College football spread picks, Week 9: Oregon-Illinois, Notre Dame-Navy and more

We’re decidedly successful nan heavy of it now arsenic we participate Week 9 of nan assemblage shot season. And to opportunity For The Win’s picks against nan dispersed past week weren’t precisely meticulous would beryllium generous.

Only 2 of our experts vanished pinch a Week 8 grounds supra .500, and everyone else, well, we’d alternatively not deliberation astir it. But hey, can’t triumph them all, right? Except for our Blake Schuster, who remains comfortably astatine nan apical of nan standings.

So looking up to Week 9’s slate, we’ve sewage different batch of absorbing and challenging picks, including Illinois astatine Oregon and Missouri astatine Alabama, positive a mates rivalry games. And we’re hoping we’ll do a small amended this time.

Here are our 10 assemblage shot picks against nan dispersed for Week 9. Tail responsibly, and champion of luck retired there.

All likelihood via BetMGM

No. 17 Boise State astatine UNLV, Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET connected CBS Sports Network

Opening Line: Boise State -2.5

Blake Schuster: Boise State -3.5

Ashton Jeanty needs a signature win against notable capacity for his Heisman Trophy campaign. Beating UNLV successful Vegas while rushing for 200-plus yards ought to do it.

Mitchell Northam: Boise State -3.5

Outside of Army-Navy, this mightiness beryllium nan crippled of nan twelvemonth successful nan Group of Five. Both teams participate this 1 pinch top-5 offenses — immoderate nan over-under is, return nan over. When it comes to picking a winner, 1 of these teams mislaid to Syracuse and nan different almost hit Oregon. And nan second besides has nan Heisman favourite successful nan backfield.

Christian D’Andrea: Boise State -3.5

If Syracuse tin triumph successful Vegas, truthful tin nan Heisman candidate.

Michelle Martinelli: Boise State -3.5

The Broncos sewage this, particularly if Ashton Jeanty and that prolific discourtesy support putting up nan aforesaid numbers.

Tyler Nettuno: Boise State -3.5

UNLV’s discourtesy is besides beautiful special, but I conscionable don’t deliberation it tin slow down Ashton Jeanty.

Rutgers astatine USC, Friday, 11 p.m. ET connected Fox

Opening Line: USC -13.5

Blake Schuster: Rutgers +14

USC is not fresh for Schiano Ball.

Mitchell Northam: Rutgers +14

Lol. Please don’t watch this.

Christian D’Andrea: Rutgers +14

That’s so, truthful galore points for an untrustworthy Trojans team.

Michelle Martinelli: Rutgers +14

The measurement my psyche near my assemblage seeing this connected our list… Both teams are connected three-game losing streaks, but astatine slightest nan untrustworthy Trojans suffered adjacent losses by a full of 11 points. They’re not bully this year, and Rutgers could possibly kinda effort to support it interesting.

Tyler Nettuno: Rutgers +14

The Scarlet Knights besides look for illustration an highly disappointing squad correct now, and a backdoor screen by nan Trojans present wouldn’t daze me. I conscionable don’t person capable assurance successful Lincoln Riley’s team, moreover astatine home.

No. 12 Notre Dame astatine No. 24 Navy, Saturday, noon ET connected ABC/ESPN+, astatine MetLife Stadium

Opening Line: Notre Dame -13.5

Blake Schuster: Navy +12.5

I can’t judge this dispersed is truthful ample erstwhile I’m reasonably assured Navy wins outright.

Mitchell Northam: Navy +12.5

I cognize Notre Dame has played amended lately, but this is still an Irish squad that lost astatine location to Northern Illinois. Navy’s discourtesy is overmuch much than moving retired of nan triple-option. This crippled has existent stakes this season, and it’s Navy’s champion chance astatine beating Notre Dame successful a while.

Christian D’Andrea: Navy +12.5

Rational study has nary spot successful this pick. Midshipmen and their immaculate vibes triumph by four.

Michelle Martinelli: Navy +12.5

Notre Dame is trending upward aft its early play loss, and possibly it hands nan Mids their first nonaccomplishment of nan season, possibly not. But this Navy squad is being underestimated, particularly astatine a neutral site.

