College Football Odds Week 9: Opening lines and sharp money

College football odds for Week 9 are on the betting board and already getting action, most notably for the lone matchup featuring two ranked teams. No. 3 Ohio State hits the road for a key Big Ten contest against No. 17 Penn State.

Multiple oddsmakers provided insights on college football Week 8 opening lines, early line movement, sharp money and public betting for this week's matchups. Covers will update this action report with college football sharp picks vs. public bets and line movement throughout the week.

College football Week 9 odds

These are the current College football Week 9 odds for the premier games on the schedule, as of October 19. Click on each matchup in the table below to get updated in-depth information on the opening lines, sharp money, public betting and odds movement as we get closer to kickoff.

Michigan State at (14) Michigan odds

Opening line

Michigan -24.5, Over/Under 53.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. SATURDAY: Michigan is currently -22.5 after opening the week at -24.5 and getting as high as -25.5 at FanDuel. Michigan State is landing 57 percent of bets and 54 percent of money on the spread. The total moved from 53.5 to 54.5, but is now down to 51.5, although tickets are more than 4/1 and money 3/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Michigan is now down to -21.5 at PointsBet USA, after hitting -25.5 early in the week off the opening number of -23.5. Michigan State is attracting 53 percent of tickets and 72 percent of money on the spread.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Wolverines dipped to -23.5 after opening -26.5 at DraftKings, but are now at -24.5 in a very-much two-way-game. Ticket count is split 50/50, and the big 'dog Spartans are getting 52 percent of money.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Michigan is at -24.5 at PointsBet USA, after opening -23.5 Sunday and quickly getting to -25.5. Ticket count is almost dead even, and Michigan State is actually garnering 73 percent of money on the spread. PointsBet's Patrick Eichner said this is a Pros vs. Joes game, with the sharps on the Spartans. The total initially ticked up from 53.5 to 55, then fell to 52 by earlier this evening. Sixty-one percent of bets are on the Over, and 64 percent of dollars are on the Under.

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Michigan is a monster favorite on Halloween, and in fact, the first move on this line at FanDuel was to Wolverines -25.5. However, the line reverted back to the opener of -24.5 Monday afternoon on two-way action, with 53 percent of bets on Michigan and 51 percent of money on Michigan State. The total is up to 54.5 Monday evening, with practically all the early tickets and 83 percent of early money on the Over.

(16) Kansas State at West Virginia odds

Opening line

West Virginia -3.5, Over/Under 50.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 10 A.M. ET SATURDAY: West Virginia dialed down a notch from -5.5 to -5 this morning at PointsBet USA, with a modest change overnight in some intriguing splits. Sixty-seven percent of bets are the visiting Wildcats, 61 percent of spread money is on the Mountaineers.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: West Virginia is up to -5.5 from an opener of -3 at PointsBetUSA, and on rather interesting betting splits: 65 percent of tickets are on the underdog Wildcats, but 61 percent of money is on the favored Mountaineers.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Mountaineers moved from -2.5 to -4 by Wednesday at FanDuel and are now at -3.5, but the Wildcats are drawing the bulk of early action. Kansas State is taking 61 percent of tickets and 70 percent of handle. The total plunged from 51.5 to 45.5 before ticking up to 45, with 61 percent of money on the Under, although ticket count is 9/1 on the Over.

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The Mountaineers remain -3.5 at FanDuel on Monday night, but the betting splits are wildly in favor of the Wildcats, as early tickets and money are both in the 9/1 range on Kansas State. The total is already down 2 points to 48.5 Monday night, with 55 percent of early bets on the Over, but more than 90 percent of early money on the Under.

