Can the once, nationally-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies take down ACC rival Georgia Tech to keep their conference title hopes alive? Will the struggling UCLA Bruins be able to get the home upset over visiting No. 23 Utah?
Last but not least, can the second-ranked Clemson Tigers win and cash in as a huge favorite over once perennially powerful Florida State when they square off in the Sunshine State on Saturday?
If you’re looking for some value-packed picks that you could string together as part of a potentially payday-producing parlay, then let’s get to my trio of expert NCAAF Betting picks right now.
NCAA Football Week 9 Parlay Picks
Coastal Division foes face off this week! Here’s a look back at @GeorgiaTechFB‘s exciting win over #VT last season! #TogetherWeSwarm🐝(@quonmarshall16 ) pic.twitter.com/3yPK0Aj55N
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) 22 de octubre de 2018
Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
- When: Thursday, October 25, 2018, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia
- NCAA Football Week 9 Odds: Virginia Tech -3 (Total 58.5)
Georgia Tech (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS) had their modest two-game winning streak snapped in their 28-14 loss to Duke last weekend while never coming close to covering the chalk as a 1-point home favorite. The Yellow Jackets lost three fumbles in the final three minutes of the third quarter. Georgia Tech allowed Duke quarterback Daniel Jones to throw three TD passes in the loss.
Quarterback TaQuon Marshall passed for 91 yards and added 41 rushing yards, but the Yellow Jackets were held to 229 yards rushing, 144 below their nation-leading average.
“It was the game,” said Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson. “You can’t turn the ball over on three straight plays and expect to beat anybody … You’re not going to come back from that.”
Virginia Tech (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS) got past North Carolina 22-19 in a thriller last weekend. The Hokies were in danger of falling behind by two scores when they forced Tar Heels running back Michael Carter to fumble near the goal line. That turnover gave quarterback Ryan Willis and Virginia Tech’s struggling offense the opening it needed as Willis directed a time-consuming 18-play, 98-yard drive for the win.
“That last drive,” Keene said, “was really incredible.”
Prediction
Virginia Tech may not be a legitimate national championship contender, but I like them to get past North Carolina, mostly because they’re playing at home. Georgia Tech has a slight edge in scoring but Virginia Tech is the better defensive team in this contest.Georgia Tech is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games while Virginia Tech has gone 14-6 SU over their last 20 games. While the Yellow Jackets have won two straight in this series including a 28-22 home win last season, Virginia Tech has gone 11-5 ATS in their last 16 home games. I’m going with the Hokies to get the win in a knock-down, drag-out brawl.
Score: Virginia Tech 35 – Georgia Tech 31
No. 23 Utah at UCLA
- When: Thursday, October 25, 2018, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia
- NCAA Football Week 9 Odds: Utah -10 (Total 55)
Utah (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) has won three straight and comes into this contest off an emphatic 41-28 win over USC last weekend while covering the spread as a 7-point home favorite. Tyler Huntley threw for 341 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions and the Utes picked off USC’s JT Daniels twice in the win. Utah rolled up an impressive 541 yards of total offense.
“We executed,” Huntley said. “That’s what happens when you execute.”
UCLA (2-5 SU,3-4 ATS) got past Arizona 31-30 last weekend but never came close to covering the spread as a 10-point favorite. Quarterback Wilton Speight passed for 204 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win while running back Joshua Kelley rushed for 136 yards and one score in the win.
“It has been a long time but I am happy and relieved,” said Speight after he relieved injured starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Prediction
While UCLA managed to get past Arizona last weekend, I don’t see the Bruins have the same kind of success against a Utah team that limits the opposition to just 17.7 points per game defensively. The Utes average eight points per game more than UCLA while also giving up 14 fewer points per game defensively. The Utes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games and 9-3 ATS in its last 12 road games. UCLA is 7-15 ATS in its last 22 games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games. I’m expecting Utah to have this game well in hand by the time halftime rolls around.Score: Utah 31 – UCLA 14
No. 2 Clemson at Florida State
- When: Saturday, October 27, 2018, 12:00 PM ET
- Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
- NCAA Football Week 9 Odds: Clemson -17 (Total 51)
Florida State (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) rolled all over Wake Forest in their 38-17 Week 8 win on Saturday as quarterback Deondre Francois passed for 353 yards and two touchdowns while Cam Akers rushed for 98 yards and two scores on 13 carries, including one 58-yard scoring burst.
“It’s just a big weight off my shoulders just to break a long one,” Akers said. “That’s what I’m used to doing. So to be able to come out and break a long one for a touchdown, that’s just a big weight off my shoulders.”
No. 2 Clemson (7-0 SU, 3-4 ATS) rolled all over NC State 41-7 as quarterback Trevor Lawrence passed for 208 yards and one touchdown while running back Travis Etienne added three rushing scores on 15 carries. Clemson covered the chalk as a whopping 18.5-point favorite by harassing NC State’s Ryan Finley into two interceptions.
“We just didn’t want to leave any doubt that the game should’ve gone a certain way,” Lawrence said. “It was clear how we won the game by a good bit.”
Prediction
Clemson averages a whopping 17 points per game more than NC State while simultaneously giving up 11 fewer points per game defensively. The Tigers have a bunch of NFL-caliber stars on their roster, including their entire defensive line. While Florida State has won three of their last four games, the Seminoles, now in their first season under head coach Willie Taggart, are no longer the same kind of elite national championship title hopeful they were under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.Clemson has gone 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games against the Seminoles. Florida State is 2-4 ATS in their last six home dates against the Tigers and 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning record. If you think the 17-point spread looks daunting, I say, don’t worry about it. Clemson is the far better team in all three phases and they’ll cover the chalk because of it!
Score: Clemson 42 – Florida State 17
