Week 9 of the 2024 college football season is here and our VSiN team is attacking it relentlessly. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out the Week 9 CFB Betting Hub for write-ups and picks from all of our talented analysts. However, keep reading for my college football best bets and predictions for this exciting Week 9 slate. I’ll probably add some picks as lines move and more information comes out later in the week — and on game day. If I do, I’ll put them on the VSiN Pro Picks page. Don’t miss out on those.

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2024 Record: 26-26-1 (+3.86 units)

Washington at Indiana – 12:00 pm ET

Indiana is second in the nation in EPA per play (0.191) this season, and the team has been excellent through the air. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke has thrown for 1,941 yards with 15 touchdowns and only three picks, and he has also rushed for another two scores. Rourke is a big part of the reason that the Hoosiers are second in the country in Dropback EPA per play (0.244), and he has even found himself rising up the Heisman Trophy oddsboard. The problem is that Rourke is going to miss this game for Indiana, as he had to get right thumb surgery after last week’s win over Nebraska. And while backup Tayven Jackson is talented in his own right, it’s hard to get on board with the idea of the Hoosiers beating a good Huskies team by more than a touchdown.

Washington’s 4-3 record definitely isn’t all that inspiring, but two of the team’s three losses came in one-score games. And I like the way that Washington matches up with this version of Indiana. This season, the Huskies are 11th in the nation in Dropback EPA per play allowed (-0.102), and they have a very reliable group of defensive backs. So, look for defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to put a lot of trust in his secondary by loading up to stop the Hoosiers running game. Indiana is eighth in the nation in Rush EPA per play (0.115) this year, so Washington is going to do everything it can to slow down an incredible stable of Hoosiers running backs. And if Jackson can beat the Huskies with his arm, so be it.

Of course, the Washington offense also has to score on a very good Indiana defense. But the Huskies are 27th in the nation in EPA per play (0.067) this season, so it’s not like this group can’t move the ball. The team’s 40-16 loss to Iowa was absolutely disastrous, but Will Rogers can be trusted to help his team put up enough points to keep this game respectable.

Washington head coach Jedd Fisch also happens to be 8-6 against the spread as a road underdog in his career. He likes the underdog role. Fisch’s teams are also 3-2 ATS when coming off a bye week, and the extra time to prepare is always nice in a game like this. The Huskies should be very prepared when they get out there. And for what it’s worth, Fisch is one of the better coaches in the nation. So, even though he doesn’t have the catchy “Google me” quote that Curt Cignetti blessed us with, Fisch can be trusted in this chess match.

Bet: Washington +7 (-117 – 1.5 units)

RELATED: Here’s an updated look at the Heisman Trophy betting markets!

Penn State at Wisconsin – 7:30 pm ET

Wisconsin has turned in some lousy performances this year, but the team is starting to turn a corner. And the Badgers have been especially good on the defensive side of the ball. Over the last three games, Wisconsin has allowed a total of 16 points. The Badgers are now up to 34th in the nation in EPA per play allowed (-0.051), and they’re going to be feeling pretty good about slowing down the Nittany Lions at Camp Randall.

Penn State’s offense has looked a lot better under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, but this is still a group that can go through some lulls. And overall, I’m just not sure I can envision a scenario in which Drew Allar will light up the Wisconsin secondary. Allar’s numbers are up across the board this season, but a lot of that has to do with his dynamite start to the season. Over the last three weeks, he has been a different player. In meetings with Illinois, UCLA and USC, Allar threw for only three total touchdowns. He’s also coming off a three-pick performance against the Trojans. That said, Allar is clearly struggling with the step up in competition, and this Wisconsin defense should be able to cause some problems. The Badgers have a solid secondary and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel is going to fire up some blitzes to make Allar uncomfortable.

The only real concern is the Wisconsin offense. The Badgers still don’t look right on that side of the ball, and it’s hard to imagine Braedyn Locke having a big day with his arm. So, Wisconsin is going to need running back Tawee Walker to stay hot on the ground. The senior has rushed for 324 yards over the last two weeks, and he has also found the end zone eight times over the last four weeks. If the Badgers can create some holes for him, that will make life much easier on Locke and the passing game. And Wisconsin’s receivers are good enough to create separation consistently, so it’ll just be about Locke finding some confidence and putting it on his guys.

This is also the type of game that gives James Franklin trouble. Penn State is just 7-9-1 ATS as a road favorite of 7 or less under Franklin, and the team is also 19-27-2 ATS when the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. On top of that, Wisconsin is 3-2 ATS as an underdog under Luke Fickell, and this is arguably the biggest game of his Badgers career. This can be a program-changing win for Fickell, who many were critical of a couple of weeks ago. Considering all of that, I’m rolling with the Badgers and buying a point to make it 7.5. I’m also putting a little on the moneyline.

Bet: Wisconsin +7.5 (-142 – 1.5 units) & Wisconsin ML (+200 – 0.5 units)

Last Week

Louisville +4.5 (-104 – 1.5 units) & Louisville ML (+170 – 0.5 units) vs. Miami
Rutgers -4.5 (-105) vs. UCLA
LSU ML (-130) vs. Arkansas
Alabama ML (-161) vs. Tennessee
Michigan State +7 (-115) vs. Iowa
Georgia Tech +14.5 (-115) vs. Notre Dame
Georgia +4.5 (-110) vs. Texas
Kentucky ML (-130) vs. Florida
Kansas State ML (-142) vs. West Virginia
Oregon State +7.5 (-140) vs. UNLV

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