College Football Week 9 Predictions and Betting Lines

More than half of the 2020 college football season is over. Time flies when you’re having fun. Week 9 brings us a huge Big Ten showdown and the week’s only matchup of ranked opponents – No. 3 Ohio State travels to Coach Rick’s No. 18 Penn State.

One more week and the Pac-12 and the MAC get underway. Can’t wait. Until then, here’s what to expect from the Week 9 schedule.

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(#3) Ohio State vs. (#18) Penn State Predictions

The Buckeyes have owned this series winning seven of the last eight. The only Nittany Lions victory in those seven games came in State College in 2016. In 2018, No. 4 Ohio State beat a No. 9 Penn State 27- 26.

Expect another close game on Saturday. Yes, the Buckeyes are talented, but so is Penn State. The Nittany Lions lost last week despite dominating Indiana everywhere but the scoreboard. If there is one defense that can slow down the Buckeyes, it’s Penn State’s.

With Ohio State favored by 13.5 points, the Nittany Lions keep this one close enough to cover.

BEST BET: PENN STATE +13.5

(#4) Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech Predictions

Georgia Tech (2-4) may be improved in head coach Geoff Collins second year, but the Yellow Jackets are nowhere near ready to compete with the Notre Dames and Clemsons. The Irish visit Atlanta as 19.5- point favorites and have one of the best defenses in the nation.

Last week, the Irish held Pitt to just a field goal while putting up 45 points of their own. Notre Dame gives up just 9.8 points per game and allows opponents only 273 yards of total offense. It is on the road, but Notre Dame is just too talented for Georgia Tech.

BEST BET: NOTRE DAME -19.5

(#9) Wisconsin vs. Nebraska Predictions

EDIT: Rick was going to bet on Nebraska +10, but the game has been cancelled because of the Wisconsin COVID-19 outbreak and there are no plans to reschedule.

Wisconsin looked real good in its season opening win over Illinois last Friday night. Graham Mertz, a redshirt freshman, got his first start at quarterback and was outstanding completing his first 17 passes in a row. Over the weekend, Mertz tested positive for the coronavirus. A second positive test will force Mertz to miss three weeks.

Without Mertz, the Badgers could stumble. Nebraska drove the ball down the field on their first possession and scored on Ohio State last week. They ran out of gas against a better team, but playing at home could give the Huskers an edge.

Get in on this one quick before the line changes when Mertz is announced out.

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Northwestern vs. Iowa Predictions

Neither of these two Big Ten teams are ranked, but Coach Rick just couldn’t pass this one up. Iowa was upset by Purdue last week. The Boilermakers didn’t have their head coach, Jeff Brohm, or their best player, Rondale Moore.

That game was on the road and now Iowa returns home to Nile Kinnick Stadium where the Hawkeyes have won seven of their last eight games. The Wildcats beat Maryland – arguably the Big Ten’s worst team in 2020 – last week 43-3, but Northwestern is now just 2-9 in their last 11 Big Ten games.

A year ago, Iowa beat Northwestern 20-0. It could be that kind of game in 2020 too.

BEST BET: IOWA -2.5