Week 9 College Football Best Bets, Picks and Predictions from Wes Reynolds:
Let’s take a look at my college football Week 9 best bets:
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Washington at #13 Indiana (-6.5; 55)
Indiana was supposed to have its first real test last week against Nebraska. If the 56-7 victory over the Cornhuskers is still considered a test, the Hoosiers earned an A+++. The Hoosiers never missed a beat all day, garnering just under 500 yards of total offense and then turning five takeaways into 28 points.
Nevertheless, it was not without cost, as QB Kurtis Rourke suffered a thumb injury and will miss Saturday’s game (he is on track to be back next week at Michigan State). Tayven Jackson, the younger brother of former Indiana Basketball star and current Golden State Warrior Trayce Jackson-Davis, is the next man up and Curt Cignetti has confidence in him and has been saying so publicly. However, this is different, being the guy to start the game with all the hype of College Gameday being in town.
Washington comes in off a bye week, which should potentially mitigate the travel disadvantage of Big Ten teams being 5-11 when traveling across multiple time zones.
The Huskies rank No. 1 in opponent passing yards per game (127.2) and No. 4 for opponent yards per pass (5.1) and completion percentage (50.33%).
With the Huskies being just 4-3, this looks like a game Indiana should win, and they should, but Washington is a step up in class with holdovers from a College Football Playoff finalist last year. During his three seasons at Arizona, Jedd Fisch was 16-9 ATS as an underdog and will have this group ready to play.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: Washington +6.5
#11 BYU at UCF (-2; 53)
Perhaps no team in FBS has run better to start the season than BYU.
They won at SMU when the Mustangs were in the midst of a QB change. They were outgained by 126 yards by Kansas State and yet won 38-9 due to a +3 turnover margin. The stats were even in a 41-19 victory over Arizona, but the Cougars were +3 once again in turnover margin. The turnover regression started to come last week vs. Oklahoma State, where BYU won in the final seconds despite committing three turnovers of their own
In that victory over the Cowboys, BYU allowed 269 yards on the ground at a 7.3 yards per carry clip. That is bad news against a UCF team that piled up 354 yards on the ground (9.1 YPC) at Iowa State, where the Knights lost in the final minute.
QB Jacurri Brown has proven to be the best fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense after the Knights tried Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson and freshman EJ Colson.
UCF looked like they quit vs. Colorado four weeks ago, but they seem to have some life and energy now. They need this victory to get their season back on track, and they should do just that versus an overrated BYU team.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: UCF -130 ML
Kansas at #16 Kansas State (-10; 56)
The Sunflower Showdown has one team that has gotten off to a rough start in 2-5 Kansas bussing to Manhattan to face a 6-1 Kansas State club that is off two consecutive Big XII victories at Colorado and at West Virginia.
The Jayhawks have lost four games this season by one score:
L at Illinois by 6
L vs. UNLV by 3
L at West Virginia by 4
L at Arizona State by 4
Kansas was able to take out some of its early-season frustration on Houston last week, winning by 28. It had its best offensive output of the season (save for the opener vs. FCS Lindenwood).
Now, K-State has a home game for the first time in a month, and the Wildcats aim for their 16th consecutive victory over their state rival.
Kansas State ranks 118th in opponent passing yards per game (275.7). Granted, these numbers are partially due to opponents being behind against the Wildcats, but Kansas can generate big plays in the passing game and are live to stay within the number for the duration.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: Kansas +10
BEST OF THE REST
Akron +3 vs. Eastern Michigan
UL Monroe +7 at South Alabama
Arizona -175 ML vs. West Virginia
Michigan State +5 at Michigan
Wisconsin +7 (-120) vs. Penn State
For more College Football Week 9 predictions, visit the College Football Week 9 Hub at VSiN.com.