No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 18 Iowa, 3:30PM ABC
After narrowly escaping Northwestern last Saturday, the Spartans once again hit the road this week to take on a Big Ten opponent looking to play spoiler. Given that they don’t have to play Ohio State this year, this will likely be Michigan State’s last big challenge in the conference. If they can beat the Hawkeyes, the Spartans have very winnable games against Minnesota and Purdue at home, as well as at Penn State in late November to wrap up the season. If MSU can get through Iowa, then the sky’s the limit.
CURRENT ODDS: IOWA –6.5
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 14 Nebraska, 3:30PM ET ABC
In beating long-time nemesis Oklahoma last week, the Tigers proved to the rest of the college football world that they’re for real. Of course, things don’t get any easier for them this week as they travel to Lincoln to take on a Nebraska team that rebounded from its loss to Texas two weeks ago with a win over Oklahoma State. Missouri has lost 15 in a row on the road against AP Top 25 teams, but they’ve won four of seven over the Huskers since losing 24 straight earlier in the series. A big road win would further cement the Tigers’ place in the top-10.
CURRENT ODDS: NEBRASKA –7.5
No. 1 Auburn vs. Ole Miss, 6:00PM ET ESPN2
Dear, Barbara – how good is Cam Newton? Auburn’s Heisman Trophy candidate rushed for a career-high 217 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 win over LSU last Saturday. Those 217 yards gave him 1,077 for the year, which is the most in a single-season by a quarterback in SEC history. He and the Tigers have a tough task ahead of them this Saturday, as they look to avoid the fate that Ohio State and Oklahoma (previous No. 1-ranked teams) succumbed to in previous weeks. Auburn has the nation’s 10th-ranked offense and shouldn’t have a problem moving the ball against the SEC’s 10th-ranked defense. The Rebels have split their last six games against top 10 opponents, while the Tigers had won seven straight road games against Ole Miss before losing 17-7 in 2008.
CURRENT ODDS: AUBURN –7
No. 2 Oregon vs. USC, 8:00PM ET ABC
While No. 1 in the AP Top 25 polls, the Ducks are currently No. 2 behind Auburn in the BCS Standings, which is further proof how screwed up college football is when it comes to its rankings. The last time these two teams met Oregon handed USC a 47-20 loss, which was the Trojans’ worst defeat since 1997. That victory catapulted the Ducks to a Pac-10 championship, ending the Trojans’ seven-year title run. This year, it’ll be USC’s turn to play the role of spoiler, as Oregon continues to make its claim to play in the national title game. Opponents that have tried to get into a shootout with Oregon this season have suffered a miserable fate, but with Matt Barkley under center, USC certainly has the tools to go toe-to-toe with the Ducks’ high-powered offense. This should be one of the most entertaining games of the season.
CURRENT ODDS: OREGON –6.5
2010 College Football Week 9 Opening Odds:
103 Florida State -3
104 N.C. State +3
105 West Virginia -7
106 Connecticut +7
107 Syracuse N/A
108 Cincinnati N/A
109 UAB +9.5
110 Southern Miss -9.5
111 Purdue +16
112 Illinois -16
113 Miami -14.5
114 Virginia +14.5
115 Louisville +10.5
116 Pittsburgh -10.5
117 Michigan State +6.5
118 Iowa -6.5
119 Northwestern -3
120 Indiana +3
121 Clemson -7
122 Boston College +7
123 Wake Forest +4.5
124 Maryland -4.5
125 Northern Illinois -9.5
126 Western Michigan +9.5
127 Tennessee +17
128 South Carolina -17
129 Vanderbilt +21.5
130 Arkansas -21.5
131 Kentucky +7
132 Mississippi State -7
133 Auburn -7
134 Mississippi +7
135 Baylor +7.5
136 Texas -7.5
137 Kansas N/A
138 Iowa State N/A
139 Akron +27.5
140 Temple -27.5
141 Ball State +10
142 Kent State -10
143 San Diego State -10
144 Wyoming +10
145 Tulsa +8.5
146 Notre Dame -8.5
147 UTEP +3.5
148 Marshall -3.5
149 SMU -7.5
150 Tulane +7.5
151 Bowling Green +11.5
152 Central Michigan -11.5
153 Stanford -7.5
154 Washington +7.5
155 Florida (N) +3
156 Georgia (N) -3
157 East Carolina +7.5
158 Central Florida -7.5
159 Arizona -9.5
160 UCLA +9.5
161 Oklahoma State -6
162 Kansas State +6
163 Missouri +7
164 Nebraska -7
165 Colorado +24
166 Oklahoma -24
167 Miami Ohio -2.5
168 Buffalo +2.5
169 Texas Tech +5
170 Texas A&M -5
171 Duke +14
172 Navy -14
173 Toledo -11
174 Eastern Michigan +11
175 Utah State +25.5
176 Nevada -25.5
177 San Jose State -3
178 New Mexico State +3
179 New Mexico +16
180 Colorado State -16
181 California +3
182 Oregon State -3
183 Washington State +21
184 Arizona State -21
185 Houston -13.5
186 Memphis +13.5
187 Utah -7
188 Air Force +7
189 Ohio State -25
190 Minnesota +25
191 Michigan -1.5
192 Penn State +1.5
193 Oregon -7
194 USC +7
195 TCU -35
196 UNLV +35
197 Idaho +14
198 Hawaii -14
199 Louisiana-Lafayette +14
200 Ohio -14
201 North Texas +3.5
202 Western Kentucky -3.5
203 Troy -14.5
204 Louisiana-Monroe +14.5
205 Florida International -6.5
206 Florida Atlantic +6.5
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