College Football Week 9 Predictions & Best Bets

Twelve games, ten best bets, and a Halloween Saturday that opens with a Big 12 showdown in Lubbock before most of us have finished breakfast.

Let's get into it.

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SATURDAY MORNING

#22 ARIZONA WILDCATS @ #13 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Saturday, October 31 | 9:00 AM PT | ESPN

Line: Texas Tech -3.5 | O/U: 54.5

It's safe to say this ain't the same Red Raider defense as last year.

Can we start giving some love to Cincy? That game would have been even more epic had Sorsby not liked gambling so much.

Arizona, meanwhile, continues to win games and has a real shot at the Big 12 title game if they can upset Texas Tech. I like their chances with Arizona legend Noah Fifita leading the charge.

PREDICTION: ARIZONA 31, TEXAS TECH 27

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#25 WISCONSIN BADGERS @ IOWA HAWKEYES

Saturday, October 31 | 9:00 AM PT | Fox

Line: Iowa -3.5 | O/U: 36.5

Move out of the way, Arby's, because these two programs have the real meats.

Welcome to the lineman bowl. Both of these teams have HUGE offensive and defensive lines, and this game will essentially be a 60-minute game of tug of war. Best line wins, and the Hawkeyes have the best line.

If the NFL has National Tight Ends Day, then this game should be National Lineman Day.

PREDICTION: IOWA 13, WISCONSIN 10

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON

UCONN HUSKIES @ AIR FORCE FALCONS

Saturday, October 31 | 12:00 PM PT | MW+

Line: Air Force -1.5 | O/U: 51.5

I was leaning toward Air Force, but after doing some digging I'm going to roll with UConn.

This line is extremely undervalued. Two of UConn's three losses have been very close, and all three came against fairly tough opponents.

I expect UConn to be fully prepared to stop Air Force's Wing T running attack and to create some mismatches with their playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.

PREDICTION: UCONN 27, AIR FORCE 17

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#17 FLORIDA GATORS vs. #3 GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Saturday, October 31 | 12:30 PM PT | ABC

Line: Georgia -12.5 | O/U: 55.5

Neutral site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Georgia has had two weeks to mull over their shocking loss to Auburn, while Florida comes in after their bye week, fresh off an upset victory over Texas.

You don't really know which Florida team you're going to get from week to week. Georgia has been more consistent all season long, and I expect them to dominate both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage and impose their will on the Gators with their running game.

PREDICTION: GEORGIA 33, FLORIDA 17

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#20 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS @ OREGON DUCKS

Saturday, October 31 | 12:30 PM PT | Peacock

Line: Oregon -3.5 | O/U: 47.5

Not many people would have predicted Northwestern would have a better record than the Ducks at this point of the season.

Northwestern's only loss came in a tightly contested game against Indiana, and they have blown out most of their opponents besides Michigan State, who they beat by three.

Oregon has looked lost on the offensive side of the ball the last few weeks, and I'm not sure why they are favored in this game. Considering all the preseason hype, and that Oregon just got upset 21-10 at Illinois as a double-digit favorite, I think some of the Oregon players may start checking out if their offense can't find any sort of rhythm.

Don't be surprised if Northwestern beats Oregon by two scores.

PREDICTION: NORTHWESTERN 24, OREGON 20

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#6 UTAH UTES @ CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Saturday, October 31 | 12:45 PM PT | ESPN

Line: Utah -6.5 | O/U: 56.5

Peppy voice: "Be careful, it's a trap!"

Cincy just destroyed Texas Tech at home and now has their sights on another team in the top 10. Cincy used an explosive running game and play action off said running game, which let them control the line of scrimmage and stay on schedule.

Granted, Utah's defense is a lot stingier. But Utah just hosted College GameDay, so I expect they might come out a little sluggish, playing in a very hostile environment without their crowd behind them. They started very sluggish against Houston, and if they start sluggish on the road in Cincy, it won't end well.

Give me the Bearcats to catch the Utes nappin'.

PREDICTION: CINCINNATI 34, UTAH 29

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NEVADA WOLF PACK @ #7 UCLA BRUINS

Saturday, October 31 | 1:15 PM PT | BTN

Line: UCLA -22.5 | O/U: 44.5

The Wolf Pack will destroy UCLA!

Maybe if it was the UCLA from two years ago. Not this UCLA team. This UCLA team has an elite line on both sides of the ball that can maul even the best defensive lines in the country, which Nevada isn't close to having.

