The 8 Tastiest Cupcake Games of College Football Week 9

We may be nearing the end of October, but that doesn't mean teams are out of time to load up on some empty calories before heading down the stretch to that conference championship.

The days of FCS schools visiting are done—except for the laughable practice of SEC schools scheduling the small programs in late November—but we still have plenty of lopsided games on tap for Week 9.

Here's our list of the tastiest cupcake college football games of Week 9.

Mississippi State at Alabama

Vegas Line: Alabama (-24)

We're actually placing this Vegas-designated cupcake game up front, mainly because it doesn't really fit the profile of a typical cupcake game.

First off, it's an SEC-West divisional clash between two undefeated and ranked programs.

Still, Alabama is a 24-point favorite in Tuscaloosa this Saturday.

The Bulldogs are off to their first 7-0 start since 1999, but Alabama was the first team to top Mississippi State then, too. So with everything—including history—stacked against the Bulldogs, do they have much of a chance against the Tide?

Boise State at Wyoming

Vegas Line: Boise State (-16.5)

Boise State clearly isn't the same team this season that it used to be.

That's bound to happen when you lose the winningest starting quarterback in FBS history to that pesky graduation.

Still, we are talking about Boise State taking on the Wyoming Cowboys.

But the Cowboys have been steadily, if slowly improving over the past few seasons, and the relatively narrow 16.5-point spread barely qualifies Wyoming as a cupcake.

But we expect Boise to cover this spread and then some.

Texas at Kansas

Vegas Line: Texas (-21)

There's plenty of reason for concern in Austin.

The Longhorns are in the midst of another lackluster season that has included a blowout loss to Oklahoma and a loss to Big 12 newcomer West Virginia.

A BCS run is now out of the question for Texas, and there's a lot to critique about the 2012 Longhorns.

However, their upcoming performance against Kansas likely won't be a game many fans harp on, considering the Longhorns are a 21-point favorite.

The Jayhawks are just as bad as they've always been, and no amount of supposed Charlie Weis magic or Dayne Crist heroics have been able to change that ugly fact.

Don't worry, Kansas fans. Basketball season is right around the corner.

Utah State at Texas-San Antonio

Vegas Line: Utah State (-23)

Massachusetts isn't the only new FBS program this season, and the Minutemen have some freshman company on our Week 9 cupcake list from fellow newbie Texas-San Antonio.

UTSA, unlike UMass, won its first five games of the 2012 season. But before you go thinking the Roadrunners are the next great thing in college football, keep in mind that the level of competition included New Mexico State, fellow FBS first-timer South Alabama, two FCS programs and a Division II program—probably the weakest schedule in the entire FBS this season.

UTSA has now lost two straight to fall to 5-2, and with an upcoming visit from current WAC front-runner Utah State, you can bet that losing streak will be extended to three.

Washington State at Stanford

Vegas Line: Stanford (-24.5)

With Mike Leach taking over the program, there were high hopes for the Cougars in 2012. Some even went so far as to predict a bowl game for Washington State, which is coming off of a 4-8 season.

But that expected success hasn't yet materialized up in Pullman, and the Cougs are just 2-5 so far this season.

Is it any wonder then that Stanford is a heavy favorite at home?

Sure, Stanford doesn't present the most hostile or intimidating environments in college football, as the stadium is rarely, if ever full. But that doesn't mean the Cardinal defend their home turf any less vigorously than other programs around the nation.

Duke at Florida State

Vegas Line: Florida State (-27.5)

The Dukies are bowl-eligible and looking for their first bowl invite since 1994.

The icing on the cake is that the Blue Devils defeated archrival North Carolina for that sixth victory.

And while that's all well and good, Duke needs another win to guarantee itself a postseason trip—and that seventh win won't come this weekend.

Duke hits the road on Saturday, destination Tallahassee, Florida, for a date with the Seminoles of Florida State.

Once again, the 'Noles stumbled early and have seen the national championship buzz quiet a bit. But that doesn't mean Florida State isn't still leaps and bounds better than Duke.

Duke may not be the complete and utter doormat from Durham we normally see, but there's no way the Blue Devils beat the Seminoles this weekend.

And there's very little chance Florida State doesn't cover the 27.5-point spread, either.

Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State

Vegas Line: Louisiana Tech (-30.5)

Boise State has nicely filled the gap in the Mountain West left by TCU's move to the Big 12. Of course, that meant the Broncos had to leave the WAC, leaving a hole of their own.

Enter Louisiana Tech.

The Bulldogs have all the look and feel of a real up-and-coming non-AQ program and are off to an impressive 6-1 start.

This is the same Louisiana Tech program that nearly knocked off Houston, Mississippi State and TCU last season, and almost slid by Texas A&M this year.

The Bulldogs are looking to defend their WAC title this season, and that journey will take another big step this weekend as Tech faces off against lowly New Mexico State.

How bad is New Mexico State?

Just in case the 30.5-point spread for a conference game didn't tip you off, here are a few other numbers: The Aggies are 1-6 and have won just 10 games over the previous four seasons combined, and are 21-72 over the past seven-plus seasons.

The Aggies currently rank 96th in the FBS in total offense and 103rd in total defense. Finally, the only win for NMSU has come against FCS Sacramento State—which has in turn lost to such teams as North Dakota and Idaho State.

Is it any wonder that the No. 24 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are such heavy favorites?

Massachusetts at Vanderbilt

Vegas Line: Vanderbilt (-32.5)

We're perfectly willing to give UMass a pass this season.

After all, it's the Minutemen's first season in the FBS.

Even so, they clearly are one of the worst teams in the nation, if not the worst.

Is it any wonder UMass is the biggest cupcake of the week on to road in the SEC? OK, so Vandy isn't necessarily the cream of the crop in the SEC, but the Commodores should still have this game well in hand by halftime.

And with a 32.5-point spread, the Minutemen find themselves in the unenviable position of being the tastiest college football cupcake opponent of Week 9.