College Football Week 9 Opening Odds Report
College football Week 9 odds feature multiple games that have implications on the College Football Playoff odds market. And of course the initial release of the CFP rankings, which occurs Nov. 1.
Leading the way is a Big Ten clash between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 13 Penn State. And in the SEC, No. 3 Tennessee aims to keep its CFP hopes on track against No. 17 Kentucky.
Let's dive into Week 9 college football odds and action, with insights from multiple oddsmakers and sportsbooks. Check back regularly for updates.
College Football Week 9 Odds
No. 17 Kentucky vs No. 3 Tennessee
Opening line: Tennessee -12.5; Over/Under 63
Time: 7 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Ninety minutes pre-kick, the Vols are laying 11.5 points at WynnBet, down 1.5 points from Sunday's -13 opener. The line initially ticked to Tennessee -12 briefly Sunday night, then spent much of the week at -12.5.
On Thursday, the line dipped to Vols -12, then went to -11.5 Friday evening. It's now Tennessee -11.5 (-105), with 70% of spread bets/63% of spread dollars on the Vols.
While WynnBet said it wouldn't mind a Kentucky cover – or better still, an outright upset – the bigger need is for the Under. The total opened at 63, peaked at 63.5 Sunday night, dipped to 62.5 Wednesday and by Thursday afternoon was down to 61.
However, the number rebounded today and is now at 62.5. Ticket count and money are in the 5/1 range on the Over.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Tennessee hit Caesars' college football Week 9 odds board Sunday as a full two-touchdown favorite, at -14. Within a few hours, however, that line fell to Vols -12.5, and it hasn't budged since.
Tennessee is seeing 62% of early spread bets, but 60% of early spread cash is on big 'dog Kentucky.
“I think Kentucky’s game plan will be to play keepaway and trying to have long drives,” Caesars lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “If [the Wildcats] can control the ball and keep Tennessee’s offense off the field, they can make this a lower-scoring game and keep this close. Kentucky is also coming off a bye, and Tennessee plays Georgia next week, so those could be two more angles for the sharper money coming in. That Georgia game will dictate [the Vols'] playoff chances, so this may be a bit of a look-ahead spot here.”
The total opened at 63, went to 63.5 Sunday night, then on Wednesday afternoon dipped to 62.5, where it sits now. Betting splits on the total aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Tennessee is probably still happy in the haze of its celebration after knocking off then-No. 3 Alabama in Week 7. The Vols (7-0 SU, 6-1 ATS) ostensibly had a bye in Week 8, hosting FCS outfit Tennessee-Martin. As expected, Tennessee coasted to a 65-24 victory, cashing as a massive 38.5-point favorite.
Kentucky (5-2 SU and ATS) can play the role of big spoiler this week, though with a double-digit spread, oddsmakers don't see it happening. The Wildcats are rested, though, coming off a bye after a 27-17 win as 3.5-point home 'dogs to Mississippi State.
The Vols haven't moved off -12.5 at TwinSpires, while netting 58% of early bets/55% of early money on the spread.
TwinSpires nudged the total to 63.5, with early ticket count 2/1 and early dollars 3/1 on the Over.
Michigan State vs No. 4 Michigan
Opening line: Michigan -22.5; Over/Under 54.5
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Michigan hit WynnBet's college football Week 9 odds board as a 23-point chalk Sunday afternoon. The Wolverines scaled back to -21.5 by Monday morning, rebounded to -22.5 Tuesday morning, then Wednesday afternoon moved to -23 again.
There's been no line movement since. Point-spread ticket count is dead even, while big underdog Michigan State is nabbing 87% of spread cash. WynnBet said it will need Michigan to cover the spread.
The total opened at 55, spent the first half of the week at 54.5, and Wednesday returned to 55, where it stuck through this afternoon. Ticket count is almost 4/1 and money beyond 8/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Caesars pegged Michigan a 21-point chalk at Sunday afternoon's outset and got to -22.5 within about three hours. The line dialed down to Wolverines -21.5 late Monday morning, then made its way up to -23 by Wednesday afternoon.
