College Football Week 9 Underdogs


November 5, 2009 | Posted By Larry Cook

Lawrence Prezman is one of the expert football handicappers we have taken on board this site to help our readers win. Take a look at four sizeable underdogs he likes this weekend, but if you are really waiting to profit, sign up forthe top plays he has for sale on the premium side.

Vanderbilt (+35) at Florida:
Florida is already in the SEC title game and this is their last SEC home contest. It comes after the huge rivalry game with Georgia. And the sole remaining test on UF’s schedule comes next week at the Gamecocks. Also, star linebacker Brandon Spikes, as you likely know by now, is suspended for the first half of this game after eye-raking a Bulldog player purposely last weekend. And how can UF not be overconfident here? They have won 18 in a row in the series, while the Commodores have lost five games in a row this year. Still, they did find some offense for once last week against a strong Georgia Tech team. Senior Mackenzi Adams starts at quarterback for Vandy. He was 12-of-22 for 152 yards Saturday in relief of Larry Smith, who came up injured at the end of a 35-yard run.

San Diego State (+24.5) vs. Texas Christian:
There is only one contest left on TCU’s docket keeping the Frogs from their first BCS bowl, and that’s next week against Utah. Therefore, performing in serene San Diego might have TCU’s squad a little unfocused on the task at hand. SDSU is not a horrible team and is 3-1 at home, with the sole loss to Brigham Young. The previous two times TCU played in San Diego, it was fortuitous to win: The Frogs were drawn at 13 going into the final quarter in 2005 and won 23-20 and in 2007 they were down 17-0 in the first quarter before working a sizeable rally for a 45-33 win.

Central Florida (+36.5) at Texas:
The Horns follow a three-week stretch of Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and now a throw in comes to Austin. But I would caution you that Central Florida is a respectable squad – its only defeats coming to Southern Miss, East Carolina and Miami, all probable bowl teams. Two years ago in Orlando, Texas only won by a field goal. The Golden Knights boast the nation’s seventh-best rush defense at 87.8 yards per game and are sixth with 3.3 sacks a contest. They stay within 28.

Washington State (+32.5) at Arizona:
The Cougars were my only winner last week, so I am sticking with them again. This sets up perfectly as an Arizona disappointment. The Wildcats have their highest ranking in nine years and will be playing their third consecutive home game but then hit the tough patch of their docket after this week: at Cal, vs. Oregon, at Arizona State, at USC. Washington State has lost three in a row in the series and lost by 31 at home last year. If the Cougars can just stay close in the first quarter, they will cover here: The Cougars have been outscored in that quarter 121-3.

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