2 Best Early College Football Predictions for Week 9

Week 8 was another major success. The early Week 8 picks didn’t quite find the closing line value I was hoping for, but both South Carolina and Miami won and covered as favorites. 

Later in the week, my college football Week 8 best bets column hit on multiple moneyline underdogs, making it one of the year’s most profitable weeks for readers.

I’m looking to keep that momentum going on a week where the college football betting outcomes could get spooky.

Georgia Southern vs. App State Prediction

Overall, laying 5.5 points in a rivalry game isn’t a long-term winning move. But I do like Georgia Southern in this particular spot and want to get involved before the market hits a key number.

Let’s look at the game circumstances. Southern is coming off a bye week, which means it has two full weeks to get ready to go all in against an archrival. Compare that to App State, which is coming off the crazy emotional high of beating previously undefeated JMU, complete with a field-storming after the game.

Early steam has already pushed this line from 4.5 (where I initially bet it) to 5.5, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a Georgia Southern -6 by midweek.

Georgia Southern has won three straight games (and four of the last five) against App State. The Eagles are 12-3 ATS as a home favorite under Clay Helton and were 2-0 ATS coming off byes last season. 

Prediction: Georgia Southern -5.5

Ohio State vs. USC Prediction

I have no idea how anyone makes a number for this game with Julian Sayin hurt. But if I were going to try, I probably wouldn’t make Ohio State a touchdown favorite on the road with a potential zero at quarterback.

This number is assuming a lot about the Buckeyes. This isn’t the NFL, where backup quarterbacks are a known commodity. The only information we have about Ohio State true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey is that he looked totally lost in the fourth quarter at Indiana.

There’s no shame in looking confused against a Curt Cignetti defense. But you can’t then springboard that sample size into laying a key number on the road.

This is a game where absolutely anything can happen. But that includes outright USC wins and, likely, a competitive game where Ohio State’s defense has to bail out an offense that might struggle to cross midfield. Grab the 7 and the moneyline while you can. 

Prediction: USC +7; USC +210

Early College Football Bets for Week 9

• Georgia Southern -5.5
• USC +7