College Football Week 9 Look-Ahead Lines: Boise State at UNLV, LSU at Texas A&M

As we approach Week 8, College Football Playoff odds sit on the edge of massive weekly movement. Teams like Boise State, Navy, and Ole Miss have potentially postseason-saving matchups in Week 9. For the remainder of the season, Playoff hopes live and die with each game. Let’s take a look at college football look-ahead lines for Week 9. Top games include No. 15 Boise State at UNLV, No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M, and No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 25 Navy.
Other games of interest include Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State, the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, and the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State. Let’s dive into the full slate of look-ahead lines for Week 9 of the college football season.
College Football Week 9 Look-Ahead Lines
Here are the best available opening odds across several betting apps.
No. 15 Boise State at UNLV, Friday (10:30 p.m., CBSSN)
The winner here takes poll position for a seat in the College Football Playoff. Boise State and Heisman trophy favorite Ashton Jeanty come into this game off a bye week, while UNLV visits Oregon State for another big game for the Rebels. Should Boise notch a victory here, the Broncos likely continue to climb the AP Top 25 ladder ahead of Nov. 5’s first CFP rankings release. A loss doesn’t entirely eliminate them from the running, but the American Athletic Conference winner (Tulane, Army, Navy) takes control of the CFP narrative.
Who would have thought this game would have such massive implications back in July?
- Opening odds: Boise State -2.5, O/U 59.5
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Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State, Saturday (12:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
Ohio State gets a week to collect themselves after a tough loss at Oregon before hosting Nebraska. The Cornhuskers visit undefeated Indiana in Week 8 in one of the weekend’s top games. That tilt in Bloomington could have pretty sizable impacts on this line, which also varies from +19.5 to +21.5, depending on the book. The Buckeyes lost a major piece to the offense, starting left tackle Josh Simmons, who is out for the season. Those looking to back Nebraska might want to get in early as the +21.5s might disappear given a competitive game this Saturday.
- Opening odds: Ohio State -19.5, O/U 46.5
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 25 Navy, Saturday (12:00 p.m., ABC or ESPN)
Speaking of “who would have thought,” we’re treated to a ranked matchup in Week 9 between Notre Dame and Navy. That is, barring a surprise performance from the Midshipmen (-17) in Week 8 at Charlotte. Notre Dame plays its first of two straight neutral-siters this weekend against Georgia Tech. This rivalry has been periodically closer than anticipated, sans last year’s 42-3 blowout by Notre Dame in Ireland. In 2022, Navy (+16) had ND on the ropes but lost, 35-32. Navy QB Blake Horvath leads the country in EPA per play heading into Week 8.
- Opening odds: Notre Dame -16, O/U 41.5
Find a full assessment of Notre Dame vs. Navy opening odds here.
Oklahoma at No. 18 Ole Miss, Saturday (12:00 p.m., ABC or ESPN)
Ole Miss won the only prior meeting between these two teams, a 27-25 victory in the 1999 Independence Bowl. Ole Miss looks to regroup after an emotional overtime loss at LSU in Week 7 on bye. Oklahoma hosts South Carolina in the first-ever matchup between those two teams. The Sooners were blown out, 34-3, by rival Texas in the Red River Rivalry and the offense is reeling. OU’s offense ranks 103rd in points per drive under QBs Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins. Hawkins started the last couple games in replacement for Arnold, who was benched.
Watch for updates surrounding the starter for this game. Hawkins gets the nod in Week 8 via a vote of confidence from Brent Venables. With just four games under his belt, it’s rumored Arnold could hit the transfer portal and redshirt this year.
- Opening odds: Ole Miss -14, O/U 48.5
No. 22 Illinois at No. 2 Oregon, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
The theme of Week 9 is games we didn’t expect to be any good, turning into intriguing matchups. This preseason, Lindy’s College Football Preview magazine graded the Week 9 slate with a C+, citing, “Here’s a week short on marquee matchups.” And yet, Illinois-Oregon is the fourth-ranked matchup on the weekend. Both teams play games this weekend that could drastically change the odds listed above.
No. 2 Oregon visits Purdue on a Friday night–a place that’s seen its fair share of nighttime upsets of top-three Big Ten foes–coming off its huge win over Ohio State. Illinois hosts Michigan off a bye week in a game with a razor-thin spread. Of all the games on the slate in this article, Illinois-Oregon could see the most movement, given Week 8’s results.
