Happy Halloween! That's three-straight winning weekends in College Football and last night's Baylor win over UCF was a no sweat winner. Let's get going for four-straight winning Saturday's. Best of luck and game odds are courtesy of DraftKings. Here are my eight best bets!

#22 Arizona at #13 Texas Tech (-3.5): O/U 54.5

This is a very interesting game. I want to play Texas Tech -3.5 because they are an NCAA-best 5-0 ATS since 2024, coming off a loss and an NCAA-best 13-3 ATS since 2022. However, Noah Fifita can give this defense fits, and the Red Raiders’ offense has struggled this year, which prompts my play.

According to reports, Will Hammond and Thomas Castellanos split first-team reps this week, and Castellanos will see more time on the field. He’s been used primarily as a runner, scoring rushing touchdowns against Oregon State and Houston back-to-back weeks before racking up four carries for 26 yards and five carries for 21 yards in the last two games. We saw him primarily in goal-line situations and the red zone, which I think will continue here.

Looking at Arizona’s defense against running quarterbacks, there is promise here. WVU’s Michael Hawkins Jr. had 98 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, BYU’s Bear Bachmeier posted 37 yards on six carries and a touchdown, plus Washington State’s Caden Pinnick ran for 35 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and Cincinnati’s JC French IV recorded 29 yards and a score on nine rushing attempts. At +290 and +240 odds across books, I like the chances Castellanos finds the end zone today.

Pick: Thomas Castellanos Anytime TD (1 unit)

#5 Notre Dame (-30.5) vs Navy: O/U 54.5

In the last four meetings versus service academies, Notre Dame has routed them 191-41 and won all four by at least 35 points. The Irish should do the same here off a bye week and a loss. It’s a great setup for Notre Dame despite it being a look-ahead spot with #1 Miami on deck.

The Irish jumped out to a 14-point first-quarter lead in three out of four versus those service academies, putting value on the -7.5 at +130 odds. I like Notre Dame to cover the first quarter; lean the same for the first half and full game. Notre Dame should dictate the score; winning by 20, 30, or 40-plus will be up to them. The Irish average an NCAA-best 25.0 first-half points per game too.

Navy could get shut out or not score until the second half unless Jackson Gutierrez does something crazy. The Navy quarterback has been on a serious heater, but those performances come against Tulsa, UTSA, and North Texas. I’d look at Notre Dame to cover the first quarter or first half. I like the first 15 minutes for the value.

Pick: Notre Dame 1Q -7.5 (1 unit)

#25 Wisconsin at Iowa (-2.5): O/U 36.5

This is the lowest total on the board and for good reason. How will either offense find the end zone more than one time? Iowa has won four-straight in the series and put up 37 and 42 points in the last two meetings, but that is not happening here. Star running back Kamari Moulton is out for the season, and the next-man-up mentality didn’t work much against Minnesota (3.0 ypc).

I can’t trust Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski to move the ball, nor Colton Joseph for Wisconsin. The Badgers offense cannot throw the ball, and Iowa has a great rush defense, as does Wisconsin. This should be an ugly game with all the quarterbacks struggling to move the ball. Emphasis on the ugly. The first team to 14 points wins. I am going Under 36.5 points.

Pick: Under 36.5 Points (1 unit)

Arizona State at #8 BYU (-16.5): O/U 47.5

BYU was on top of the world one week and now probably feels like they’re at the bottom. That’s College Football! Anyway, with the Big 12 up for grabs, BYU is still in the race and controls their own destiny. Utah awaits BYU next week, so the Cougars are in a bounce-back spot, which is not common at all.

Arizona State is 0-2 ATS on the road, failing to cover at Texas A&M and Texas Tech, the two best teams they played. Both were 28-point losses. BYU could win this game by three possessions if they are truly locked in early. The only player that worries me is Arizona State’s running back Cardae Mack. If Mack has a huge game for the Sun Devils (154, 159 yards in 2 of the L3), then it could be closer, but Mack’s two worst games came at Texas A&M and Texas Tech. I will go BYU -16.5 and lean the first half -9.5. Bear Bachmeier and company put up 30-plus points, and the defense gets back into form.

Pick: BYU -16.5 (1 unit)

#3 Georgia (-11.5) vs #17 Florida: O/U 56.5

Florida was basically handed a first-half cover against Texas in their last game, and I don’t expect Aaron Philo to come out slinging on the Bulldogs' defense after missing the Longhorns game. Georgia averages 23.8 first-half points per game (3rd), and that’s after scoring season-lows of 10 and 14 points in their last two.