Michigan remains -23 this afternoon, but early spread ticket count is 2.5/1 and money 4/1 on the big double-digit 'dog Michigan State.
“I think a lot of the underdog action on Michigan State is just because it’s a rivalry game,” Caesars Sports lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “Maybe it’s also because [Michigan QB] J.J. McCarthy hasn’t been as good as [Michigan running back] Blake Corum, and if Michigan relies heavily on the ground game, then Michigan State can definitely stay within that three-touchdown range.
"Michigan State has won the last two head-to-head. They haven’t been that impressive at all this year. The only thing was their last game, when they beat Wisconsin. So it’s surprising to me to see all the action on Michigan State.”
The total opened at 54.5 and stuck there until going to 55 late Wednesday morning. Betting splits on the total aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Michigan (7-0 SU, 4-3 ATS) heads into this instate rivalry game with plenty of rest, coming off a bye. In Week 7, the Wolverines pounded Penn State 41-17 laying 7 points at home.
Meanwhile, Michigan State's season has circled the drain since the Spartans reached No. 11 in the AP poll in Week 3. Sparty followed that peak by losing four in a row SU and ATS. Michigan State (3-4 SU and ATS) snapped the slide in Week 7 with a 34-28 overtime win catching 7 points against visiting Wisconsin.
Michigan State had a bye in Week 8.
The Wolverines landed on TwinSpires' college football Week 9 odds board as 22.5-point favorites. That number is down to -21.5, with 59% of early tickets on Michigan/58% of early cash on Michigan State.
"Sharp play on Michigan State +22.5," TwinSpires' Zachary Lucas said.
The total dipped a point to 53.5, then went to 54, with 60% of tickets/59% of money on the Under.
Florida Gators vs No. 1 Georgia
Opening line: Georgia -22; Over/Under 56
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SATURDAY: A half-hour before kickoff, Georgia is up to -23.5 on WynnBet's college football Week 9 odds board. The Bulldogs opened at -21.5, spent most of the week at -22.5, then went to -23/-23.5 Friday afternoon.
Florida is taking a slim majority 52% of spread tickets, but 90% of spread money is on favored Georgia.
The total opened at 56, peaked at 57 Monday afternoon, returned to 56 late Monday night, then stabilized at 56.5. WynnBet went to 57 today. Ticket count is almost 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.
WynnBet said it needs a Gators cover and the Under for this neutral-site game in Jacksonville.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Georgia toggled between -22.5 and -22 a couple of times early at Caesars Sports, and the Bulldogs have been stable at -22.5 since Monday afternoon. Opinion is split, with Florida netting 58% of early spread tickets and Georgia seeing 57% of early spread dollars.
The total opened at 56, peaked at 57 Monday afternoon and has been stable at 56.5 since Tuesday morning. Betting splits on the total aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: You're no longer supposed to call this matchup the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. But it's a great moniker, so let's stick with it. The only issue this year is that the neutral-site clash in Jacksonville, Fla., isn't expected to be that great, with Georgia laying more than three TDs.
The defending national champion Bulldogs (7-0 SU, 4-3 ATS) are also coming off a bye. In Week 7, Georgia pounded Vanderbilt 55-0 as a 37.5-point home chalk. This week's game is an interesting spot for Georgia, as a showdown against No. 3 Tennessee looms on Nov. 5.
Florida also got an extra week to prepare for this game. The Gators (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) are coming off a 45-35 Week 7 loss as 1.5-point home favorites against LSU.
Georgia initially went down a notch at TwinSpires, to -21.5, then returned to -22. Florida is netting 63% of tickets/60% of money on the spread.
"The public is grabbing the points with Florida. I have a feeling we'll need Georgia again this week to cover a large number," TwinSpires' Zachary Lucas said.