- Opening odds: Oregon -21.5, O/U 54.5
Florida State at No. 6 Miami (FL), Saturday (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
OK, now for a game moving the other way. What was expected to be an exciting rivalry matchup with heavy ACC implications has turned into a game with a disinteresting Florida State as two-plus touchdown underdogs against a strong Miami team. What could salvage this game is a surprise upset from FSU on Miami, who’s played a little close to the sun in its ACC games so far. The ‘Canes play at Louisville in Week 7, one of its toughest games on the regular season slate. Florida State, sitting at 1-5, comes off a bye to play Duke.
- Opening odds: Miami -17.5, O/U 51.5
Michigan State at No. 24 Michigan, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
Michigan State is 13-3 ATS against Michigan and 10-6 outright in the last 16 meetings. Both teams tee up tough Big Ten challenges in Week 8 – Michigan visits ranked Illinois while Michigan State hosts Iowa. The Spartans look to snap a three-game losing streak. Their power rating and market position dropped heavily, but bear in mind the last two losses came to Ohio State at Oregon. Even a loss at Iowa might not paint the picture of where this Michigan State team is at. Those looking to back the Spartans on the road may want to wait until Week 8 wraps up.
- Opening odds: Michigan -9.5, O/U 40.5
No. 3 Penn State at Wisconsin, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Penn State enters this game with a rest advantage. Following a 33-30 comeback win in overtime at USC, the Nittany Lions get a bye week. Wisconsin visits rival Northwestern in their shortest Big Ten trip. Penn State covered the last five games of this series, dating back to 2012. In their last two games, the Badgers seemingly perked up, beating Purdue and Rutgers a combined 94-13. QB Braedyn Locke stepped in for a hurt Tyler Van Dyke – a QB with much more experience in the system. Keep a close eye on the Week 8 game at Northwestern for a better gauge of where this team is at.
- Opening odds: Penn State -10.5, O/U 47.5
No. 19 Missouri at No. 7 Alabama, Saturday (TBA)
Missouri found themselves quickly falling down the AP Top 25 and power ratings following its blowout loss against Texas A&M. After regrouping at UMass, Mizzou takes on Auburn (coming off a bye) for homecoming. Alabama plays its rivalry game against Tennessee in Week 8. The Crimson Tide have a +4 total point margin against SEC foes, beating Georgia 41-34, losing to Vanderbilt 40-35, and beating South Carolina 27-25. Watch for this week at Tennessee–who’s only scoring 18.3 points against SEC foes–to be a solid measuring stick for Bama moving forward.
Also watch for Missouri to be in a prime letdown spot should Alabama play to an emotional result in Knoxville.
- Opening odds: Alabama -12, O/U 56.5
Kansas at No. 17 Kansas State, Saturday (TBA)
The Sunflower Showdown! Kansas State’s owned this series for a while, winning 15 straight over KU despite the Jayhawks putting together a couple of competitive teams the last couple of years. K-State visits West Virginia this weekend. The Wildcats have had trouble playing on the road the last few years, exemplified by a 38-7 loss at BYU earlier this year (despite a much closer statistical game than that). Each time they returned home, K-State managed to rebound (they beat Oklahoma State 42-20 after the BYY loss). Those looking to back K-State may want to also back West Virginia this week before coming back next week on the Wildcats.
Kansas has turned in one of the more disappointing outcomes in 2024. The offense stagnates, and the defense is nothing better than fine, leading KU to a 1-5 start. The Jayhawks host Houston in Week 8 – a team on the surface Kansas should beat, but recently replaced a QB and played better under the new starter.
- Opening odds: Kansas State -10.5, O/U 54.5
No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M, Saturday (TBA)
For the most part, this rivalry delivers entertaining results, the most of which being the 2018 74-72 shootout in College Station. Both teams play winnable games in Week 8, but games that could also be deemed trap games. LSU visits Arkansas for the Battle For The Golden Boot, while Texas A&M visits Mississippi State. Watch for this line to move depending on those results.
Given these two teams having two of the top home-field environments in college football, the road team has lost the last seven. LSU last won in College Station in 2016. Last year, A&M (+10) never trailed and knocked LSU out of CFP consideration despite coming into the game 4-7.
- Opening odds: Texas A&M -2.5, O/U 53.5
College Football Week 9 Look-Ahead Lines: Odds COmparison
As more college football look-ahead lines become available at sportsbooks, this odds comparison table will update.
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