The last two times we saw Philo, Florida lost both games and scored 17 and 19 points. I think the location change favors Georgia, and Philo coming back could disrupt the momentum the Gators just gained by beating Texas. I trust Georgia coming off a loss and playing in Atlanta. I’ll take Georgia to cover the first half -6.5 at juiced odds and out to -7.

Pick: Georgia 1H -7 (1 unit)

#6 Utah (-7) at Cincinnati: O/U 56.5

The gravy train is still rolling! Utah has allowed three first-quarter points all season, and their opponents are 7-0 to the first-quarter team total under. The Bearcats are tagged at 3.5, and I am going Under once again.

Cincinnati is coming off a monumental top-10 home win versus Texas Tech, which sets them up for a letdown spot. Cincinnati scored three first-quarter points versus Texas Tech. This was thanks to a Tech fumble in their own territory. Utah also had a goal line stand last week versus Houston in the first quarter — it was epic. I will keep riding the Utes defense until I lose twice on this bet. Give me Cincy’s first-quarter team total under 3.5 at -120 odds.

Pick: Cincinnati first-quarter team total under 3.5

#2 Ohio State (-6.5) at USC: O/U 51.5

A day before the game, we still don’t know who will be the starting quarterback for Ohio State. With that uncertainty, you might want to take USC to cover, but Ohio State has the third-best ATS mark since Ryan Day has taken over (57-37-4), so it’s Buckeyes or pass on the spread. My best bet is going Under 51.5.

Obviously, the uncertainty at quarterback for OSU plays into this bet, but I also think both defenses have better matchups than the offenses. USC struggled at Camp Randall and had 1-18 rushing yards, plus Jayden Maiava threw two first-quarter interceptions. USC’s trio of Maiava, King Miller, and Trent Mosley all had season-lows across the board in yards. Since losing to Oregon, USC has played Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin, and now Ohio State, then Indiana next week. The offense has been through hell lately, and it won’t get any cooler here.

USC’s defense is the only hope in keeping this close, and they’ve been respectable enough to think they could at least limit or put pressure on Ohio State’s new quarterback. It is the first game without Julian Sayin since the Buckeyes won the National Championship in 2024 with Will Howard. I am going under 51.5, down to 50.5.

Pick: Ohio State vs USC Under 51.5 (1 unit)

Mississippi State at #11 Texas (-20.5): O/U 50.5

Kamario Taylor is out for the season, so it’s back to Parker Puckett. In his two starts, the Bulldogs scored 0 at LSU and 15 versus Oklahoma. Against the Sooners, Mississippi State went 1-of-11 on third downs, had eight penalties for 90 yards, turned the ball over twice, and were sacked four times. Going to Texas after playing Oklahoma and LSU is brutal for Puckett and this offense.

Texas is coming off a top-10 win against Ole Miss last week, and this is the third and final game of the Longhorns' homestand. In four SEC games against Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, and Ole Miss, Texas has allowed 17 or more points in all. Mississippi State’s team total is 14.5. The only teams Texas held under 15 points this season are UTSA (6) and Texas State (7); so on paper, Mississippi State should go Over, but I am going Under 14.5 points for the Bulldogs.

Puckett getting to 150 passing yards will be a difficult task here, and if Fluff Bothwell isn’t going for 100-plus yards, then this offense is putrid.

Pick: Mississippi State Team Total Under 14.5 (1 unit)

Week 9 Picks

1 unit: Thomas Castellanos Anytime TD (+290)
1 unit: Notre Dame 1Q -7.5 (+126)
1 unit: Iowa vs Wisconsin Under 36.5 (-110)
1 unit: BYU -16.5 (-108)
1 unit: Cincinnati 1Q Team Total Under 3.5 (-120)
1 unit: Georgia 1H -7 (-110)
1 unit: Ohio State vs USC Under 51.5 (-115)
1 unit: Mississippi State Team Total Under 14.5 (-120)

Season Record: 46-30-1 +12.44 units
Week 0 Record: 1-2 -1.57 units
Week 1 Record: 6-4 +0.96 units
Week 2 Record: 4-5 -0.97 units
Week 3 Record: 8-1 +6.8 units
Week 4 Record: 7-7 -0.22 units
Week 5 Record: 3-6 -3.77 units
Week 6 Record: 5-2-1 +2.94 units
Week 7 Record: 7-3 +4.27 units
Week 8 Record: 4-1 +3 units
Week 9 Record: 1-0 +1 unit

Week 9 Articles

Week 9 College Football Top 25 Poll
Week 9 Heisman Rankings Top 10 Poll
Ohio State at USC Game Preview
Northwestern at Oregon Game Preview
Notre Dame vs Navy Game Preview
Georgia vs Florida Game Preview

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Source: Yahoo Sports