It’s Week 9 of the college football season, and while the temperatures are really starting to cool down across most of the nation, the action on the field is starting to heat up.
Ole Miss and Oklahoma square off in a top-15 battle in the SEC in the early window at noon ET, while it’s another top-15 battle in the SEC when Missouri and Vanderbilt meet at 3:30 p.m. ET. No, really. It does sound funny, but it’s true! In the late window at 7:30 p.m. ET, and stop me if you’ve heard this, two more ranked SEC teams face one another when Texas A&M travels to Death Valley to battle LSU. Those are the biggest highlights, and the SEC dominates the marquee games this weekend.
We’ll cobble together a handful of parlay possibilities and a teaser play, as we look to build our bankroll for the second half, the bowl season and the holidays. Let’s build our bankroll with our best college football parlays & picks.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Saturday’s Best College Football Parlays & Picks
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
The Wildcats (3-4) and Jayhawks (4-3) meet at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence for their annual Sunflower Showdown. K-State was won 16 straight meetings since 2009, while Kansas still leads the all-time series 64-53-5.
There was a time when this game was the only real chance at a win for either side. These teams were historically bad in the 1980’s, especially. Then, Bill Snyder arrived at K-State and turned it into a national power. Around the same time, Glen Mason was transforming the program in Lawrence. It’s been more of a roller coaster ride for KU over the years, getting good, then bad, then good, then really bad, to, well, respectable again.
One thing that I take seriously each week, particularly when looking at totals, is the weather forecast. If there is a good chance of rain showers, that will adversely affect the total in most games. If you toss in a good deal of wind, that’s even better. For Lawrence on Saturday, the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-50’s and rain chances around 70 percent, with winds at 8-10 MPH. The wind won’t be too much of a concern, but a steady shield of rain over the area could make for plenty of miscues. It also might mean more of a ground-based attack for both sides.
Kansas isn’t very good stopping the run, allowing 188.3 yards per game, which ranks 119th in the country. Both teams can run the ball pretty well. For K-State, RB Dylan Edwards (34-205-2) is out with an ankle injury, so that means more responsibilities will be heaped upon QB Avery Johnson and RB Joe Jackson (75-313-1).
We should get plenty of rushing offense, with the rains helping to tamp down the scoring. Finally, based on the recent series trends, you have to back the Wildcats, right?
Picks: Kansas State +3.5 (-118) & Under 56.5 Points (-110)
The Huskies (5-2) and the Owls (3-4) square off in Houston at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, and, yep, you guessed it, rain is in the forecast. We have a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms, so don’t be surprised to see a weather delay in this game. Everyone will be running for the car with them swangas down in H-Town. If you don’t know, Google it. I feel I am too old to know about this, but here we are.
These teams met in Connecticut last season, with the Huskies winning 17-10 as 6.5-point favorites as the Under (46.5) cashed. Prior to that, on Oct. 7, 2023 in Houston, UConn won 38-31 as a 10-point underdog as the Over (47.5) was smashed.
UConn is playing good football, and it hasn’t lost in regulation this season. Each of its two setbacks were in OT, at Syracuse (27-20 on Sept. 6) and at Delaware (44-41 on Sept. 13). It has won four in a row, including a 38-23 win at Boston College last Saturday as a 2.5-point favorite. The Over is 4-1 in the past five outings, too.
Despite all of that, UConn is 0-2 against the spread (ATS) as a favorite of 7.5 or more points this season vs. FBS opponents. UConn was 0-2-2 ATS as a favorite of 7.5 or more points last season vs. FBS opponents, too. The last time it covered such a number was as a 15.5-point favorite at UMass on Nov. 4, 2022 in a 28-10 win. It is 1-1-2 ATS on the road in four games, too.
Rice has dropped three in row after a 3-1 SU start. It has failed to cover the past two games, too. However, as a double-digit underdog this season, Rice is 2-1 ATS, including an outright win at Louisiana on Aug. 30 (14-12 as a 10-point ‘dog).
The Over is 4-2 in the past six games, and the Owls were dinged for 61 points in a loss at UTSA last time out on Oct. 11, which is likely why it is catching so many this week. Still, let’s back the Owls to get back on track, especially since Rice has had two full weeks to prepare. It likely will be champing at the bit to get back on there and wash the bad taste out of its mouth. We’ll go Over, too.
The Owls (4-3) stroll into Tulsa to battle the Golden Hurricane (2-5) in this American Conference matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Temple’s offense has been getting right lately, going for 24 or more points in four in a row, and six of seven games overall. It’s no surprise that the Over is 5-2 in that span, too. Temple have been cover kings, too, cashing in four in a row, while going 6-1 ATS this season.
Tulsa has lost three in a row, and while it did cover as a 16.5-point ‘dog at East Carolina last time out on Thursday, Oct. 16, it is still just 1-5 SU with a 2-4 ATS mark in that six-game span. The Under is 3-1 in the past four outings, but, again, the Over hit last week.
Based on the fact Temple is 6-1 ATS, and Tulsa is playing poorly, this is a rather easy call. Back the Owls.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (2-5) and Trojans (5-2) meet in a Sun Belt battle under the lights at 7 p.m. in Troy, Ala.
Louisiana won a high-scoring 51-30 battle in Lafayette in the most recent meeting last season on Nov. 23, 2024, cashing as a 7.5-point favorite as the Over (51.5) cashed. ULL has won three of the past five, and six of the past 10 meetings outright, while going 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The Over has hit in the past two installments, while going 3-1 in the past four in the series. The winner has gotten to 31 points or more in eight of the past 10 in the series, while the losing team has totaled 21 or more points in three of the past four meetings, and the losing team has 16 or more points in nine of the past 10 encounters.
Louisiana lost 22-10 at home to Southern Miss last time out, halting a modest two-game cover streak. The Over has a 3-2 edge in the past five games, with the Cajuns allowing at least 22 points in five in a row.
Troy has won and covered four in a row, with the Over going 3-0 in the span. Note, though, two of those games went Over with the aid of overtime, although the 48-41 victory at Texas State was likely headed Over regardless.
Despite Louisiana’s recent success in the series, Troy is a great play if you can get it before it goes to 10 or more points. And, let’s go with the Over, too.
Best Same-Game Parlay
Parlay Odds: +237
4-Leg Sides Parlay
Best 4-Leg Teaser (+9 Points)
- Leg 1: Troy -0.5
- Leg 2: Temple +3.5
- Leg 3: UConn-Rice Over 39.5 Points
- Leg 4: Under K-State-Kansas 65.5 Points
*Odds are too high, with such a minimal return, for each of these alternate wagers to bet them straight up. Include ONLY in a teaser.
Teaser Odds: +180
