We’re beginning to see the College Football Playoff picture come into focus as the regular season is well over halfway completed.
After going 2-1 on our best bets in college football for Week 7, we followed that up with another 2-1 slate in Week 8.
In hopes of having a perfect week of picks, here are our college football Week 9 best bets.
Skyler Carlin’s 2023 CFB Best Bets Record: 15-11
College Football Week 9 Predictions
All NCAAF betting odds used for these CFB Week 9 predictions are current as of Tuesday, Oct. 24, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Prediction: Oklahoma State -7.5 (-108)
Cincinnati is certainly feeling the effects of having to replace Luke Fickell at head coach.
Under Scott Satterfield, the Bearcats have begun the season with a 2-5 record and are on a five-game losing streak. Each of their last four losses has come against Big 12 opposition.
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Conversely, Oklahoma State has won three consecutive games, beating conference foes in each.
Cincinnati is 0-5 ATS in its last five games, and Oklahoma State is 3-0 ATS in its last three. With the Cowboys at home, they seem primed to hand the Bearcats yet another conference setback, further sullying their debut season in the Big 12.
North Carolina vs Georgia Tech Prediction: North Carolina -11.5 (-110)
It was an inexcusable loss by No. 17 North Carolina at home in Week 8, falling 31-27 to a one-win Virginia team.
Despite the embarrassing defeat at home, quarterback Drake Maye and the Tar Heels are poised to bounce back against a below-average Georgia Tech team in Week 9.
The Yellow Jackets are giving up 30.3 points per game, and the Tar Heels are producing 35.9 (18th most in the nation). Meanwhile, Georgia Tech averages 29.7 points per game, and North Carolina allows 22.4.
With the Tar Heels sporting a 5-2 ATS record and the Yellow Jackets being 0-3 ATS at home, this looks like a perfect get-right spot for North Carolina on the road.
West Virginia vs UCF Prediction: UCF -7 (-110)
UCF was nearly able to pull off the upset over No. 6 Oklahoma on the road in Week 8, coming up short 31-29 in an exciting matchup.
The Knights held their own against a superior opponent as quarterback John Rhys Plumlee made his return to the offense. Plumlee makes this UCF team much more competitive, and it’ll host a West Virginia squad that’s on a two-game losing streak despite being favorites in back-to-back contests.
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Even though it’s been a disappointing season for the Knights, they’ll want to finish strong in their first year in the Big 12.
West Virginia is 1-2 ATS on the road this season, while UCF is 2-1 ATS at home. With Plumlee at the controls, the Knights should win and cover.
College Football Week 9 Schedule & Scores: AP Top 25
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
(4) Florida State @ Wake Forest, 12 p.m. ET
(6) Oklahoma @ Kansas, 12 p.m. ET
Indiana @ (10) Penn State, 12 p.m. ET
(1) Georgia @ Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET
BYU @ (7) Texas, 3:30 p.m. ET
(8) Oregon @ (13) Utah, 3:30 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh @ (14) Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET
(20) Duke @ (18) Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ET
(22) Tulane @ Rice, 4 p.m. ET
(24) USC @ California, 4 p.m. ET
(5) Washington @ Stanford, 7 p.m. ET
(19) Air Force @ Colorado State, 7 p.m. ET
(21) Tennessee @ Kentucky, 7 p.m. ET
(3) Ohio State @ Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m. ET
Vanderbilt @ (12) Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m. ET
Colorado @ (23) UCLA, 7:30 p.m. ET
(17) North Carolina @ Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ET
Old Dominion @ (25) James Madison, 8 p.m. ET
(11) Oregon State @ Arizona, 10:30 p.m. ET