When it’s Michigan-Michigan State week, sometimes you can forget that there’s still dozens and dozens of other college football games taking place.
Week 9 of the season includes some other high-profile rivalry games and three battles between ranked teams.
Can Michigan sports bettors rely on our weekly experts for success this weekend?
Time will tell.
ESPN’s SVP, Stanford Steve & The Bear
ESPN’s trio of Scott Van Pelt, Stanford Steve and The Bear struggled in Week 7, but were the most reliable pickers once again in Week 8.
The Bear put together another 3-0 week, while SVP was a solid 6-3. Stanford Steve was 3-2, but most bettors will take that on an average week.
Each of the three are staying away from the big Michigan-MSU rivalry game this week, but still trying to provide a winning week.
SVP (4-6-1)
- West Virginia +7.5 vs. TCU (Loss)
- Iowa State +1 vs. Oklahoma (Loss)
- Notre Dame +2.5 at Syracuse (Win)
- Virginia +2 vs. Miami (Push)
- California +17 vs. Oregon (Loss)
- Louisville +4 vs. Wake Forest (Win)
- Missouri +3.5 at South Carolina (Win)
- Kentucky +12 at Tennessee (Loss)
- Arizona +16.5 vs. USC (Win)
- Texas A&M +2 vs. Ole Miss (Loss)
- Pittsburgh +3 at North Carolina (Loss)
The Bear (4-2)
- Ohio State -15.5 at Penn State (Loss)
- Missouri +4 at South Carolina (Win)
- Texas A&M +2 vs. Ole Miss (Loss)
- Oklahoma -1 at Iowa State (Win)
- Middle Tennessee +2.5 at UTEP (Win)
- Coastal Carolina +2.5 at Marshall (Win)
Stanford Steve (1-2)
- BYU -3 vs. East Carolina (Loss)
- Eastern Michigan +6.5 vs. Toledo (Win)
- Pittsburgh +3 at North Carolina (Loss)
Barstool college football expert picks
After a strong Week 7 for Dave Portnoy, he responded with a Week 8 right around .500 (8-9).
That keeps him with a winning record on the season at 75-70-3.
After a really rough start to the season, Big Cat has found himself a winner in about the smallest margin possible. He is 161-160-7 on the season.
Rico can’t seem to tap into the same success, sitting at 53-67-1 on the year. For what it’s worth, Rico likes Michigan State with the points against Michigan.
Portnoy sees it a little differently, and is taking a big swing in Week 9 with 21 picks.
Portnoy (9-12)
- N.C. State -13.5 vs. Virginia Tech (Loss)
- Washington State +7.5 vs. Utah (Win)
- TCU vs. West Virginia Over 69 (Win)
- West Virginia +7.5 vs. TCU (Lock of the Week) (Loss)
- Penn State +15.5 vs. Ohio State (Win)
- Iowa State +1 vs. Oklahoma (Loss)
- Oklahoma vs. Iowa State Over 56 (Loss)
- Florida +22.5 vs. Georgia (Win)
- Florida vs. Georgia Over 56.5 (Win)
- Nebraska +7.5 vs. Illinois (Loss)
- Louisville +4 vs. Wake Forest (Win)
- Wake Forest vs. Louisville Over 62.5 (Win)
- Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State Over 56.5 (Loss)
- South Carolina -3.5 vs. Missouri (Loss)
- Kentucky +12.5 at Tennessee (Loss)
- Arizona +15.5 vs. USC (Win)
- Texas Tech -2.5 vs. Baylor (Loss)
- Baylor vs. Texas Tech Over 62.5 (Loss)
- Colorado +13.5 vs. Arizona State (Win)
- Michigan -23 vs. Michigan State (Loss)
- Michigan State vs. Michigan Over 55 (Loss)
Big Cat’s Lock of the Week
UAB -5 at Florida Atlantic (Loss)
Rico’s Lock of the Week
Baylor vs. Texas Tech Over 62.5 (Loss)
Cash The Ticket college football picks
The hot streak for Jim Costa didn’t last in Week 8.
A 5-2 record in Week 7 turned to a 2-4 record last week for the Cash The Ticket Podcast co-host.
Mike Valenti continued his trend of hovering around the .500 mark by going 4-3 last week.
Costa likes the Wolverines as his “Costa Lock” for Week 9. For MSU fans, his “Costa Lock” has failed in its two prior appearances.
He even talked Valenti into the bet this week, despite Valenti being a MSU alum
Valenti (5-5)
- Washington State +7 vs. Utah (Win)
- Kentucky +12.5 vs. Tennessee (Loss)
- Kansas State -1 vs. Oklahoma State (Win)
- Notre Dame +2.5 vs. Syracuse (Win)
- Missouri +4.5 at South Carolina (Win)
- West Virginia +7.5 vs. TCU (Loss)
- Tulsa +2.5 vs. SMU (Loss)
- Texas A&M +2.5 vs. Ole Miss (Loss)
- UCF even vs. Cincinnati (Win)
- Michigan -22.5 vs. Michigan State (Loss)
Costa (4-4)
- Washington State +7 vs. Utah (Win)
- Kentucky +12.5 vs. Tennessee (Loss)
- West Virginia +7.5 vs. TCU (L0ss)
- Penn State +15.5 vs. Ohio State (Win)
- Notre Dame +2.5 vs. Syracuse (Win)
- Baylor +3 at Texas Tech (Win)
- Cincinnati even vs. UCF (Loss)
- Michigan -22.5 vs. Michigan State (Costa Lock) (Loss)
College Football Week 9 lines at Michigan sportsbooks
Some of these picks are made early in the week and may have had the lines change. Be sure to get your best value when looking at college football odds. Here’s what’s available at Michigan’s top sportsbooks for each game this weekend.