Week 9 College Football Best Bets: Nation's Best Fight For 'Poll' Position
Our Week 9 College Football Best Bets offer those teams who hope to impress College Football Playoff voters the chance to pad their resumes. No. 1 ranked Ohio State, meanwhile, takes a breather ahead of its game against what’s let of Penn State next week. But that doesn’t mean oddsmakers and bettors who use the best sports betting sites are going to have it easy.
The No. 9 Miami Hurricanes saw their No. 2 ranking disappear after a home loss to Louisville. They play host to ACC doormat Stanford at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers signed Curt Cignetti to a new 8-year deal last week, squelching any talk of him moving on to Happy Valley as James Franklin’s full-time replacement. He and the Hoosiers responded with a 25-point win over Michigan State as 26.5-point favorites.
Week 9 Just Means More For SEC Elite
The SEC offers the most compelling matchup of ranked teams this week as Oklahoma plays host to Ole Miss. Both teams need a win to remain viable in the SEC title hunt and come off road conference games in Week 8. The Lane Train pulls into Norman off getting derailed by Georgia in Athens. Meanwhile, Oklahoma visits South Carolina in our Week 9 College Football Best Bets.
The 49-day run of daily college/pro football continues this week, with games starting Tuesday night.
Now it’s on to our Week 9 College Football Best Bets.
Week 9 College Football Best Bets: Odds & Picks
| DATE | WEEK 9 GAME | BEST BET | Time / TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Oct. 24 |  California at  Virginia Tech | CAL +6 | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  UCLA at  Indiana | IU -23.5 | 12 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Northwestern at  Nebraska | NU +7.5 | 12 p.m. (FS1) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Ole Miss at  Oklahoma | MISS +4.5 | 12 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Syracuse at  Georgia Tech | UNDER 54.5 | 12 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Virginia at  North Carolina | UVA -9.5 | 12 p.m. (ACC) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  South Florida at  Memphis | USF -3.5 | 12 p.m. (ESPN2) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Kansas State at  Kansas | KSU +3.5 | 12 p.m. (TNT) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Alabama at  South Carolina | BAMA -13.5 | 3:30 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  BYU at  Iowa State | ISU -2.5 | 3:30 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Oklahoma State at  Texas Tech | UNDER 57.5 | 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  TCU at  West Virginia | TCU -14.5 | 6 p.m. (ESPN+) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Stanford at  Miami | UNDER 48.5 | 7 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Texas A&M at  LSU | TAMU -2.5 | 7:30 p.m. (ABC) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Tennessee at  Kentucky | TENN -9 | 7:45 p.m. (SEC) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Houston at  Arizona State | ASU -7.5 | 8 p.m. (ESPN2) |
| Sat., Oct. 25 |  Colorado at  Utah | UTAH -14.5 | 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) |
Favorite Underdog / Value Total (O/U)
Week 9 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis
Week 9 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis
Friday, October 24
California at Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: The Golden Bears survived a scare against Bill Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels in Week 8, hanging on for a 21-18 win. Virginia Tech dropped 2 straight under interim coach Philip Montgomery heading into the bye. Expect some changes in the Hokies’ offensive gameplan. The Bears head east on a short week after a game they should have lost. But the Hokies have yet to figure it out.
Best Bet: Cal +3.5 (-122) FanDuel via OddsJam
Saturday, October 25
UCLA at Indiana, 12 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: Big Noon Kickoff visits Bloomington. The Hoosiers toppled Oregon in Eugene and then signed coach Curt Cignetti to an 8-year extension ahead of their Week 8 win over Michigan State. But the Hoosiers failed to cover the 26.5-point number in their 38-12 win. They’ve got a downhill ride from here on out in the Big Ten thanks to not having to play Michigan or Ohio State this season. IU covered in 4 of its first 6 games this season before that steep number against the Spartans. Indiana needs big wins to eliminate any anti-Hoosier bias among the College Football Playoff voting elite. IU catches the jet-lagged Bruins for the big-number cover in our Week 9 College Football Best Bets.
