No. 2 Penn State at No. 6 Ohio State is the biggest game on the Week 9 college football schedule, and it's also one of the toughest to pick, given the touchdown spread in favor of the Buckeyes.
That's one of 10 picks we face heading into the week. A few other games should entertain, including the matchup between No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 14 N.C. State. That will be the last set of games before the first set of College Football Rankings are released.
MORE: Week 9 Picks straight up
Each week, Sporting News college football writer Bill Bender will pick 10 marquee games against the spread. We're ready for Week 9:
Last week
Straight up: 10-0
Against the spread: 5-5
Season
Straight up: 67-13 (.838)
Against the spread: 50-30 (.625)
And now the picks (lines provided courtesy of VegasInsider.com as of Oct. 23; lines reflect consensus picks unless noted):
Louisville (-3) at Wake Forest
12:20 p.m., Saturday, ACC Network
No bad blood here, right? The WakeyLeaks backdrop from last season. Louisville is coming off a victory against Florida State in an up-and-down season, and the Demon Deacons have lost three in a row. Lamar Jackson piles it on in the second half for the Cards.
Louisville wins 38-28 and covers the spread
Oklahoma State (-7.5) at West Virginia
Noon, Saturday, ABC
The Cowboys have split their last two meetings in Morgantown, and this figures to be a full-throttle shootout between Mason Rudolph and Will Grier, who has five touchdowns in each of his last two games. The Cowboys better bring their A-game after last week’s escape at Texas.
Oklahoma State wins 41-38 but fails to cover the spread
TCU (-6.5) at Iowa State
3:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Coach Matt Campbell has resurrected the Cyclones in a hurry, and Iowa State has three straight victories and a chance to clinch bowl eligibility before November. TCU, however, is allowing 15.3 points per game in Big 12 play. That’s better than it looks. There might be an upset alert here, but we’re not quite there.
TCU wins 31-20 and covers the spread
Georgia (-14) vs. Florida
3:30 p.m., Saturday, CBS
Georgia can make a definitive statement here against Florida, which limped into the bye week after close losses in back-to-back weeks. The Gators have won the last three meetings, and there's a long history of the unexpected here. We like Georgia, however, to make their point. It will be right on that line.
Georgia wins 27-14 but fails to cover the spread.
N.C. State at Notre Dame (-7.5)
3:30 p.m., Saturday, NBC
It's a strength-on-strength matchup. N.C. State allows just 91.3 rushing yards per game, sixth best in the FBS. The Irish rank sixth, however, with 317.9 rushing yards per game. This game is going to be won up front, and you’ll know right away if Bradley Chubb can disrupt that Notre Dame offensive line. This could be the best game of the weekend. Expect drama.
Notre Dame wins 28-26 but fails to cover the spread
Mississippi State at Texas A&M (-1.5)
7:15 p.m., Saturday, ESPN; point spread reflects opening line
The Aggies have turned their season around and can establish themselves as an unlikely New Year's Day Six candidate with a victory here and next week against Auburn. The Bulldogs got back on track. This is a fun matchup of quarterbacks with Nick Fitzgerald and Kellen Mond, too. It’s a shootout.
Texas A&M wins 34-30 and covers the spread
Tennessee at Kentucky (-5.5)
7:30 p.m., Saturday, SEC Network
Mark Stoops hasn’t beat Tennessee yet. Both teams are coming off blowout losses, and it’s on the team that wants to be there the most to win. This will be an ugly game, and the losing fan base is going to leave very unhappy. Jarrett Guarantano leads a late scoring drive for the win. Seriously. Vols win.
Tennessee wins 16-13 in an UPSET
Georgia Tech at Clemson (-14.5)
8 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Clemson has no margin for error now, and Kelly Bryant should be healthy after the bye week. The Tigers have won four of the last four meetings against the Yellow Jackets, and all of those victories were by double digits. Clemson gets back in the win column, and prime time at Death Valley will help.
Clemson wins 38-21 and covers the spread
Washington State (-2.5) at Arizona
9:30 p.m., Saturday, Pac-12 Network
Another fun matchup of quarterbacks between Khalil Tate, who has rushed for 694 yards and seven touchdowns the last three weeks, and Luke Falk, who is trying to keep the Cougars’ playoff hopes alive. The Cougars won 69-7 last year. That’s motivation for the Wildcats, and it will be much closer.
Washington State wins 44-41 and covers the spread
Penn State at Ohio State (-6.5)
3:30 p.m., Saturday, FOX
The winner here likely represents the Big Ten East in the conference championship game, and both teams know it. Penn State is coming off an emotional victory and can solidify their No. 2 ranking. Saquon Barkley will make big plays, but so will Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett. The difference will be Ohio State's defensive line in the fourth quarter. Can Trace McSorley make the big play in the clutch? It’s a one-score toss-up. We’ll take the home team.
Ohio State wins 31-24 and covers the spread
