COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST EARLY BETS WEEK 9
Summary
This piece offers betting predictions for several key college football games. The author believes No. 16 Virginia will cover a -10.5 spread against a struggling North Carolina team. For other major matchups, the analysis favors UCLA to stay within 25 points of No. 2 Indiana and suggests taking the points with No. 8 Ole Miss against No. 13 Oklahoma, predicting both of those games will be high-scoring.
Further predictions include the Missouri-Vanderbilt game going over the total and Washington covering -4.5 against Illinois. The author advises taking the under in Oregon’s large spread over Wisconsin and suggests Michigan State will keep it close against Michigan. Finally, the piece recommends betting on Texas A&M to cover -2.5 against LSU and taking Colorado with the points against Utah.
By Adam Greene
No. 16 VIRGINIA AT NORTH CAROLINA (+10.5, O/U: 51.5)
For the first time this season I get an excuse to write about the Bill Belichick Tarheels (2-4, 0-2 ACC) and, honestly, I don’t even know where to start. Is it possible to feel sorry for the devil? Before watching Pablo Torre’s latest Belichick and Jordon Hudson leak, I would have said, “no.” And, yet, after viewing that, I’m just like, “Aww. Poor Satan.” I’m second-hand embarrassed for Beelzebub. Here’s the thing and we’re all thinking it. Jordon Hudson is REALLY good at something and ain’t graphics or set design. And that “something” has melted Bill’s brain. Hopefully, for Bill’s sake, Jordon will get back to squandering his son Clunt and Kweef’s inheritance flipping flea-ridden rental properties. She’ll have plenty more cash to use after Belichik’s buy-out when the season’s over.
Torre’s video only makes it more distressing that we won’t get the Hulu UNC Hard Knocks show we were promised before the wheels fell off the Tarheels like a Boeing 777X right after take off. I feel like the Cavaliers (6-1, 3-0 ACC) are going to be able to score all they want in this one. Much like Belichick after he tosses Jordon his bank card.
Best Bets: Virginia -10.5
UCLA AT No. 2 INDIANA (-25, O/U: 54)
The Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten) have been on a tear since loading former head coach DeShaun Foster into the nearest trebuchet and pulling the lever. Immaculately-named interim head coach Tim Skipper has the team at 3-0 since he had his employment status upgraded and the team has scored 42, 38 and 20 in those games while holding opposing teams to 17 or less twice. This is a team that lost 35-10 to New Mexico a little more than a month ago.
Still, Indiana (7-0, 4-0) is favored for a reason as they boast the NCAA’s favorite quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, the current betting favorite to hoist the Heisman Trophy at +275. I like the Hoosiers to win, but I think it’ll be closer, and more fun, than the spread and total here.
Best Bets: UCLA +25, Over 54
No. 8 OLE MISS AT No. 13 OKLAHOMA (-4.5, O/U: 54.5)
The Rebels (6-1, 3-1 SEC) are coming off a shootout loss to Georgia but, maybe more confounding for Ole Miss is the fact that every school that’s fired its head coach is suddenly targeting their man, Lane Kiffen. Now, granted, the Kiff-ster has shown he can bolt a job with the best of them, but that was before he flamed out at USC and needed to go on the Nick Saban rehabilitation tour. Ole Miss is a good gig and the man is already making $9 million a season and that’s before the extra $2.6 million in bonuses it looks like he’ll pocket when his team makes it into the College Football Playoff.
The Sooners (6-1, 2-1) stumbled two weeks ago against Texas, but shamed South Carolina thoroughly last week, winning 26-7. I don’t think Oklahoma can keep up with the Rebs’ offense, but I do like the over.
Best Bets: Ole Miss +4.5, Over 54.5
No. 15 MISSOURI AT No. 10 VANDERBILT (-2.5, O/U: 52.5)
The Tigers (6-1, 2-1 SEC) have boasted one of the most prolific offenses in the country and came within three points of upsetting Alabama two weeks ago. Vandy (6-1, 2-1) have not been too shabby on that side of the ball either, with their QB, Diego Pavia, finding himself in the Heisman race as well at +1000. You do wonder when the magic in The Music City might calm a bit, but I’m not ready to say it’ll be this week. I do like this game to be a shootout.
Best Bets: Over 52.5
No. 23 ILLINOIS AT WASHINGTON (-4.5, O/U: 55)
Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) got spanked by Ohio State last week, but the Buckeyes have been doling those out like a leather-clad lady posting a personal ad on Craigslist all season. Washington (5-2, 2-2) too had its ass reddened by OSU a month ago, 24-6, and then got a replay last week with a 24-7 loss to Michigan.
I like the Huskies to sneak back into the Top 25 after this one.
Best Bets: Washington -4.5
WISCONSIN AT No. 6 OREGON (-33.5, O/U: 44.5)
Another week, another Wisconsin (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) blow out on the schedule. This time, it’ll be handed out by Oregon (6-1, 3-1). The problem with spreads this big and games like this is that the Ducks have a bench full of what I call “practice warriors.” NIL has killed every team’s real depth anymore and you’re not getting guys that will start two years from now in a 30-point game in the fourth quarter in 2025. Instead, it’s a bunch of Academic All-Conference guys, FCA Reps and Champions of Life hitting the gridiron in that final 15 minutes. Oregon could win this game 42-0 and not hit the over.
Best Bets: Under 44.5
No. 25 MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE (+14, O/U: 48)
The Wolverines (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) have been a disappointment to every Michigan person in my life so far this season. That’ll all change as long as they win this game and the annual “shocking upset” victory over Ryan Day’s Ohio State. The Spartans (3-4, 0-4) are riding a four-game losing streak, all in conference. This one will be five, but I feel like it’ll be closer than two touchdowns.
Best Bets: Michigan Sate +14
No. 3 TEXAS A&M AT No. 20 LSU (+2.5, O/U: 47.5)
It’s time for all of America to come to the realization I did years ago — Brian Kelly sucks. He just does. If he was any more ass as a head coach he’d have to file a restraining order against Kanye West. LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC), with its roster alone, should be 6-1 at worst. Not only is Kelly blowing it for the Tigers this season, he’s dropping Garrett Nussmeier’s draft stock by the week.
Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0) is having the season archrival Texas was supposed to have. They’ve won low-scoring slugfests and they’ve won barn-burning shootouts. This one might be another.
Best Bets: Texas A&M -2.5, Over 47.5
COLORADO AT UTAH (-13.5, O/U: 48.5)
As always, we end our college football pick on the West Coast which usually means the doorbell has rang and we’re getting a visit by the Latter Day Saints. Utah (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) just lost its Battle of Mormons last week, falling 24-21 to BYU. The Buffaloes (3-4, 1-3) had a decaffeinated “L” handed to them by the Cougars three weeks ago, also 24-21, then followed that up with a 35-21 loss to TCU. Dieon’s fellows got it back together a week ago, upsetting then No. 22 Iowa State 24-17. I like the Utes here, but not that spread.
Best Bets: Colorado +13.5 Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan