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Boston College at (1) Clemson Odds

Opening line

Clemson -31.5, Over/Under 60.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Clemson went from -31.5 to -27.5 before this game was pulled off the board Thursday night on the Trevor Lawrence COVID news. The line went back up Friday at Clemson -23.5 and is now up to -26.5, but there's two-way action leaning toward Boston College, which is taking 53 percent of bets and 52 percent of money. The total opened at 59.5 and reached 61.5, fell to 58.5, came off the board and went back up at 56.5 and is now 57.5. Tickets and money are both about 4/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Clemson was at -29 when PointsBet USA took this game off the board Thursday night on the news of Trevor Lawrence's positive COVID-19 test. The line went back up Friday morning at Tigers -24 and is now -25, with 56 percent of tickets on Clemson, but 58 percent of money on Boston College.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The SuperBook reposted the line this morning at Clemson -24, following Thursday night's news that quarterback Trevor Lawrence was out after a positive COVID-19 test. The amended spread was a touchdown lower than where it was Thursday afternoon, though the first move was up to -24.5 before reverting to -24. The total reopened at 56.5, down from 61.5, but it was promptly bet up to 59. "We have taken some sharp action on the Over," SuperBook manager/oddsmaker Eric Osterman said, adding that prior to the Lawrence news breaking, there was some sharp action on Boston College +31 and +30.5, moving the line to +29.5. But Osterman said he doesn't think those bettors were aware of the coming Lawrence news.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Clemson announced Thursday night that star quarterback Trevor Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation, and he will not play Saturday. That prompted DraftKings and many other books to take Boston College-Clemson off the board. Some books have begun re-opening this game, with the spread in the Clemon -23 to -24 range. Prior to that news, Clemson was a 31.5-point favorite, down a point from the opener, with ticket count more than 4/1 and money 3/1 on the Tigers.

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Another game, another massive spread for Clemson, and the line hasn't moved at all as of Monday night. The Tigers are taking 59 percent of tickets/79 percent of money, but that money is apparently so light that it's not yet moving the number. The total is up to 61.5, with practically every ticket and dollar on the Over.

(3) Ohio State at (17) Penn State odds

Opening line

Ohio State -10.5, Over/Under TBA

Why the line moved

UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET SATURDAY: With kickoff looming in Happy Valley, Ohio State is down to -10.5 at BetMGM Nevada, after opening -13 Monday, but the movement doesn't reflect the liability. Ticket count is 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Buckeyes, who are also on everything else – parlays/moneyline parlays/teasers. BetMGM's Jeff Stoneback said there's not even much interest in taking a flier on Penn State moneyline.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Ohio State shot from -9.5 to -13 at PointsBet USA, but that line reeled back in to -10.5 by Friday night, even though ticket count and money are both still running about 4/1 on the Buckeyes.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Buckeyes fell from -13.5 to -11.5 early and are now -12 at DraftKings, attracting 85 percent of tickets and 89 percent of money on the spread. The initial moves on this total were down, from 62.5 to 59.5, before the number sprinted to 64.5, and it's now 64. Tickets and money are both running nearly 9/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: PointsBet USA opened Ohio State -9.5 on Sunday afternoon and sprinted to -13.5 by Monday afternoon. The line then receded to -11.5 before going to -12 Wednesday morning. And it's almost all Buckeyes, with 89 percent of spread tickets and 88 percent of spread money on Ohio State. "This will be one of our bigger results of the week, with heavy action on Ohio State coming off a big win over Nebraska, and Penn State losing a close one to Indiana," PointsBet's Patrick Eichner said. The total opened at 61.5, peaked at 64.5 and ticked back to 63.5, and the Under is certainly getting a look as it draws 66 percent of dollars bet, while 61 percent of tickets are on the Over.

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This is the game of the week on an otherwise very nondescript schedule, and Ohio State is getting all the early attention. Penn State's 36-35 upset loss as 7-point chalk at Indiana probably has plenty to do with that, as both teams head into Week 2 of Big Ten play. The Buckeyes are already up to -12.5, landing 92 percent of bets and 97 percent of cash on the spread.

