College Football Week 9

[Sirhornsalot]

Week 9 college football odds, storylines: Best bets for Florida-Georgia and Saturday's other big games​

Call it a cherry pick on a week where it suits our narrative, but it sure seemed like line moves took it on the chin more than usual, and almost exclusively, in the highest-profile games of college football's Week 8:

• Indiana: Went up to -7.5, didn't cover the close at Michigan
• Auburn: Went down to +7, didn't cover vs. LSU
• Texas Tech: Went up to -11.5, lost outright at Cincinnati
• Oregon: Went up to -10.5, lost outright to Illinois
• Iowa: Went up to -7.5, lost outright to Minnesota
• BYU: Went up to -7.5, lost outright to UCF
• Ole Miss: Went down to +3, didn't cover the close at Texas

With BYU dropping a wild one at Central Florida (not completely unforeseeable given the obvious through-line of what the "spot" means in this emotionally driven sport), market moves are inevitable, but who's to even say what a shake-up even is in college football anymore?

Movers​

Texas saved its season with a win over Ole Miss, further complicating everything in the SEC, before many of the jumbled top-half of the conference take Halloween off. After Georgia (+100 to win the conference), which is no lock to make it to Atlanta given the Bulldogs have three more ranked games on their schedule, no one else is shorter than 7-to-1 odds.

In the Big Ten, Indiana exuded something at The Big House that so many of these teams aren't able to after a big game: upset avoidance. Meanwhile, Iowa and USC ejected themselves from the Big Ten conversation, leaving just UCLA (-130) and Northwestern (+600) as the surprise teams looking to make a case for a third playoff team out of the conference we've been told is now the best in the sport.

The big one in the Group of Six was the slobber-knocker we expected between New Mexico and North Dakota State (the under kept us 2-2 in Week 8, 21-17-2 on the season). New Mexico jumped into the driver's seat as the Mountain West's top team, and now hope the other G6 conference leaders continue to drop.

Shakers​

In that vein, the upsets started early in Week 8. James Madison got upset by Appalachian State on Thursday, removing the Dukes from the playoff equation as they went from odds-on favorite to 10-to-1 to make it.

Middle Tennessee, Illinois, Southern Miss, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Louisiana-Monroe all deserve a shoutout for winning as underdogs of 3-to-1 on the moneyline.

A week after the Big 12's big day thanks to BYU, the Knights and Bearcats had no problem stinging the top of the league, as both the Cougars and Red Raiders move to plus-money to make the College Football Playoff.

The Rebels' loss didn't just move them to even-money to make the CFP, it dinged Trinidad Chambliss' chances for the Heisman Trophy in the betting market, as he fell to 30-1, while Miami's duo of Darian Mensah (+290) and Malachi Toney (+370) stacked stats in a game the Hurricanes were three-touchdown favorites. The countdown is on, as it's two weeks until they go to South Bend to take on the fourth choice in Heisman betting, CJ Carr (19-1). The winner coming out of that game will be a mover in a market still led by Jeremiah Smith (+120).

Week 9 college football odds, storylines: Best bets for Florida-Georgia and Saturday's other big games

Matt Russell gives bets he likes on the biggest games of college football Week 9, including Florida-Georgia.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[hookemhorb]

In the G6, I wouldn't count out UTSA. They have a chance at making it to the playoffs. They have been scoring a lot of points with a decent D. They travel to FAU this week and then take on North Texas. Win those 2 games and their schedule becomes "easy". They could easily end up 11-1. If they win out, I like their chances of getting the automatic bid.

In the Big 10 UCLA, has a relatively easy schedule--no ranked teams. They do have to travel to Minnesota and Michigan. Those could be trouble for them. If they win those 2 games, they should make the CCG. Go 1-1 and it's a toss up between them and Indiana to make the CCG.

 

[Baron]

In the G6, I wouldn't count out UTSA. They have a chance at making it to the playoffs. They have been scoring a lot of points with a decent D. They travel to FAU this week and then take on North Texas. Win those 2 games and their schedule becomes "easy". They could easily end up 11-1. If they win out, I like their chances of getting the automatic bid.

In the Big 10 UCLA, has a relatively easy schedule--no ranked teams. They do have to travel to Minnesota and Michigan. Those could be trouble for them. If they win those 2 games, they should make the CCG. Go 1-1 and it's a toss up between them and Indiana to make the CCG.

UCLA's defense has been outstanding outside of the Purdue game. If they go 3-2 for the rest of their season and make the CCG they should be in.