Predictions for Week 9 College Football Games with Point Spreads

• Week 9 of the 2024 college football season features several intriguing matchups on Saturday, October 26th
• Among our Week 9 college football against the spread picks are plays on Texas, Iowa, and Bowling Green
• Read below for expert Week 9 college football picks against the spread

The 2024 college football season is heading into its ninth week, and there are several enticing matchups on the betting board. I’m back with my top college football against the spread picks for Week 9 on Saturday, October 26th.

In my Week 9 college football picks against the spread, I’m targeting Texas in a bounce-back spot vs Vanderbilt while also backing Northwestern to keep it close against Iowa. To wrap things up, I head to the MAC conference for my final CFB spread pick of Week 9.

Here are my Week 9 college football picks against the spread, providing you with our reasoning for each bet.

My Week 9 college football picks against the spread feature a mix of power conference clashes and an intriguing MAC showdown. I’ve identified key betting angles in each matchup and provided an in-depth breakdown of each pick.

Texas vs Vanderbilt Odds

All odds as of October 23rd at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the best sportsbook betting apps for college football against the spread wagering.

Pick #1: Texas -18.5 (vs Vanderbilt)

My first addition to my Week 9 college football picks against the spread is all about the numbers. There are several trends pointing to Texas covering the 18.5-point spread against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

For starters, teams who lose when ranked No. 1 are 4-1 ATS in the following game since 2019. On a broader scale, ranked teams who lose by 10+ points in the previous week cover the spread the next week over 60% of the time historically.

The Horns are headed to Nashville🤘

🏈 Texas at Vanderbilt
📅 Saturday, Oct. 26 | 3:15 PM CT
📍FirstBank Stadium | Nashville, TN
📺 SEC Network pic.twitter.com/vyzoy1Hsjk

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 21, 2024

It’s all about public perception, and the public is high on Vandy and low on Texas right now. That creates value with the more talented team in the CFB betting odds. Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense should get back on track against a Vandy secondary allowing 7.3 yards per attempt.

Yes, Vanderbilt has covered double-digit spreads in all three of its SEC games thus far. However, the Longhorns thrive as a double-digit favorite, going 15-8 ATS under Sarkisian in this role.

The Texas QB situation is getting plenty of talk, but I expect the Longhorns ground game to be one of the biggest stories Saturday. Three Longhorns backs are averaging over four yards per carry, and they should feast on a Commodores defense that grades 88th nationally in tackling (per PFF).

• Pick: Texas -18.5 (-110)

Iowa vs Northwestern Odds

Pick #2: Northwestern +14 (vs Iowa)

Another addition to my Week 9 college football picks against the spread is a play on the Northwestern Wildcats against the Iowa Hawkeyes. I love the value on Northwestern to stay within two scores in one of the lowest-scoring projected games on the board (37.5).

The Wildcats have been a great CFB bet as underdogs, posting a 3-1 ATS record this season when getting points. Iowa, meanwhile, has struggled to cover large spreads. Kirk Ferentz’s program is just 3-7-1 ATS when favored by 10 or more points against Big 10 opponents over the past five seasons.

Kirk Ferentz on responding from the loss:

“That’s football, you’ve gotta move on…” pic.twitter.com/418vcLWVto

— Blake Hornstein (@BlakeHornTV) October 20, 2024

The extremely low total of 38 points also favors Northwestern covering. With so few possessions expected, it will be difficult for Iowa to pull away and cover two touchdowns. Six of the last eight meetings between these teams have been decided by less than 10 points.

Northwestern’s stingy defense is allowing just 23.1 points per game and should limit a one-dimensional Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes run the ball on 61% of plays and must face a Wildcats defensive front allowing only 3.23 yards per carry – 7th in the nation.

• Pick: Northwestern +14 (-110)

Toledo vs Bowling Green Odds

Pick #3: Bowling Green +3 (vs Toledo)

I’m concluding my Week 9 college football picks against the spread with a play in a MAC matchup between Bowling Green and Toledo. I’m backing the Falcons to keep the game within a field goal against the Rockets.

Bowling Green is a perfect 2-0 ATS when getting 2.5 points or more this year. They have plenty of matchup edges that should help them continue the trend. The biggest one is their elite passing attack facing Toledo’s vulnerable secondary.

Connor Bazelak ➡️ Malcolm Johnson Jr. is the Play of the Game 🔥

🎥⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3DipaSlBwr

— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) October 20, 2024

The Rockets are allowing nearly seven yards per attempt, and they’ve been burned by elite passing teams such as Mississippi State and Miami (OH). This plays right into the hands of Bowling Green, who is super efficient through the air.

Falcons senior QB Connor Bazelak has completed a ridiculous 77.5% of his passes this month for 669 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. On the flip side, junior QB could make just his second collegiate start after completing only 53% of his passes last week vs Northern Illinois.

Recent history is on Bowling Green’s side as well. The Falcons stunned Toledo as 21.5-point underdogs in their last meeting, winning outright to give head coach Scott Loeffler his first rivalry victory. Bowling Green has proven they can hang with the Rockets, so buy the half point and add them to your card.

• Pick: Bowling Green +3 (-120)

As we head into Week 9 of the college football season, there are several exciting matchups on the schedule that are sure to have fans on the edge of their seats. With point spreads playing a key role in determining the outcome of these games, it’s important to take a closer look at some of the top matchups and make predictions for how they will play out.

One of the most highly anticipated games of the week is the showdown between two top-10 teams, Georgia and Florida. The Bulldogs are currently favored by 6.5 points in this SEC East battle, but the Gators have proven themselves to be a tough opponent this season. With both teams boasting strong defenses and explosive offenses, this game could go either way. In the end, I predict Georgia will come out on top, but it will be a close game that could come down to the wire.

Another game to keep an eye on is the matchup between Michigan and Michigan State. The Wolverines are favored by 4.5 points in this Big Ten showdown, but the Spartans have been playing well and could pull off an upset. Michigan has a strong defense and a potent rushing attack led by running back Hassan Haskins, while Michigan State has a dynamic passing game led by quarterback Payton Thorne. This game could go either way, but I predict Michigan will come out on top in a close contest.

In the ACC, Clemson will take on Florida State in a game that could have major implications for the conference standings. The Tigers are favored by 9 points in this matchup, but the Seminoles have shown improvement in recent weeks and could give Clemson a run for their money. Clemson’s defense will be key in this game, as they look to slow down Florida State’s explosive offense. I predict Clemson will come out on top in this game, but it will be a hard-fought battle.

Overall, Week 9 of college football is shaping up to be an exciting one with several key matchups that could have major implications for the playoff picture. With point spreads playing a key role in determining the outcome of these games, it will be interesting to see how things play out on the field. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an action-packed weekend of college football.