Tyler Nettuno: Notre Dame -12.5

Navy has been a batch of nosy this year, and I deliberation it will find immoderate occurrence against a very bully Notre Dame defense. But nan Fighting Irish are softly playing better, and I conscionable don’t spot nan Midshipmen having nan juice to support this adjacent for 4 quarters.

No. 20 Illinois astatine No. 1 Oregon, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET connected CBS/Paramount+

Opening Line: Oregon -22.5

Blake Schuster: Illinois +21.5

I don’t cognize if Illinois is beardown capable to return down nan Ducks, but it does a awesome occupation of forcing turnovers and moving nan clock. That’s much than capable logic to spot a cover.

Mitchell Northam: Illinois +21.5

Yeah, I deliberation you tin count connected nan Fighting Berts to muck this crippled up and support it somewhat close.

Christian D’Andrea: Illinois +21.5

Bret Bielema only exists to ruin things.

Michelle Martinelli: Illinois +21.5

This is simply a large spread, moreover for nan No. 1 team. Ducks triumph but not 22.

Tyler Nettuno: Illinois +21.5

This dispersed makes perfectly nary consciousness to me. Oregon has looked susceptible astatine times, contempt boasting 1 of nan astir awesome wins successful nan state complete Ohio State, and Illinois is much than competent. A triumph would beryllium a reliable ask, but they should screen this pinch comparative ease.

No. 11 BYU astatine UCF, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET connected ESPN

Opening Line: UCF -1.5

Blake Schuster: BYU +1.5

Um. Sure? I don’t understand this line. The Cougars should beryllium favored by astatine slightest a touchdown.

Mitchell Northam: BYU +1.5

I cognize UCF is astatine home, but what precisely has it done to gain points against an undefeated BYU team?

Christian D’Andrea: BYU +1.5

I’m sick of betting against nan Cougars, who support grinding retired wins against good, but not great, teams. And UCF is… alright.

Michelle Martinelli: BYU +1.5

Why four-loss UCF is favored against undefeated BYU is beyond me. The Knights person a amended discourtesy connected paper, and it’s much well-rounded than BYU’s. Give maine nan Cougars.

Tyler Nettuno: BYU +1.5

The Cougars whitethorn not beryllium rather arsenic bully arsenic nan unbeaten grounds would show you, but there’s conscionable not overmuch astir this Knights squad that I find compelling astatine nan moment. This is simply a weird spot for BYU to beryllium an underdog.

No. 21 Missouri astatine No. 15 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET connected ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Alabama -8.5

Blake Schuster: Alabama -14

If Missouri was tin of kicking teams erstwhile they’re down, don’t you deliberation nan Tigers would person much than 1 10-win seasons successful nan past decade? These are not nan crippled Missouri wins.

Mitchell Northam: Missouri +14

I conscionable don’t spot Alabama to triumph arsenic a double-digit favourite anymore.

Christian D’Andrea: Missouri +14

Still waiting connected that Crimson Tide get-right game.

Michelle Martinelli: Alabama -14

This is simply a trap pick. Mizzou is good, and Bama is surely having immoderate issues. But for what is fundamentally a playoff elimination game, I’ll stake nan Crimson Tide get their enactment together enough.

Tyler Nettuno: Alabama -14

The Crimson Tide intelligibly person a batch of flaws, but Missouri has been moreover much disappointing to me. After needing to claw backmost to hit Auburn astatine home, I deliberation nan Tigers will autumn unfortunate to an Alabama squad looking to bounce backmost connected Saturday.

No. 5 Texas astatine No. 25 Vanderbilt, Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET connected SEC Network

Opening Line: Texas -21

Blake Schuster: Vanderbilt +18.5

Simply garbage to prime against underdog Vandy astatine this point.

Mitchell Northam: Vanderbilt +18.5

Texas has thing to beryllium aft that mediocre capacity against Georgia. But this crippled successful Nashville is going to tie a large crowd, and I’m counting connected Diego Pavia to activity his magic again.

