Tuley’s Takes: Week 9 College Football Best Bets and Predictions:
Overall, we’ve been enjoying the college football season here in the Tuley’s Takes home office, but last weekend was a big dip in the roller-coaster ride. I went 0-3 ATS with my posted Best Bets here with Florida State +3 (lost 23-16 vs. Duke), Central Michigan +3.5 (lost 38-34 vs. Eastern Michigan) and Buffalo +1 (lost 48-41 vs. Western Michigan) to fall below .500 at 13-15 ATS on the season. Adding insult to injury were the two other underdogs I considered using (Wake Forest +2 at UConn and Wyoming +11.5 at San Jose State). Both covered. We’re past our mid-term exams and look to get back on the winning track with four (hopefully) live dogs this Saturday for our college football Week 9 best bets.BYU +2.5 at Central Florida
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ETThe BYU Cougars are undefeated at 7-0 this season and tied atop the Big 12 (that still feels weird to write as college realignment has me frustrated, but it’s not going away, so we deal with it) at 4-0 with Iowa State. This is a Big 12 conference game (I admit I had to check) with Central Florida (3-4, 1-3 in Big 12, and I keep thinking that the wrong team is favored. But I’ll gladly take the added points.) BYU QB Jake Retzlaff doesn’t put up the best stats (121-for-205, 1,644 yards, 16 TDs, seven INTs), but he comes through in the clutch and leads the team with 265 rushing yards and two more TDs. UCF almost upset Iowa State last week, and that’s probably why they’re favored here (in addition to being at home), but I’ll take the short road dog.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: BYU +2.5
Louisiana-Monroe +7 at South Alabama
Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ETRegular readers know UL-Monroe has been good to us and is pretty much the main reason we’re not faring worse in CFB. I’ve felt they’ve been underrated all season (and almost reluctant to spread the word except to my loyal readers). I passed on the Warhawks last week as they were 4.5-point favorites vs. Southern Miss (and easily covered in a 38-21 victory), but now they’re back as touchdown underdogs. UL-Monroe is a surprising 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt to be tied for the West Division lead, but faces its biggest challenge in the South Alabama offense led by QB Gio Lopez (1,466 yards, 13 TDs). ULM doesn’t have any superstars, but it has the better defense to keep them in the game to at least get the cover and have a balanced offense to give them a shot at another upset.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: Louisiana-Monroe +7
West Virginia +3 at Arizona
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ETHey, it’s another Big 12 rivalry game with West Virginia (3-4, 2-2) visiting Arizona (3-4, 1-2). OK, I’ll stop with the “old man shaking his fist at the clouds” act. Again, I’ll make the argument that Arizona is only favored because of “home-field advantage.” Neither team is strong on defense, with both allowing around 28 points per game, but I give the edge to West Virginia on offense with dual-threat QB Garrett Greene (1,352 yards passing, nine TDs, 471 rushing yards, three more TDs). Overall, the Mountaineers average 203.9 rushing yards per game, and that should be the difference in controlling this and pulling the minor upset.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: West Virginia +3
LSU +1 at Texas A&M
Saturday. 7:30 p.m. ETWe finally have a game with two good teams, with No. 8 LSU (6-1, 3-0 in SEC) visiting No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0). Continuing the theme here, I can’t stop thinking that the only reason A&M is favored is because of the home field. I know all about the “12th Man,” but I’m concentrating on the 11 on the field at a given time and siding with the red-hot LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (2,222 passing yards, 18 TDs) throwing to triple-headed WR corps of Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson and Mason Taylor. Texas A&M is a little stronger on defense (Aggies allow 17.7 points per game to 20.6 for LSU), but the LSU offense should prevail over the course of 60 minutes.
College Football Week 9 Best Bet: LSU +1