Best Bet: Indiana -23.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
Northwestern at Nebraska, 12 p.m. (FS1)
Buzz: Northwestern ended James Franklin’s run at Penn State by knocking off the Nittany Lions. The Wildcats shut out Purdue 19-0 for an encore. Northwestern’s 3-1 in the Big Ten. They’re dreaming big in Evanston. The Cornhuskers and Matt Rhule returned to form in a 24-6 loss to Minnesota that saw their QB, Dylan Railoa, sacked 9 times.
Best Bet: Northwestern +7.5 (-115) DraftKings via OddsJam
Ole Miss at Oklahoma, 12 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: The Lane Train chugs into Norman this week after getting derailed in Athens Saturday. This game opened with the Sooners as a 2.5-point favorites. It moved to 4.5 after that Ole Miss loss, and OU’s easy 26-7 win and cover over South Carolina. Lane Kiffin’s offense – which managed 35 points in an 8-point loss at Georgia – carries the day against a stingy OU offense.
Best Bet: Ole Miss +4.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam
Syracuse at Georgia Tech, 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: With Miami’s loss to Louisville, the road to the ACC championship game opened like the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 7 Yellowjackets this week continue their roll toward a potential College Football Playoff berth with a win over the visiting Orange. The ‘Cuse has covered on a pair of 17.5-point numbers this season. Do they make it three? We’ll pass on the spread and lean into the under due to the noon start and stakes for Tech.
Best Bet: Under 54.5 Points (-115) DraftKings via OddsJam
Virginia at North Carolina, 12 p.m. (ACC)
Buzz: We called UNC’s close-call-easy-cover-and-near-win at Cal in Week 9. The Tar Heels easily covered the 12.5-point number in a 21-18 loss. But Bill Belichick has yet to beat a Power 4 team at UNC. That streak continues this week as Virginia joins the madcap dash for a spot in the ACC title game. Meanwhile, Virginia’s win over Louisville looks even more impressive after the Cards toppled No. 2 Miami. And to think Tony Elliott began this season in the coaching hot seat in Charlottesville. Not anymore.
Best Bet: Virginia -9.5 (-115) DraftKings via OddsJam
South Florida at Memphis, 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Buzz: Memphis began this season 6-0 SU and ATS. But UAB and interim coach Alex Mortensen (yes, he's the son of late ESPN NFL Insider Chris) stunned Memphis as 21.5-point underdogs in Week 8. UAB beat Memphis outright 31-24 outright in the biggest “trap game” win of 2025. South Florida’s lone defeat this season came at Hard Rock Stadium to Miami. Otherwise, the Bulls (who beat Florida) have been rolling through opponents with 41.7 points per game. Memphis may still be in post-UAB shock come kickoff.
Best Bet: South Florida -3.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
Kansas State at Kansas, 12 p.m. (TNT)
Buzz: Both Kansas and K-State failed to meet their preseason expectations. But you can throw out the record when the Governor's Cup at stake in the Sunflower Showdown. Both teams have beaten and covered against UCF, in terms of common opponents. K-State covered 3 straight heading into the bye. In a game as even as this one, take the points in our Week 9 College Football Best Bets.
Best Bet: Kansas State +3.5 (-110) ESPN BET via OddsJam
Alabama at South Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: Nick Who? The Kalen DeBoer Era replaced talk of contract buyouts this season, with milestone SEC wins over Georgia and Tennessee. The Tide defense and QB Ty Simpson fired up the stogies on “The Third Saturday in October” after a 37-20 rout of the the Vols. The Gamecocks are in midst of a treacherous 5-game SEC run that also includes a loss in Week 7 to LSU, a 26-7 defeat at Oklahoma in Week 8, and games against Ole Miss and Texas A&M. There’s no light at the end of this tunnel. This number moved 3.5 points after the open..
