As we head into Week 9 of the college football season, the stakes are getting higher than ever. It seems like each week is a potential championship matchup and upsets are happening left and right. It’s been a wild season and it doesn’t look like it will slow down.
Teams are battling for playoff positioning and every game matters. We've got some thrilling matchups this weekend, and we've highlighted the best games with picks and prop bets to help you cash in.
LSU: o53.5 -110
TAMU: -2.5 -110
This SEC clash is shaping up to be a critical game for both teams heading into the final half of the season.
LSU and Texas A&M are coming into this one on fire, each riding a six-game winning streak. With both teams at 6-1, the winner here will have a huge edge in the SEC standings and undoubtedly the CFB playoff race.
LSU's passing game has been one of the best in the conference, led by QB Garrett Nussmeier, who’s tossed 18 TDs this season.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M leans heavily on the run, with Le’Veon Moss sitting at second in the SEC in rushing yards. The Aggies also benefit from Conner Weigman returning to his full self after missing part of the season with an injury. His performance will be key to balancing out their offense in the air and on the ground.
We think the real battle here will be which team can compensate for their offensive weaknesses — LSU’s rushing attack versus A&M’s passing game.
The Tigers' ground game has been relatively inconsistent, but freshman RB Caden Durham has started to come out as a difference-maker. If A&M’s defense struggles to stop Nussmeier’s air attack, LSU could pull off the upset.
BettorsInsider Pick: LSU +2.5
Prop Bet: Garrett Nussmeier Over 2.5 touchdown passes
Illinois: u54.5 -108
Oregon: -21 -112
Oregon has been rolling this season and there’s no denying that. They have one of the most dynamic and powerful offenses in the country. Dillon Gabriel continues to light up defenses, and the Ducks look set for a comfortable win against Illinois. The Illini, on the other hand, have struggled to keep up in high-scoring games, and it's hard to imagine them slowing down this Oregon offense.
Illinois will rely on their defense to make this game competitive, but they’re overmatched against a Ducks team that ranks in the top 20 for passing yards per game.
Expect Oregon to put up points early and force Illinois to throw more than they’d like, which will most likely lead to turnovers.
BettorsInsider Pick: Oregon -21
Prop Bet: Dillon Gabriel Over 275.5 passing yards
Missouri: o51 -110
Alabama: -16.5 -105
After a tough road loss to Tennessee last week, Alabama returns home needing a win to, at the very least, stay in the playoff hunt.
Missouri, on the other hand, is 6-1 but has been inconsistent. QB Brady Cook's health is still a concern after an ankle injury last week, but he came back to lead his team to a gritty win. We’ll see how it does this week after being banged up just a bit.
Alabama’s offense, led by QB Jalen Milroe, has been a bit shaky this year, particularly in the running game. It just doesn’t seem like the same offense we’ve seen in previous seasons. Missouri's defense, especially against the run, is nothing less than solid, ranking 34th in rushing yards allowed.
If Bama can’t get their ground game going, Missouri’s defense could keep this closer than Alabama would like.
Ultimately, we think Alabama will win, but this is too many points to lay against a fairly decent Missouri team. Missouri’s defense should be able to grind this game down all the way to the end, and Alabama’s offense has yet to show they can blow teams out consistently — and sometimes even at all.
BettorsInsider Pick: Missouri +16.5
Prop Bet: Missouri Defense Under 2.5 total touchdowns allowed
Texas: -18.5 -109
Vanderbilt: o52.5 -113
Texas is coming off a really tough loss to Georgia, but the Longhorns remain a force in the SEC. After all, the 2024 Georgia is one of the best teams we’ve seen.
Quinn Ewers is still their leader on offense, and despite rumors of him jumping to the NFL early, he’s back and ready to prove himself after a shaky performance against the Bulldogs where they pulled in Manning for a few drives.
Texas will need a big win here to stay in contention for the SEC Championship although we don’t see them losing hope for the expanded CFB playoffs.
Vanderbilt has been a surprise team this year. They’ve pulled off a few upsets and kept games close. However, they’ve had trouble against strong passing teams, and Texas could take full advantage of that.
The Longhorns’ defense should be able to slow down Vandy’s offense, which lacks the firepower to hang with them.
While the spread is massive, we like Texas to cover, especially with their speed and talent advantage across the board.
Ewers should have a bounce-back game, and the Longhorns defense will clamp down on Vanderbilt. This should be a pretty easy check to cash.
BettorsInsider Pick: Texas -19
Prop Bet: Quinn Ewers Over 3.5 total touchdowns
Week 9 has some great opportunities for bettors and with those, it’s time to load up your bet slips at your favorite sportsbook. With critical matchups across the SEC and beyond, we can’t wait to watch these games and see how they unfold.
LSU looks like a live dog against Texas A&M, Oregon should cruise against Illinois with no problems at all, and Alabama may not cover a hefty spread against Missouri but should walk away with a dub.
Keep your eye on those matchups and consider the prop bets for added value. It's time to lock in those bets and enjoy the action this weekend.