piscataway last week.
In five games against Power Four opponents, Wisconsin has totaled just seven points in the first half. Four of those were shutouts; the lone game they scored was against Michigan, when the Badgers were coming off the bye. It has now been eight quarters since the Badgers scored a point. I’m on the Ducks to get out to an early lead in this one and cover the first half number.
More: 2025 College Football Playoff Landscape
#25 Michigan (5-2) vs. Michigan State (3-4)
Michigan State +14; O/U 47.5
Over 47.5 (-105)
Michigan State is winless in Big Ten play, and the Spartans have allowed at least 38 points in each of those four contests. Bryce Underwood continues to impress as the season progresses. Michigan has allowed 27.3 PPG on average in their three road games this year, compared to 8.5 PPG in their two home games against Power Four foes. I think this one ends up closer and more high scoring than the spread and total indicate. I’m on the Over in this in-state rivalry.
More: Fantasy Notebook: Target & Snap Share Data from Week 7 (2025)
Outright Underdogs (.5 units)
Week 8: 3-2 (+1.63 units)
Year to Date: 14-14 (+4.71 units)
Utah State @ New Mexico +130
A revenge spot, as Bronco Mendenhall returns to Albuquerque for the first time since taking the Utah State position. In Mountain West play, New Mexico’s starting quarterback Jack Layne is completing just 62% of his attempts, while throwing one touchdown to five interceptions. I’m on Mendenhall to pull out a win against New Mexico in Week 9.
Ball State @ Northern Illinois +205
I’m not sure why Northern Illinois is favored over any team, let alone by a touchdown. They have fallen at least a touchdown off the spread in each of their first
#23 Illinois @ Washington +140
Illinois is coming off a bye, where they are 5-1 under Bret Bielema and 3-1 on the road. This is the sixth straight week for Washington to fly from their home state to the east and back. I think Illinois comes out and wins this matchup of teams on the bubble of the College Football Playoff.
#20 LSU vs. #3 Texas A&M +114
This is a must win for LSU if they have any hope of making the College Football Playoff. Brian Kelly is 19-1 in night games at Tiger Stadium since taking the LSU job. I’m on LSU to hand the Aggies their first loss of the season.
Mississippi State vs. #22 Texas +230
Through seven games, I have no reason to trust Texas’s offense. Texas is 1-2 on the road this year, with the lone win a survival game at Kentucky in overtime. I’m on Mississippi State to ruin the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff dreams.
What is your favorite 2025 week 9 college football best bets? Let me know on X!
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