Week 9 College Football Lines and Picks

After what seemed like an endless pit into the dark abyss of blown teasers, parlay upsets, and bad beats, the free fall ended in Week 8, as we went 6-4, including 4-1 in single bet picks. The teasers and parlays have been a kick in the teeth the past few weeks, and Week 9 sports some enticing lines - including double-digit dogs and a couple of near-pick lines for traditional powers on the road. So, on with Week 9...

Lock of the week

UCF at Temple +10.5. I mean....this is a game I think Temple could win outright. Give them double digit points at home against a UCF team that’s been bad on the road? I don’t understand this line at all, but I’ll take it.

Other lines I like

Wisconsin +15 at Ohio State. Wisconsin’s defense didn’t suddenly get bad, and although Ohio State has been an ATM, that’s too many points. Badgers.

Texas -1 at TCU. Texas’ defense has gone bye bye in recent weeks, but they’ll save hope for a New Years Six Bowl for one more week.

Arizona State -3.5 at UCLA. The Bruins dominated Stanford last week, but Herm Edwards’ defense will be the best UCLA will have seen. And, y’know, aren’t too far removed from laying an egg at home to Oregon State.

Maryland +16 at Minnesota. Maryland has been a wreck, but it’s been a tested wreck. Not sure Minnesota is as good as their record, so I’ll take the boatload of points.

Texas Tech -4.5 at Kansas. Red Raiders have been a pleasant surprise this year, although Kansas’s inconsistency and surprise performances (Coastal Carolina loss, BC romp, killed by TCU, loss at the gun at Texas) give me pause. Still, I like laying less than a TD here.

Notre Dame -1 at Michigan. Michigan’s ability to shrink in big games, plus the Irish’s clear advantage at QB? Notre Dame escapes.

Auburn +11 at LSU. Auburn hasn’t won at LSU since 1999, and while they probably won’t Saturday, their defense will make this a close game.

South Carolina at Tennessee +5. If not for the bonehead of all bonehead plays last week by Jarrett Guarantano, the Vols are within a TD of Bama in the middle of the 4th quarter. Maurer or no Maurer, Tennessee’s defense in recent weeks has played well enough to win Saturday. Give me the points.

Duke +3.5 at UNC. Aside from catching an angry UVA team last week, David Cutcliffe’s team has been excellent away from home this year.