The SEC title race is always exciting in late October, and this week is no exception. No. 8 LSU visits No. 14 Texas A&M in a matchup featuring the last two teams still undefeated in conference play. That’s not something many would have predicted before the season started.
Even for the winner, the road to the SEC title game remains unclear. Texas A&M will host Texas to end the regular season, while Alabama, currently in eighth place, visits LSU on Nov. 9.
Eighth-place Alabama. That’s how wild things are.
Each week, I will use this space to tell you what I think are a few of the best bets heading into the sports betting weekend. I will also throw in an upset of the week, which will be a team that is at least a touchdown underdog at BetMGM that I am picking to win outright.
I will also give you picks on other games involving potential College Football Playoff teams. Now that we are into October, I have expanded the Other CFP candidates list to the top 16 teams in the AP poll.
Games against FCS opponents are not considered.
Purdue is taking the week off, so I’ll have to go somewhere else in state for a good bet. Also, the current and a former No. 1 are featured.
Odds via BetMGM sportsbook. Get the latest BetMGM promo code to get in the game.
Week 9 picks
No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon (-21.5): The Ducks are riding a wave of momentum that has landed them at the top of the polls, but they are not exactly laying waste to their schedule. Oregon has only won two games this season by more than this betting line, and oddly enough, both were on the road. The Ducks posted 35-point wins over in-state rival Oregon State and — just last week — at Purdue. Illinois will make Oregon work hard for the win, but win they shall. Pick: Illinois +21.5
Washington at No. 13 Indiana (-6.5): Indiana has been one of the season’s more more pleasant surprises, with new coach Curt Cignetti leading the Hoosiers to a 7-0 start. Indiana isn’t just winning; it’s steamrolling its opponents. No team has played closer than 17 points against the Hoosiers this season. Washington may be the first, I suppose. After all, ESPN’s Gameday is in Bloomington this week, and the home team is only 3-5 this season when they show up. Still, the Hoosiers should be okay unless Lee Corso goes back to coaching them on Saturday. Pick: Indiana -6.5
No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt (+18.5): When Vanderbilt beat Alabama, it caught the Crimson Tide at a good time, coming off a big win over Georgia. I mention this not to discount the Commodores’ win, but as the old saying goes: it’s not always who you play, but when you play them. Well, Vandy is catching Texas at a very bad time. The Longhorns are coming off a 30-15 loss to Georgia that was more dominating than the score would indicate. Texas is looking to take out some frustration on the Commodores, and I believe they will. Pick: Texas -18.5
Upset of the Week
No. 3 Penn State at Wisconsin (-6.5): Wisconsin has won its last three games by at least 20 points. In other words, the Badgers are playing more like what we thought they might be before the season started. The Nittany Lions are having a great season, as evidenced by their ranking. This is a tough road environment, and Penn State must be careful not to get caught looking ahead to next week’s showdown with Ohio State. I like the betting underdog Badgers to make things difficult for Penn State and pick them off at the end. Pick: Wisconsin +6.5
Other CFP contenders
SportsLine’s proven computer model is calling for five outright upsets in Week 9 of college football. Visit SportsLine now to see them all, plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.
