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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
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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. 13 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State
Time: Noon ET
How to watch: Fox
Line: Ohio State -14.5
And our best line: This game features two of the top seven Heisman candidates, according to Caesars Sportsbook odds. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is at 7-1 (fourth-best odds), and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor sits at 50-1 (tied with Chuba Hubbard for sixth-best).
No. 5 Oklahoma at Kansas State
Time: Noon ET
How to watch: ABC and ESPN App
Line: Oklahoma -23.5
And our best line: Oklahoma, which hasn’t lost at Kansas State since 1996, is the only team in college football that has gained at least 500 yards in more than three consecutive regular-season games. The Sooners’ streak is at 16.
No. 20 Iowa at Northwestern
Time: Noon ET
How to watch: ESPN2 and ESPN App
Line: Iowa -9.5
And our best line: Iowa is 16-4 in its past 20 games against unranked opponents; however, half of those losses came against Northwestern, which is off to an 0-4 start in conference play for the first time since 2013.
No. 21 Appalachian State at South Alabama
Time: Noon ET
How to watch: ESPNU and ESPN App
Line: Appalachian State -27.5
And our best line: Appalachian State looks to hold three consecutive opponents to seven points or fewer for the first time since joining FBS in 2014. The Mountaineers would join Oregon and Arizona State as the only teams to do so in three straight games this season.
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.
The best of the week
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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.
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