It's a Trap: Which College Football Odds are Most Deceiving in Week 9?

The Purdue Boilermakers were set as 3.5-point underdogs against a struggling Wisconsin Badgers team last week. Following the upset win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, Purdue seemed like a guarantee cover to some bettors.

It wasn't so, as Purdue lost to Wisconsin 30-13.

Meanwhile, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons were a three-point favorite over the Army Black Knights, and won 70-56. While Wake Forest covered a deceiving three-point spread, it was the total of 54 that was even more deceiving; as each team hit the over on their own. 

Imagine betting on the under on that one. That’ll sting for a few days.

Here are three games that appear to have deceiving lines in Week 9, with odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers (-3.5)

Wisconsin is trying to dupe us again this week. Nice try, Badgers.

After defeating Purdue last week, Wisconsin appears to have gained more respect in the books, set as a 3.5-point favorite against a top-10 program. 

Both of these defenses have been great this season, and both offenses have been pretty awful. However, Iowa has made many fewer mistakes, leading to a much better turnover differential.

These teams are built in a very similar way, and it will be a close one, but the Badgers’ offense will throw this game away.

Florida State Seminoles vs. Clemson Tigers (-10)

The Clemson Tigers are 10-point favorites this week, and they have only beat one team by more than 10 points all year, and that was FCS South Carolina State. They also have not covered the spread in any game this season.

Clemson has plummeted this year, and they welcome an already-off-the-radar Florida State team that has won three in a row. Last week's big win over the UMass Minutemen was nothing to brag about for the Seminoles, but they did defeat North Carolina and a surging Syracuse team the two weeks prior.

Florida State may not win this game, but it will be a lot closer than Dabo Swinney would like. Clemson’s defense may hold on for the win, but their offense will keep them from covering the -10 spread.

No. 20 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes (-18.5)

This historic rivalry has seen a lot of close matchups, and Ohio State is an 18.5-point favorite this week. 

Ohio State has won the last four meetings, but the largest margin of victory in those four games was just 13 points. The Buckeyes were just 1-3 against the spread in their four consecutive wins over the Nittany Lions.

Yeah, Penn State lost to the Illinois Fighting Illini last week, but their defense has been much better than Ohio State’s and it should keep them well within the 18.5-point spread. Penn State is allowing just 13.8 points per game compared to Ohio State’s 20.5; also the Buckeyes passing defense is allowing 256 passing yards per game, while the Nittany Lions allow just 201.3.

Penn State should cover the lofty spread.