College Football Week 9 betting odds: Picking Top 25 teams against the spread
By Brad Rowland
Auburn (+7) over No. 19 Ole Miss
The Tigers have been strikingly competent in recent days, and this line is screaming at me. Ole Miss is better than Auburn and I would not dispute that, but giving a full touchdown on the road with the Rebels seems misguided, and Vegas might be overreacting to last week’s performance. It won’t be fun to back Auburn with this small of a cushion, but home underdogs are usually the play.
No. 18 Houston (-11) over Vanderbilt
This is an odd line for an odd game. Houston being a big favorite over an SEC team in October is just strange, but the Cougars are unquestionably better than Vanderbilt and Vegas realizes that. Still, this line has already dipped from an opening line that was around two touchdowns, and it might keep falling if Vandy becomes the trendy side. To be clear, I don’t love this spread at all in either direction, but I believe in Tom Herman’s offense.
Syracuse (+20) over No. 17 Florida State
I continue to think that Syracuse isn’t terrible. That is the basis for this pick, in addition to the fact that Florida State’s offense is thoroughly unimpressive outside of Dalvin Cook. The Seminoles are going to win this game comfortably, but I’ll take the nearly three-touchdown spread with a team I believe in to some extent with the Orange.
Tulane (+30.5) over No. 16 Memphis
No one is going to take Tulane because it isn’t fun to take Tulane. Memphis is awesome and dynamic offensively, while the Green Wave are 2-5 including an 0-3 mark away from New Orleans. You know how I think if you’ve read this column long enough. Give me the candy.
Next: Teams 15-11