Week 9 of the college football season is here, and the season has entered the point where we know which teams are contenders.
Anything can happen on Saturday’s though with very few undefeated teams remaining, and there are once again several interesting matchups on tap even though LSU and Alabama are on bye as they gear up to face each other next week.
Below I’ve picked six key college football matchups like I do each week, which includes a game of the week pick, three SEC picks and two other plays, one of which involves Tulane.
(Lines from Caesars Sportsbook, official odds partner of Bet.NOLA.com, as of Friday, Oct. 27)
Game of the Week
No. 8 Oregon at No. 13 Utah
Line: Oregon (-6.5, -240) at Utah (+196), 47.5 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
Analysis: Oregon’s offense has been among the best in the nation, but they run into a Utah team that’s consistently held their own on defense.
The Utes might have trouble against Bo Nix and the Ducks, but they should be able to limit them enough to keep the game close, but the Utes offense will likely won't score many points against a stout Ducks defense.
The Utes offense hasn’t performed well enough to feel confident in taking the points, and 6.5 for the Ducks feels like a lot to lay on the road, but the under feels like a solid play since both defenses are strong.
The pick: UNDER 47.5
SEC best bets
No. 1 Georgia vs. Florida*
Line: Georgia (-14.5, -550) vs. Florida (+400), 47 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Analysis: Georgia hasn’t always performed as well as their point spreads indicate they should, but they’ve done what they needed to do to remain undefeated heading into this annual rivalry.
Florida hasn’t quite had the season they were hoping for, but they’ve got talent on both sides of the ball and should be able to compete with the Bulldogs, who seem to be on cruise control as opposed to going all out against teams that they’re clearly better than.
I’ll bank on the trend of the Bulldogs not covering to continue considering they’ve still got several tough SEC matchups remaining, and the Gators will almost certainly throw everything they’ve got at this one.
The pick: Florida +14.5
No. 21 Tennessee at Kentucky
Line: Tennessee (-3.5, -180) at Kentucky (+152), 51.5 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Analysis: Tennessee wasn’t able to hold off Alabama last week, but they’ve got several key matchups in front of them as they look to stay in the SEC title mix.
Kentucky is coming off a pair of tough losses that essentially eliminated them from SEC Championship Game contention, but that doesn’t mean they’ll lay over against the Vols in this annual rivalry.
The Vols defense is vulnerable as we saw last week, so the Wildcats should be able to keep pace with the Vols high-powered offense and push the total over.
The pick: OVER 51.5
South Carolina at Texas A&M
Line: South Carolina (+14.5, +400) at Texas A&M (-550), 53.5 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Analysis: Texas A&M is having another disappointing season for their standards, but they’ve got a golden opportunity to get back on track at home this week against a struggling South Carolina team.
While the Aggies offense has held them back, their defense has been among the best in the SEC and should be able to shut down a Gamecocks offense that thrives at times but usually struggles against tough competition.
The Gamecocks defense is also an issue having given up the second-most points in the SEC, so the Aggies should be able to find enough of a rhythm to win this one comfortably.
The pick: Texas A&M -14.5
Other plays
No. 22 Tulane at Rice
Line: Tulane (-10.5, -400) at Rice (+310), 53.5 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
Analysis: Tulane was able to hold on last week against North Texas, but their secondary was exposed against one of the American Athletic’s top passing attacks.
This week the Green Wave get another tough test against a Rice team that is led by their passing game, and they’ll likely have trouble again considering the Owls have arguably the best quarterback in the conference in transfer JT Daniels.
Michael Pratt should be able to make enough plays to counter Daniels, but the Green Wave’s suspect pass defense makes the Owls feel like a value play with the points.
The pick: Rice +10.5
Colorado at No. 23 UCLA
Line: Colorado (+17, +550) at UCLA (-800), 62.5 O/U
Day/Time/TV: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (ABC)
Analysis: UCLA’s offense hasn’t been as sharp this season, but their defense has been one of the few consistent stop units in the Pac 12 unlike Colorado.
The Buffaloes have proven that they can put up points, but Pac 12 play has made it clear that they’re not an elite team despite all of the hype they generated after a 3-0 start.
The Bruins defense should be able slow down Shedeur Sanders and company enough for them to win with ease, as their offense should have their way with the Buffs defense.
The pick: UCLA -17
*- Neutral site (Jacksonville)
PICKS RECORD
Last week: 3-3
2023 season: 26-19-3