Preview and picks for NCAA Football Week 9

A lighter Saturday for college football Top 25 matchups in Week 9 as just two games are on the Oct. 28 schedule. But No. 8 Oregon (6-1) and No. 13 Utah (6-1) still have plenty to play for with both 3-1 in Pac-12 play and pushing for a conference title and New Year's Day Bowl. 

- No. 8 Oregon (-6) at No. 13 Utah
- No. 20 Duke at No. 18 Louisville (-4.5) 

Check out my college football Top 25 coverage in Forbes with additional betting information and Week 9 odds/line moves. 

All college football 2023 Picks and Opinions through Week 8 are 19-15, including 16-12 ATS on sides. 

Top 25 Matchup Picks: 2-5 
Top 25 Matchup Opinions: 7-5
Top 25 Game Picks: 1-1
Bonus Picks: 4-0
Bonus Opinions: 1-1
Top 25 Games Opinions: 3-1
Top 25 Totals Opinions: 1-2

An easy Bonus Pick winner on UCF (+17.5) in a 2-point loss at Oklahoma in our Week 8 Top 25 report. But some tough losses last Saturday including Duke (+14.5) blowing a 20-17 fourth quarter lead in a 38-20 loss at Florida State. That was after Tennessee (+8.5) blew a 20-7 halftime lead at Alabama in a 34-20 defeat with the Volunteers piling up 400 yards and out-gaining the 'Tide and unable to get into the end zone late deep in 'Bama territory with some costly penalties. Add in Penn State's 8-point non-cover loss in a game I bet the under but didn't include with a sharp downward move, and we'll look for some better bounces and good fortune ahead. 

Bet Fairway's Picks at these Top Online Sportsbooks for more profits and payouts.

Top 25 Games, Odds and TV Schedule

College football odds from BookMaker refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern (ET). 

Saturday, Oct. 28 

No. 1 Georgia (-14.5) vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Fla.) | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 2 Michigan | Bye
No. 3 Ohio State (-14.5) at Wisconsin | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 4 Florida State (-20.5) at Wake Forest | 12 p.m. | ABC
No. 5 Washington (-27.5) at Stanford | 7 p.m. | FS1
No. 6 Oklahoma (-9.5) at Kansas | 12 p.m. | FOX
No. 7 Texas (-19) vs. BYU | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 8 Oregon (-6) at No. 13 Utah | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
No. 9 Alabama | Bye
No. 10 Penn State (-32) vs. Indiana | 12 p.m. | CBS
No. 11 Oregon State (-3.5) at Arizona | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 12 Ole Miss (-24.5) vs. Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 14 Notre Dame (-20.5) vs. Pitt | 3:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 15 LSU | Bye
No. 16 Missouri | Bye
No. 17 North Carolina (-12) at Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
No. 18 Louisville (-4.5) vs. No. 20 Duke | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 19 Air Force (-12) at Colorado State | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
No. 21 Tennessee (-3.5) at Kentucky | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 22 Tulane (-10) at Rice | 4 p.m. | ESPN2
No. 23 UCLA (-17.5) vs. Colorado | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 24 USC (-10.5) at Cal | 4 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
No. 25 James Madison (-21) vs. Old Dominion | 8 p.m. | ESPNU 

Others Receiving Votes: Florida 34, Liberty 17, Kansas State 16, Miami 12, Fresno State 8, Oklahoma State 5, Toledo 3, Kentucky 2, Rutgers 2, UNLV 1, Wisconsin 1.

Week 9 Top 25 Picks And Matchups

No. 8 Oregon at No. 13 Utah | 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Line: Oregon -6 and Total 47.5
Pick: Oregon and Opinion Over game total

Oregon is a 200 Club explosive offense that runs for 206 yards and passes for 317 yards per game vs. FBS foes led by Heisman contender QB Bo Nix. Utah is passing for just 156 yards per game - among the worst in the nation. The Ducks have scored 42 TD's and average nearly 8 yards per play to Utah's 18 TD's and 5.1 yards per play. Overall, Oregon's offense averages greater than 200 yards per game more than Utah. The defensive stats profiles are similar for these two teams and among the best in the Pac 12. Utah's offense has come to life the last two games including last week's nearly perfectly balanced offensive stats and 482 yards in a 34-32 win over USC. Still, Oregon holds a huge +2.8 net yards per play differential edge over Utah in this matchup as a top defensive team. While the home team is on a 4-0 SU/ATS run in this series, this is a stronger Oregon team that can score 30+ points again for the eighth straight game in a tougher venue with Utah facing their toughest test of the season. 

No. 18 Duke at No. 20 Louisville | 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
Line: Louisville -4.5 and Total 46
Lean: Louisville  

I would normally be on Duke with conviction here as the Blue Devils sports a 200 Club offense. But QB Riley Leonard was not fully healthy in his return last week completing just 7-of-15 passes for just 69 yards and an interception. Duke's defense is also among the best in the ACC allowing just 14 points per game and 315 yards per game overall. Louisville sports the stronger run defense and Duke the stronger pass defense. My yards projections favor Louisville by quite a bit and at least 125 yards, and we'll lean the Cardinals way.  

Top 25 Picks

No. 6 Oklahoma at Kansas 
Line: Oklahoma -10
Pick: Kansas

This line is still available at select online sportsbooks, but more available at -9 or -9.5. Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold is 29-10-1 ATS at home in FBS play, including 13-1-1 ATS versus greater than .700 opponents and 12-1-1 ATS when his team is .700 or better. Kansas (5-2) enters this game off a bye week, and the Jayhawks have scored at least 31 points in all games except vs. Texas. The Jayhawks have a solid 200 Club balanced offense rushing for an average of 207 yards and passing for 223 yards. Oklahoma is top-6 in the country passing for 328 yards per game and rush for 168 YPG. The Sooners do sport the No. 1 scoring offense (43 PPG) and No. 1 scoring defense (16 PPG) in the Big 12. But Central Florida's strong, balanced offense was able to run for 149 and pass for 248 at Oklahoma for a bonus pick winner as a big 'Dog. Kansas rolled over UCF 51-22 early this month with 400 rushing yards. The Jayhawks are the least penalized team in the Big 12 and have the best Red Zone defensive stats and should make this a competitive contest. 

No. 3 Ohio State at Wisconsin
Line: Ohio State -14.5
Pick: Wisconsin

My projections have the Buckeyes under 400 yards offense in this matchup with Wisconsin a top defensive team. Yes, Ohio State is a defensive dominator, but if I project a CFB team to score 28 points or less in a game, and the underdog is greater than 6 points, then we have a high-percentage chance to cash-in and win on the underdog. We'll bet on that here with the Badgers as big home 'Dog and the Buckeye's off the big win over Penn State in a defensive grinder, 20-12. Add in a lower total of 45.5 points, and the linemaker projects lower scoring considering Wisconsin is also 10-0 ATS when installed as a home 'Dog of 6 or more points - another Playbook Sports ATS chip-in. We'll bite with Bucky Badger as big 'Dog. 

Check back later and Saturday morning for more updates and any additional picks along with information you can bet on. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X (Twitter) @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.