College Football Week 9 Picks And Top 25 Matchups
Three more Top 25 college football match-ups in Week 9 to close the calendar on October. I break down the Top 25 games including Michigan at Michigan State and the other Big Ten battle between Ohio State and Penn State in my coverage at Offshore Gaming Association. More insight, analysis of Michigan at Michigan State and support of the Wolverines in my coverage for Forbes. That includes the betting lines and odds from FanDuel Sportsbook on all the Top 25 games on Sat., Oct. 30 and also included below.
The Wolverines and Spartans are two of nine undefeated college football teams entering Week 9. Also included is Georgia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, SMU, San Diego State, Texas San Antonio (UTSA) and Wake Forest, who I highlight in another feature at OSGA this week.
College Football Top 25 AP Poll with Week 9 Match-ups and Odds
| Rank | Team | FanDuel Line | Week 9 Opponent |
| 1 | Georgia (63) | -14.5 | Florida (at Jacksonville) |
| 2 | Cincinnati | -26.5 | at Tulane |
| 3 | Alabama | N/A | Bye |
| 4 | Oklahoma | -19.5 | Texas Tech |
| 5 | Ohio State | -19.5 | vs No. 20 Penn State |
| 6 | Michigan | -3.5 | at No. 8 Michigan State |
| 7 | Oregon | -24.5 | Colorado |
| 8 | Michigan State | 3.5 | vs No. 6 Michigan |
| 9 | Iowa | 3.5 | at Wisconsin |
| 10 | Ole Miss | 2.5 | at No. 18 Auburn |
| 11 | Notre Dame | -3.5 | North Carolina |
| 12 | Kentucky | 1 | at Mississippi State |
| 13 | Wake Forest | -16.5 | Duke |
| 14 | Texas A&M | N/A | Bye |
| 15 | Oklahoma State | -30.5 | Kansas |
| 16 | Baylor | -2.5 | Texas |
| 17 | Pittsburgh | -9.5 | Miami, FL |
| 18 | Auburn | -2.5 | vs No. 10 Mississippi |
| 19 | SMU | 1 | at Houston |
| 20 | Penn State | 19.5 | at No. 5 Ohio State |
| 21 | San Diego State | -1 | Fresno State |
| 22 | Iowa State | -7.5 | at West Virginia |
| 23 | Texas San Antonio (UTSA) | N/A | Bye |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina | -17 | Troy |
| 25 | BYU | -2.5 | Virginia |
There were no Top 25 match-ups last week for the only time this season. But a mixed bag in our Week 8 Top 25 picks and opinions, which did include a bet on Illinois (+24), who ate the whole pie in taking down Penn State 20-18 in a FBS record nine overtimes.
College Football Week 9 Picks and Top 25 Teams
Saturday, Oct. 30
- No. 5 Ohio State vs No. 20 Penn State | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
- No. 6 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State | 12:00 p.m. | FOX
- No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 18 Auburn | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN
There is a trio of top-10 games on Saturday’s docket, including No. 6 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State. @EliHershkovich breaks down the angles for that matchup, along with No. 4 Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech, for his Week 9 college football best bets.https://t.co/uONAId14OP pic.twitter.com/iFJy8v9jWG
— TheLines (@TheLinesUS) October 28, 2021
Check out all the Top 25 game analysis at Offshore Gaming Association and more stats and betting breakdown of the match-ups in Forbes with added insight on the Michigan at Michigan State game.
An early kickoff in East Lansing for in-state undefeated rivals. More than 70% of the spread bets and 85% of the spread handle is on the underdog Spartans at one leading online sportsbook, but closer to 65% of the bets and 55% of the spread money is supporting Sparty. That may be a surprise, but a bigger one is that the Spartans are 7-0. Consider that Michigan State was picked to finish last in the Big Ten 
East Division by a number of leading college football publications, and were among the worst teams in the conference ratings of offensive and defensive lines. The total has dipped down a bit to 51.5 with betting support under. Despite playing an easier schedule, the MSU Spartans advanced numbers are not nearly as strong as Michigan’s. Big Blue is going to win the battle in the trenches and the game. Both teams run defenses allow near 115 yards per game, but the Wolverines offense rushes for 253 YPG at 5.5 yards per rush while the Spartans run for 190 YPG at 5.1 YPR. The Wolverines pound the ground game rushed for 294 yards on 51 carries in last week’s 33-7 whipping of the Northwestern Wildcats, despite playing without both starting offensive guards. They return this week to help the ‘thunder and lightning’ duo or RB’s Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum give Michigan the redemption win after losing to the Spartans last season 27-24 as a 22-point favorite. Michigan belongs in the top 10 and Michigan State does not, and the Spartans are 0-7 SU/ATS since late Oct., 2018 against top-10 teams.
Pick: Michigan -3.5 (FanDuel)
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