College Football Picks Week 9: Vegas Odds and Predictions for Top 25 Games

Through eight weeks of the 2022 college football season, five FBS teams remain undefeated. All of them except No. 5 Clemson (8-0) will be in action on Saturday, when the bulk of the Week 9 action will be taking place.

No. 1 Georgia (7-0), which is coming off its bye, is set to take on Florida in Jacksonville in its return to action. The national champion Bulldogs continue to cruise, and that seems unlikely to change this week.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Ohio State (7-0) and No. 3 Tennessee (7-0) will have greater challenges. The Buckeyes are going on the road to take on No. 13 Penn State, while the Vols will be hosting No. 19 Kentucky.

No. 7 TCU (7-0) will also be looking to preserve an unblemished record when it goes on the road to take on West Virginia.

Here's a look at the full schedule for ranked teams for Week 9, along with odds and picks for each matchup.

Top 25 Schedule, Odds for Week 9

Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CHAMPAIGN, IL - AUGUST 27: An overview of footballs as they sit on the field beside the 10 yard line marker before the college football game between the Wyoming Cowboys and the Illinois Fighting Illini on August 27, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Thursday, Oct. 27

Virginia Tech at No. 24 NC State (-13.5), 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

No. 14 Utah (-8.5) at Washington State, 10 p.m. ET, FS1

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Saturday, Oct. 29

No. 2 Ohio State (-15.5) at No. 13 Penn State, noon ET, Fox

No. 7 TCU (-7) at West Virginia, noon ET, ESPN

Notre Dame at No. 16 Syracuse (-2), noon ET, ABC

Florida vs. No. 1 Georgia (-22), 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

No. 8 Oregon (-15) at California, 3:30 p.m. ET, FS1

No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Kansas State (even), 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox

No. 10 Wake Forest (-4.5) at Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network

No. 17 Illinois (-6.5) at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

No. 20 Cincinnati at UCF (no line), 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Missouri at No. 25 South Carolina (-5), 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network

No. 10 USC (-15.5) at Arizona, 6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

No. 19 Kentucky at No. 3 Tennessee (-13), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Michigan State at No. 4 Michigan (-22), 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

No. 15 Ole Miss (-2.5) at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Pittsburgh at No. 21 North Carolina (-4), 8 p.m. ET, ACC Network

Stanford at No. 12 UCLA (-16), 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. Picks in bold against the spread.

Ohio State, Tennessee Will Both Win Big Again

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud plays against Iowa during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

This past week, Ohio State and Tennessee each recorded lopsided victories to improve to 7-0. But that was to be expected, considering the Buckeyes faced Iowa and the Vols played TN-Martin. The competition will be tougher in Week 9.

However, the results may not be too different. Even though Ohio State and Tennessee will be taking on better opponents, they are two of the top teams in the nation, and both have been rolling this season.

Ohio State's road matchup against Penn State will be its first game of the year against a team that is currently ranked in the AP poll, but the Buckeyes are a stronger team than the Nittany Lions.

Junior quarterback C.J. Stroud should lead Ohio State to another big win, helping it clear the 15.5-point spread.

Tennessee may be facing a solid Kentucky team, but it already owns a win over Alabama at home. If the Vols can take down the Crimson Tide, they should have no trouble defeating the Wildcats, which previously lost to Ole Miss and South Carolina. A 13-point favorite, they will cruise to victory and win by more than two touchdowns.

Both Ohio State and Tennessee will be tested later in the season, considering the Buckeyes will play No. 4 Michigan and the Vols face No. 1 Georgia. For now, though, expect both teams to keep rolling toward those marquee matchups.

Notre Dame Capable of Upset Win on Road

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 22: Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in action during a football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the UNLV Rebels on October 22, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Notre Dame opened the season as the No. 5-ranked team in the country, but things haven't gone nearly as well as expected for the Fighting Irish. They're 4-3, having lost to Ohio State, Marshall and Stanford.

However, Notre Dame has played better of late, winning four of five games since its 0-2 start. Its most impressive win during that stretch came on Sept. 24, when it notched a 45-32 road victory over North Carolina.

If the Fighting Irish can win in that hostile environment, they should have a chance for another victory as a two-point underdog on Saturday at Syracuse. The Orange, which opened the year with six straight wins, are coming off their first loss of the season: a 27-21 defeat at No. 5 Clemson this past weekend.

It will likely be a competitive game, as the betting line indicates. But Notre Dame is starting to build some momentum, so don't be surprised if it finds a way to end up on top.

The Fighting Irish have won each of their past four meetings with Syracuse, which hasn't notched a victory in the series since 2008.

Can Texas A&M Get Back on Track with Big Win?

AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.

Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King (13) congratulates running back Devon Achane (6), who scored a touchdown during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)

Another team that has greatly underperformed this season is Texas A&M, which opened the year at No. 6 in the AP poll. It is now 3-4 on the back of a three-game losing streak, having dropped consecutive contests to Mississippi State, Alabama and South Carolina.

The Aggies faced tough competition, but it's still surprising they haven't fared better. And things won't get any easier on Saturday, when they host Ole Miss in another challenging SEC matchup.

The Rebels won their first seven games of the season before losing at LSU this past weekend. They'll be looking to bounce back in a contest that could go either way.

Because of that, it could be wise to bet on the Aggies, who are 2.5-point underdogs. Junior running back Devon Achane (627 rushing yards and five total touchdowns) is having a great season, and he will be difficult for Ole Miss' defense to stop.

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