Christian D’Andrea: Vanderbilt +18.5

I will beryllium successful attendance for this game. If Vandy wins, I whitethorn ne'er return. I will simply beryllium mislaid to nan ether.

Michelle Martinelli: Vanderbilt +18.5

I’ve sewage religion successful Diego Pavia and co. to confound Texas’ top-ranked defense much than different teams and astatine slightest support this 1 interesting.

Tyler Nettuno: Texas -18.5

Diego Pavio is great, but I don’t deliberation Texas has nan aforesaid protect issues that Alabama had. The Longhorns won’t return this 1 for granted coming disconnected a loss, and they’ll triumph and cover, though I don’t expect it to beryllium a wide margin.

No. 8 LSU astatine No. 14 Texas A&M, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET connected ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Texas A&M -2

Blake Schuster: LSU +2.5

It turns out, Mike Elko tin coach. Unfortunately, he cannot play quarterback. LSU gets different signature triumph astatine Kyle Field.

Mitchell Northam: Texas A&M -2.5

The location squad has won this crippled successful each of nan past 7 years. A triumph present and Mike Elko judge looks for illustration nan SEC Coach of nan Year.

Christian D’Andrea: Texas A&M -2.5

Fine, I will finally, begrudgingly, admit A&M’s competence.

Michelle Martinelli: Texas A&M -2.5

Ah, yes, LSU and Texas A&M fighting for first spot successful nan SEC, conscionable for illustration we each predicted successful nan preseason. But that’s wherever we’re at, truthful springiness maine nan location squad nether nan lights.

Tyler Nettuno: LSU +2.5

LSU is simply a overmuch much complete squad than I expected it to beryllium pinch nan defense rounding into form, and Texas A&M still seems to beryllium figuring immoderate things retired offensively, though Conner Weigman has played amended since returning from injury.

Michigan State astatine Michigan, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET connected BTN

Opening Line: Michigan -21.5

Blake Schuster: Michigan State +3.5

I judge karma is real. And winning nan title past twelvemonth intends losing to MSU astatine nan Big House. A decent waste and acquisition off, sure, but this 1 is gonna sting.

Mitchell Northam: Michigan -3.5

Have immoderate pride, Wolverines.

Christian D’Andrea: Michigan -3.5

It would beryllium hilarious, and prudent, if some teams agreed to conscionable skip guardant passes Saturday.

Michelle Martinelli: Michigan -3.5

Neither squad knows really to run a passing discourtesy — that hasn’t stopped them from trying anyhow — truthful possibly we get immoderate turnovers, a batch of defense and a low-scoring crippled (by regular, not Big Ten, standards).

Tyler Nettuno: Michigan -3.5

The Spartans are a overmuch much competent squad than I expected successful Year 1 nether Jonathan Smith, but they still don’t rather person nan talent successful nan trenches to compete pinch Michigan successful this game.

Kansas astatine No. 16 Kansas State, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET connected ESPN2

Opening Line: Kansas State -7

Blake Schuster: Kansas +10

Jalon Daniels sewage immoderate swagger backmost against Houston, which is cleanable considering this is beautiful overmuch Kansas’ Super Bowl. Beat State for nan first clip since 2009, and nan Wildcats tin astir apt buss nan playoff goodbye.

Mitchell Northam: Kansas State -10

Sorry, Jayhawks. This ain’t nan twelvemonth nan streak ends.

Christian D’Andrea: Kansas +10

The Jayhawks are leaning into misery successful 2024, which intends this will beryllium a heartbreaker.

Michelle Martinelli: Kansas +10

Don’t make maine regret this, Jayhawks. But a rivalry crippled — moreover pinch Kansas’ five-game losing streak this play — needs a smaller dispersed than that.

Tyler Nettuno: Kansas State -10

The Wildcats really look to beryllium hitting their stride correct now arsenic backmost Avery Johnson continues to progress. Kansas has been dreadful this year, and beating up connected an moreover worse Houston squad doesn’t capable maine pinch assurance heading into a crippled against what’s astir apt still nan champion squad successful nan Big 12.