However, considering both teams like to pound the rock, I can see UCLA using this game as a bit of a tune-up and letting off the gas pedal early, which will let Nevada cover a spread this huge.

PREDICTION: UCLA 31, NEVADA 10

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SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS @ OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Saturday, October 31 | 1:15 PM PT | SEC Network

Line: Oklahoma -4.5 | O/U: 44.5

Don't look now, but South Carolina has pulled off two upsets in a row. LaNorris Sellers is finally looking like the Heisman candidate many people predicted he could be.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, would probably like to forget about this year as quickly as possible. Is Brent Venables on the hot seat? That win against Texas helped, but I think the gas is definitely getting turned up.

I expect South Carolina and Dylan Stewart to terrorize John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense. Give me the Cocks.

PREDICTION: SOUTH CAROLINA 24, OKLAHOMA 20

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SATURDAY EVENING

#1 MIAMI HURRICANES @ NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Saturday, October 31 | 4:30 PM PT | ABC

Line: Miami -14 | O/U: 52.5

We're on to Miami.

I'm sure that's what Bill Belichick was thinking after UNC was upset at home by Syracuse in overtime. Yikes. Not a good loss. I looked at the box score wondering how North Carolina lost, expecting to see some turnovers, but they didn't have any. They just got flat-out beat.

Miami comes in with the best scoring offense in the country and the best scoring defense in the ACC. North Carolina has played to its opponents' level throughout the year, and I expect Belichick to have some creative ways to slow down this Miami offense. Unfortunately, that won't be enough.

Give me the Canes in a blowout.

PREDICTION: MIAMI 44, NORTH CAROLINA 17

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#2 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES @ USC TROJANS

Saturday, October 31 | 4:30 PM PT | NBC

Line: Ohio State -6.5 | O/U: 51.5

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for Ohio State, considering the injury to Julian Sayin's throwing arm.

Ohio State has yet to announce who will start at QB, but the formula should remain the same. Pound. The. Rock. Then, occasionally, hit Jeremiah Smith for a 60-yard touchdown. Maybe Smith should play QB?

USC comes back to Los Angeles licking its wounds after getting dominated by a physical Wisconsin team. This game should be close, but Ohio State should be able to close it out in the fourth quarter with its ground game.

PREDICTION: OHIO STATE 26, USC 24

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WASHINGTON HUSKIES @ NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

Saturday, October 31 | 5:00 PM PT | BTN

Line: Nebraska -7.5 | O/U: 49.5

Dylan Raiola broke the hearts of Cornhuskers fans everywhere by throwing a game-winning touchdown with 28 seconds left.

Three weeks ago, the Huskers were on the verge of upsetting Indiana but blew a late lead at home, and they have been on the wrong end of two close games in a row.

On the other side, the Huskies overcame three Elijah Brown interceptions and handled Purdue on the road in the Friday night primetime slot. Considering how docile the Huskies looked with Demond Williams starting at QB, Huskies fans are willing to take a couple of Elijah Brown interceptions to actually move the ball up and down the field.

The starter at QB hasn't been announced, and my bet truly depends on who it will be. Give me the Huskies outright if Brown starts, and the Huskers if it's Williams. (Yuck.)

PREDICTION IF BROWN STARTS: WASHINGTON 31, NEBRASKA 24

PREDICTION IF WILLIAMS STARTS: NEBRASKA 31, WASHINGTON 10 (MAYBE)

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SATURDAY NIGHT

OREGON STATE BEAVERS @ FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS

Saturday, October 31 | 8:00 PM PT | USA Network

Line: Oregon State -5.5 | O/U: 57.5

Oregon State is the most exciting team in the nation. There, I said it.

The Beavers have completely turned their program around, and a lot of it has to do with the emergence of freshman phenom Jesse Legree. If you haven't seen Legree play, do yourself a favor and search up his highlights on YouTube. You won't be disappointed.

Fresno State was one of the preseason Pac-12 favorites, but a couple of close losses have this season slipping away. Oregon State has its eyes set on a CFP bid as the Pac-12 champ, and that will most likely come down to its November 14th matchup against Boise State.

Give me the Beavers, baby!

PREDICTION: OREGON STATE 33, FRESNO STATE 27

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— Justin Tapp | The Sizzlin CEO