The total rose a tick to 56.5 and returned to 56 on two-way play, with the Over seeing 57% of tickets/53% of money.
No. 9 Oklahoma State vs No. 22 Kansas State
Opening line: Oklahoma State -1.5; Over/Under 57.5
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FOX)
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: WynnBet has Kansas State -1 30 minutes before kickoff, after opening Oklahoma State -1 (-115) Sunday and flipping as far as K-State -2 a couple of times early in the week. The Wildcats spent most of the week at -1.5, then went to -1 today.
The Cowboys are seeing a modest majority 53% of spread tickets, but 76 of spread dollars are on the host Wildcats. WynnBet is rooting for an Oklahoma State cover.
WynnBet's total opened at 57.5, quickly went to 58, backed up to 56.5 Monday afternoon and 56 Tuesday morning. It hasn't moved off 56 since, with 87% of tickets on the Over/81% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Caesars Sports opened Oklahoma State a 1-point road chalk Sunday afternoon, then flipped to Kansas State -1 Monday morning. K-State then went to -1.5 Monday afternoon and has spent much of the week at that number.
The Cowboys are netting 72% of early spread tickets, while 58% of early spread money is on the Wildcats.
Caesars opened the total at 57.5, peaked at 58.5 Sunday evening, then worked its way down to 56 by Tuesday morning. The total remains 56, and betting splits on aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Oklahoma State (6-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) was a notable home underdog in Week 8, but got the job done outright. The Cowboys closed as 6.5-point pups to Texas and notched a 41-34 victory.
Kansas State (5-2 SU, 4-2-1 ATS) looked as if it would knock TCU from the ranks of the unbeaten, taking a 28-17 halftime lead. But the Wildcats lost starting QB Adrian Martinez early, then backup Will Howard got injured in the third quarter.
K-State couldn't hold it together, getting shut out in the second half of a 38-28 loss as a 3.5-point road pup.
This line has already jumped the fence at TwinSpires, opening Oklahoma State -1.5 and flipping to Kansas State -1.5. It's now at K-State -1. The Cowboys are getting 64% of early spread tickets, but 61% of early spread money is on the Wildcats. Keep an eye on that K-State injury report this week.
"Sharp play on Kansas State +1.5 and pick early in the week," TwinSpires' Zachary Lucas said.
The total dipped 1.5 points to 56, with 56% of tickets on the Over/59% of money on the Under.
No. 2 Ohio State vs No. 13 Penn State
Opening line: Ohio State -15.5; Over/Under 61
Time: Noon ET Saturday (FOX)
UPDATE 11:15 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Forty-five minutes before kickoff, Ohio State is laying 15.5 points in WynnBet's college football Week 9 odds market. The Buckeyes opened -15 Sunday afternoon, went to -15.5 Monday and stuck there most of the week.
On Friday morning, Ohio State went back to -15, then Friday evening returned to -15.5. It's two-way point-spread action, with 55% of tickets/56% of money on the Buckeyes. WynnBet said it needs Penn State to cover, and Nittany Lions outright "would be terrific."
WynnBet opened the total at 60.5, peaked at 61.5 Monday and spent most of the week at 61. On Friday afternoon, the number dipped to 60.5, where it remains now.
The Over is taking 66% of bets and 60% of handle.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: On Sunday afternoon, Caesars Sports opened the Buckeyes -15 in the college football Week 9 odds market. Late Sunday night, Ohio State nudged up to -15.5, and late Monday morning, the line went to -16.5.
But the number has been stable at Buckeyes -15.5 since Monday afternoon. That said, early tickets and money are flowing to Ohio State, with ticket count 2.5/1 and money 6/1-plus on the Buckeyes.
