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ESPN staff
The final weekend of October is here and the spookiest day of the year — Oct. 31, Nick Saban’s birthday — is looming. So let’s enjoy this fine day of college football. We’ll keep you updated on the news, highlights and what the outcome of each Top 25 game means.
Jump to: Top 25 games | Best of Week 9
Injury updates and latest news
Picks and gambling tips
2:17
Coming off a 3-6 Week 8, Scott Van Pelt looks to rebound in Week 9 of the college football season with his winners against the spread.
Top 25 games
In order of game time; lines courtesy Caesars Sportsbook
No. 9 Auburn at No. 2 LSU
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: CBS
Line: LSU -10.5
And our best line: Though Auburn already suffered a loss at Florida, it controls its College Football Playoff destiny with three games remaining against AP top-10 opponents. LSU entered the week with a 46% chance to reach the playoff, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, fifth-best of any school.
No. 6 Penn State at Michigan State
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ABC and ESPN App
Line: Penn State -5
And our best line: Penn State, which is 7-0 for the second time in three seasons, has struggled against Michigan State in coach James Franklin’s tenure, going just 1-4. On the other hand, the Nittany Lions are 22-1 against unranked opponents since 2017.
No. 15 Texas at TCU
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Fox
Line: Texas -1
And our best line: The Texas defense is giving up 469.9 yards per game this season (119th in FBS), which is on pace to be the most in a season in school history. Each of its five Power 5 opponents has gained 450 yards or more, with three topping the 500-yard mark.
Maryland at No. 17 Minnesota
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN and ESPN App
Line: Minnesota -16.5
And our best line: Minnesota is 7-0 for the first time since 1960 and trying to start 8-0 for the first time since its 1941 team went 8-0 and won the national championship.
Oklahoma State at No. 23 Iowa State
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Fox Sports 1
Line: Iowa State -10.5
And our best line: Iowa State, which has won a program-record five straight home games against Big 12 opponents, is seeking consecutive victories against Oklahoma State for the first time since 2000-01.
Arkansas at No. 1 Alabama
Time: 7 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN and ESPN App
Line: Alabama -31.5
And our best line: Alabama will be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and looking to set the SEC record for consecutive home victories (31). It will be the first time in 13 years as Crimson Tide head coach that Nick Saban will be without his top quarterback because of injury.
Boston College at No. 4 Clemson
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ACC Network and ESPN App
Line: Clemson -34
And our best line: How big of an underdog is Boston College? Only once in the past 40 years have the Eagles entered a game as a bigger point-spread underdog than they will be against Clemson.
No. 8 Notre Dame at No. 19 Michigan
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ABC and ESPN App
Line: Even
And our best line: Against Notre Dame, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will look to double his win total against AP top-10 teams since taking over at his alma mater. His current record in such games (1-10) is the same as Michigan fared in its previous 11 (under Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke) following Lloyd Carr’s retirement in 2007.
No. 24 Arizona State at UCLA
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Pac-12 Network
Line: Arizona State -3
And our best line: ESPN’s FPI and the Vegas sportsbooks disagree on who should be the favorite. FPI gives UCLA a 51% chance to win, while Arizona State settled in as the betting favorite.
California at No. 12 Utah
Time: 10 p.m. ET
How to watch: Fox Sports 1
Line: Utah -20.5
And our best line: Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley finally turned the ball over last week — he was the last Power 5 starting quarterback to commit a turnover this season — and is among the national leaders in QBR. He ranks No. 5 behind the four presumptive Heisman favorites: Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma), Justin Fields (Ohio State) and Joe Burrow (LSU).
Washington State at No. 11 Oregon
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN and ESPN App
Line: Oregon -14
And our best line: Oregon has all but wrapped up the Pac-12 North but has lost four straight in the series against Washington State. The Cougars have never beaten the Ducks five consecutive games.
What the results mean
No. 16 SMU 34, Houston 31
It wasn’t pretty, but the Mustangs got to 8-0 with a three-point win over Houston on Thursday. The passing attack wasn’t as sharp as it usually is but Xavier Jones dazzled with his running ability, showing both his agility and his sheer power. The fact that SMU was able to play less than its best, on the road on a short week and still come away with a win is a sign of how good they are, but they can’t afford to be flat with a road trip against a good Memphis team looming in Week 10. — Sam Khan Jr.
The best of the week
Just two Tigers in love
Outside of Tiger Stadium before today’s LSU game against Auburn, there was a real-live wedding right there on top of a party bus, with purple and gold rings and cake and people wanting the officiant to talk louder and all.
THEY JUST HAD A WEDDING Y’ALL. #ItMightMeanTooMuch pic.twitter.com/z6W2m1n8yg
— Connor O’Gara (@cjogara) October 26, 2019
Oh, you better believe it. pic.twitter.com/K52UVt0AN0
— Connor O’Gara (@cjogara) October 26, 2019
Don’t just stand there, bust a move
0:46
Miami defensive lineman Jalar Holley can’t help but dance after Miami goes up 10-3 against Pittsburgh.
One player’s inspirational quest
Well this is what I really call a party now
SMU’s turnover celebration is a full-on sideline party. We know because the sign indicates it is so.
Popping bottles on an elevated surface?
Yeah, this is a peak Dallas celebration. pic.twitter.com/Y0R2Vmd8kg
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 25, 2019
We believe the children are the future
Teach them well and let them lead the way toward the future of College GameDay.
0:30
Young South Dakota State fans create their own version of ESPN’s College GameDay to preview the upcoming football matchup against North Dakota State.