Wisconsin Highlights the SU Picks for NCAAF Week 9

There are a lot of questions around NCAAF Week 9. For example, Will reeling Oregon State put up a fight against streaking No. 20 Stanford when they meet in their Week 9 Pac-12 pairing? Can struggling Wake Forest get back on track against Lamar Jackson and the explosive Louisville Cardinals when they host their ACC rivals on Saturday? Last but not least, can Lovie Smith’s Illinois Fighting Illini’ pull off the huge upset over unbeaten, fifth-ranked Wisconsin when they host their Big Ten rivals this weekend? Let’s find out the answers to all three thanks to the latest College Football betting lines and my trio of Week 9 SU picks!

Top NCAAF Week 9 SU Betting Matchups and Picks

After a win over Maryland, Coach Chryst and the #Badgers play at Illinois on Saturday at 11am on ESPN https://t.co/k6yxFfoCAj
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) 23 de octubre de 2017

No. 20 Stanford Cardinal (5-2) at Oregon State Beavers (1-6)

When: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 9:00 PM ET
Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon
NCAAF Week 9 Odds: Stanford -23

Stanford has gotten its act together in a big way by after losing two of their first three games this season. Now, heading into their Week 9 road date at Oregon State, the Cardinal have won four straight including their 49-7 Week 7 blowout win over Oregon. Stanford also has a legitimize Heisman Trophy candidate in unheralded star running back Bryce Love, who, by the way, leads the nation in rushing yards (1,387). The Cardinal also have a really good defense that ranks 42nd nationally in points allowed (22.0 ppg) and a quarterback in Keller Chryst that is pretty solid if not outstanding. On the flip side of the coin, Week 9 conference rival Oregon State has dropped five straight games and looks pretty awful despite putting up a good effort in their heartbreaking 36-33 home loss to Colorado in Week 7. Prior to their most recent loss, the Beavers lost to USC by 28 points, at home against Washington by 35 points, at Washington State by 29 points and at home against Minnesota by 34 points. Stanford is the ‘super easy’ SU pick in this contest, but I’m also going to say that you shouldn’t fear the Cardinal covering the spread as three-touchdown favorites. Stanford is the far better team on both sides of the ball and will cover the chalk in this one despite being on the road seeing as how they’ve gone a near-perfect 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings against Oregon State.

Latest NCAAF Week 9 Betting Trends

Stanford is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
Stanford is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games on the road
Oregon State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Oregon State is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games at home
Beavers are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Stanford

Pick: Stanford -23

Louisville Cardinals (5-3) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-3)

When: Saturday, October 28, 2017, 12:20 PM ET
Where: BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
NCAAF Week 9 Odds: Louisville -3

I know the Louisville Cardinals aren’t the playoff contender they were looking to become this season under 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, but the Cardinals still possess one of the most potent offenses in all college football, even if they haven’t been able to get the statement-making win they’ve been looking for this season. Wake Forest got off to an impressive 4-0 start this season, but now the Demon Deacons have come back to earth in a big way by losing three consecutive ACC matchups including their 38-24 road defeat at Georgia Tech this past weekend.

The NCAAF Week 9 Odds are against Wake Forest.

Lamar Jackson and company should have plenty of confidence against Wake Forest after beating Florida State 31-28 in Tallahassee this past weekend and I just don’t see them falling to a Demon Deacons team that just doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with them. I also like Louisville to cover the spread in this one as 3-point road favorites seeing as how the Cardinals have also put together a blistering 21-8 ATS mark in their last 29 road games against a team with a winning home record.

Latest NCAAF Week 9 Betting Trends

Wake Forest is 5-3 SU in its last 8 games
Louisville is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
Louisville is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road

Pick: Louisville -3

No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers (7-0) at Illinois Fighting Illini

When: Saturday, October 28, 2017, 12:00 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
NCAAF Week 9 Odds: Wisconsin -26

Just like the last two seasons, I really like fifth-ranked Wisconsin as both, a Big Ten title championship contender and four-team College Football Playoff hopeful. While I’ve always liked defensive-minded Illinois head coach Lovie Smith going back to his days with the Chicago Bears, there’s absolutely no way I see the Fighting Illini’ pulling off the huge upset over the Badgers in this contest, even at home. I know the Fighting Illini’ looked pretty competitive in their 24-17 road loss to Minnesota this past weekend, but Wisconsin is rock-solid on both sides of the ball and can play with any team in the country even if they don’t necessarily get a lot of media attention for their on-field excellence. Now, while I’m not particularly fond of the Badgers covering the high, 26-point spread as road favorites, again, there’s no way the Badgers lose this game outright. Back Wisconsin as a lock SU pick people!