“Penn State couldn’t hang with Michigan, and Ohio State is even better than Michigan,” Caesars Sports lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “At least they’re playing at Beaver Stadium, but I think all this action comes down to the public’s lack of faith in [Penn State QB] Sean Clifford and him being able to compete with this monstrous Ohio State offense. Usually with a double-digit spread, when two ranked teams go up against one another, you’ll see the majority of the bets on the underdog. I can see why this isn’t the case here, because Ohio State is just a different beast.
"We’re hoping for a close game, with the public seeing this one as a blowout.”
The total opened at 60.5, spent the early part of the week at 61/61.5, then went to 62 Wednesday afternoon. Betting splits on the total aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Ohio State (7-0 SU, 4-2-1 ATS) continues to mow down pretty much everything in its path. In Week 8, the Buckeyes gifted Iowa an early scoop-and-score fumble for a TD and found themselves trailing 7-3. Then Ohio State scored 51 of the game's final 54 points and rolled 54-10, easily cashing as a 29.5 point chalk.
Penn State (6-1 SU, 4-3 ATS) saw its CFP hopes likely vanish with a Week 7 loss at Michigan. The Nittany Lions bounced back as 5.5-point home favorites against Minnesota, breezing to a 45-17 victory.
TwinSpires Sportsbook rose to Ohio State 16.5 in the past hour. The Buckeyes are taking 52% of early spread tickets, while 60% of early spread money is on the Nittany Lions.
"Some sharp play on Ohio State -15.5. There's a slight lean toward Penn State by the public," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total inched down to 60.5, with ticket count 2/1 on the Over, but money 3/1-plus on the Under in the early going.
"Sharp play on the Under," Lucas said.
Notre Dame vs No. 16 Syracuse
Opening line: Syracuse -1.5; Over/Under 46
Time: Noon ET Saturday (ABC)
UPDATE 11:15 A.M. ET SATURDAY: This matchup is now a pick 'em WynnBet, on a line that has bounced around a lot this week. The Orange opened -1.5 and stretched out to -3 by Monday morning, then spent much of the week at -2.5. On Friday, the 'Cuse dipped to -2 and -1.5 in the afternoon, then went to -1 late night.
The move to pick came this morning. Ticket count is 2/1 Syracuse, but money is 6/1-plus on Notre Dame. The book needs the Orange today.
WynnBet opened the total at 46.5, bottomed out at 46 Sunday night, peaked at 48.5 a couple of times Tuesday and spent most of the rest of the week at 47.5. It's currently 48, with 76% of tickets/60% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Syracuse quickly dipped from -3 to -2 Sunday afternoon at Caesars Sports, en route to a low point of -1.5 in the college football Week 9 odds market. But almost as quickly, the Orange rebounded to -2.5 Sunday evening and returned to -3 Monday morning.
The 'Cuse has been stable at -2.5 since Tuesday afternoon, while taking 74% of tickets, but just 53% of dollars on the spread.
The total climbed from 46 to 47 Monday, then peaked at 48.5 Tuesday. It's been stable at 48 since Tuesday evening. Betting splits on the total aren't available today.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Syracuse's hopes of running the table in the ACC and finding a way into the CFP conversation ended in Week 8 at Clemson. The Orange (6-1 SU and ATS) darted to a 21-7 lead by late in the second quarter.
However, 'Cuse didn't score again, giving up the final 20 points of the game in a 27-21 loss as a 14-point 'dog.
After an 0-2 SU start, Notre Dame has won four of its last five games. The Fighting Irish (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) had little trouble with UNLV in Week 8, winning 44-21 but failing to cover as hefty 25-point home faves.
Syracuse has already climbed to -3 at TwinSpires, where ticket count is almost 2/1 and money approaching 4/1 on the Orange.
"A mix of sharp and public play on 'Cuse. It's early, but it wouldn't surprise me if we'll be big Notre Dame fans," TwinSpires' Zachary Lucas said.
The total went to 46.5, then back to 46, with 52% of early bets/61% of early dollars on the Over.
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