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ESPN College Football Challenge Picks For Week 9

By Mike Marteny

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For those of you that don’t know, ESPN College Football Challenge is the closest you can get to college fantasy football on ESPN.  You get to comprise a roster of two quarterbacks, two runnings backs, two wide receivers, a team kicker, and a team defense.  The scoring is very similar to NFL scoring.

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Last week, my Bryce Petty pick didn’t work out so well. 16 points is low for a QB. I also missed with the kickers and defense, but other than that, it was a solid week.

Here are my picks for week 9:

Quarterbacks:

Marcus Mariota, Oregon: I usually won’t go for those that are so highly owned, but you can’t afford to not take Mariota this week against an awful Cal defense.

Brett Hundley, UCLA: Hundley had a nice game against Cal, and another one is on the horizon with the Ralphies on the docket.

Honorable mention: Rakeem Cato vs. Florida Atlantic, Shane Carden vs. Connecticut

Stay Away: Davis Webb at TCU, Marquise Williams at Virginia

Running Backs:

David Cobb, Minnesota: Illinois hasn’t been able to stop anyone, and the Gophers will run the ball at will. Cobb is one of the safer plays of the week.

Johnathan Williams, Arkansas: I am a little worried that Collins will poach some of his touchdowns again, but Arkansas will run the whole game against UAB, and likely do it well. There should be plenty of carries for both Williams and Collins in this one. I just hope that I’m picking the right back!

Honorable mention: Ameer Abdullah vs. Rutgers, Kenneth Dixon at Southern Mississippi

Stay Away: Jay Ajayi vs. BYU, Javorious Allen at Utah

Wide Receivers:

Amari Cooper, Alabama: Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard had a nice game against Tennessee, so Cooper should be able to as well.

Rashard Higgins, Colorado State: He is option one, two, and three in the passing game. The only game in which he did not surpass double digits in points was the first one.

Honorable mention: Kevin White at Oklahoma State, Nelson Spruce vs. UCLA

Stay Away: Travin Dural vs. Mississippi, Nelson Agholor at Utah

Kickers:

Nebraska: Rutgers has actually played solid defense for most of the year. They could hold Nebraska to some field goals.

Other solid plays: Oklahoma State, Maryland, North Carolina

Defense:

Alabama: The Tide have their swagger back after shutting out A&M last week. This young Tennessee offense doesn’t stand a chance….

Other solid plays: Mississippi at LSU, Missouri vs. Vanderbilt, Ohio State at Penn State.

Come back tomorrow for the Friday and Saturday odds & predictions!

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