Best Bet: Alabama -13.5 (-115) DraftKings via OddsJam
BYU at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: No. 11 BYU began a monstrous Big 12 run against Utah, Iowa State and TCU in Week 8 with a 24-21 win over the Utes in “The Holy War.” But BYU missed on the 3.5-point number. Iowa State fizzled of late. The Cyclones hit the bye after a soul-crushing loss to Colorado. Getting BYU between Utah and TCU opens the door for ISU, especially at home and after a break. This number flipped on Sunday, given that Iowa State was an underdog when it opened.
Best Bet: Iowa State -2.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Buzz: The No. 14 Red Raiders hit a sinkhole in losing 26-22 to Arizona as 7-point favorites Saturday, suffering their first lost SU and ATS. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, covered once in its first 7 games. No need to chase this monster number. The Raiders’ defense keeps OSU in single digits, if it doesn't pitch a shutout.
Best Bet: Under 57.5 Points (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
Baylor at Cincinnati, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Buzz: The No. 20 Bearcats won 6 straight after a season-opening loss to Nebraska. They hold a slice of first place in the Big 12 after a 49-17 win and cover against Oklahoma State. Baylor stumbled Saturday with a 42-36 loss to TCU. This number moved 2 points toward Cincinnati Sunday. Still, the 'Cats remains a tough out, especially at home.
Best Bet: Cincinnati -5.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
TCU at West Virginia, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Buzz: The Horned Frogs leap into Morgantown after a 42-36 win and cover against Baylor in Week 8. Rich Rodriguez failed this season to recreate the magic he brought to West Virginia in his previous life as their head coach. West Virginia has allowed 41, 48, 38, and 45 points in its 4 Big 12 games.
Best Bet: TCU -14.5 (-105) FanDuel via OddsJam
Stanford at Miami, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: Louisville blew through Hard Rock Stadium in Week 8, using 3 different QBs and a take-away defense to ruin Miami’s ride to a perfect season. One loss may keep the Canes out of the ACC title game, and possibly a College Football Playoff spot. Miami must win out – and bigly. Stanford covered just once this season, missing on lines 20, 16, and 19.5 points. Still, bettors can’t trust the Hurricanes on a 30-point line, even against a hapless West Coast foe. But they can see UM’s defense dominate their guests.
Best Bet: Under 48.5 Points (-105) DraftKings via OddsJam
Texas A&M at LSU, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: No. 3 Texas A&M ventures into Death Valley 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS. The Aggies’ front on both sides of the ball has shown to be dominant. TAMU coach Mike Elko can scheme the perfect defense to wreak havoc on ex-Heisman hopeful QB Garrett Nussmeier and Brian Kelly. This number moved 3 points away from LSU after its loss to Vandy. But the Aggies – who were once underdogs in this game - remain undervalued against top-tier SEC foes.
Best Bet: Texas A&M -2.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam
Tennessee at Kentucky, 7:45 p.m. (SEC)\
Buzz: The last time the Vols covered occurred in Week 2. And that was on the hook as 3.5-point underdogs in a 44-41 loss to Georgia. Tennessee’s offense overwhelms the hosts here. The Vols amass 511 yards and 44.1 points per game. The Vols score the get-right win and cover at sometimes tricky Kroger Field in our Week 9 College Football Best Bets.
Best Bet: Tennessee -9 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
Houston at Arizona State, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Buzz: Another Big 12 “must-win” game for two evenly matched conference foes. Both teams are 3-1 in conference. ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt delivered a monstrous 26-22 upset win over Texas Tech in Week 8 as 7-point dogs, handing the Red Raiders their first loss both SU and ATS this season. Houston tuned up against Oklahoma State.
Best Bet: Arizona State -7.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam
Colorado at Utah, 10:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: The Buffaloes nabbed their most impressive victory of the post-Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter era ahead of the bye: a 24-17 win over ranked Iowa State. This week, the pesky Utes deliver in prime time against Prime Time & Company. Even after a Holy War loss (but cover) to BYU in Week 8. Utah scored 14 points in the 4th quarter to keep it close with BYU, but left too many points on the board. They won’t make the same mistake 2 weeks in a row.
Best Bet: Utah -14.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam
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