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Memphis vs (7) Cincinnati Odds

Opening line

Cincinnati -6.5, Over/Under 60.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Cincinnati spent much of the week at -6.5 at FanDuel, with a 4/1 ticket count and 3/1 money ratio on the Bearcats. The total opened at 60.5 and tumbled to 55.5, but it's now 57.5, with tickets and money more than 4/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: At PointsBet USA, Cincinnati moved from -6 to -7, then to -6.5, with tickets and money both running almost 4/1 on the Bearcats.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Bearcats moved from -5.5 to -7, then receded a tick to -6.5 today at DraftKings. However, practically all the tickets and money are on the home chalk so far. The total is down to 55.5 from 60.5 on some intriguing splits, with 90 percent of bets on the Over, but 84 percent of money on the Under.

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Through Monday night, this line is pinned at Cincinnati -6.5, despite point-spread tickets and money running more than 9/1 on the Bearcats. That would seem to indicate pretty light action at FanDuel thus far. The total dropped in a big hurry Monday, from 60.5 to 55.5 before rebounding to 56.5, with 60 percent of bets on the Over, but 69 percent of money on the Under.

Texas at (6) Oklahoma State odds

Opening line

Oklahoma State -2.5, Over/Under 57.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: "Good two-way action on both teams from the public," SuperBook manager/oddsmaker Eric Osterman said, noting the line stuck at Cowboys -3.5 pretty much all week. "We need Oklahoma State for a small decision."

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Oklahoma State opened -2.5 at DraftKings and spent most of the week at -3.5, which is where the line is now. Seventy percent of tickets are on the unbeaten Cowboys, but the Longhorns are taking 53 percent of the money in a good two-way game. The total moved from 57.5 to 59, then to 58, and much like the total, there's two way play: 73 percent of bets are on the Over, but the money percentage is just 53/47 in favor of the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: PointsBet USA has been on Oklahoma State -3.5 most of the week, and as of late Friday night, the Cowboys are getting 53 percent of tickets, but Texas is taking 71 percent of money.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: DraftKings opened Oklahoma State -2.5 and got to -3.5 before going back to -3 in another game with interesting splits: 65 percent of tickets are on the Cowboys, but 77 percent of dollars are on the Longhorns.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The Cowboys opened -3.5, dipped to -3 and moved up to -4 before returning to the opener by Monday night, and the line remains -3.5 on two-way action at PointsBet USA. Oklahoma State is getting 53 percent of tickets, whle Texas is landing 58 percent of money. The total is up to 58.5 from 57.5 on interesting betting splits, with 71 percent of tickets on the Over and 59 percent of money on the Under.

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Oklahoma State looks to stay unbeaten, and early action at FanDuel leans toward the Cowboys, who are up to -3.5 and attracting 67 percent of bets and 56 percent of money on the spread. The total is up a point to 58.5, with nearly every ticket and dollar on the Over through Monday night. 

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Central Florida at Houston odds

Opening line

Houston +3.5, Over/Under 77.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 1:15 P.M. ET SATURDAY: DraftKings opened Central Florida -3.5 and dipped to -2.5, then returned to -3.5 before moving to -3 minutes ago. Make no mistake, though, it's all Central Florida, with tickets and money in the 9/1 range. The total went from 78.5 to 82.5, then dialed back to 81.5, with the Under actually getting the bulk of play, at 65 percent of bets and 56 percent of money.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Central Florida moved from -3.5 to -2.5 quickly and has stuck there all week at FanDuel. Despite the early line drop, it's all Knights here, with tickets more than 8/1 and money almost 9/1 on UCF. The more interesting element of this game, however, is the massive total, which opened at 77.5 and is up to 82.5. Ticket count is almost dead even, and money is running 2/1 on the Over.

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FanDuel opened Central Florida -3.5 on the road and is down to -2.5, though ticket count and dollars bet are running about 8/1 on the Knights. The first move on the total was down a point to 76.5, but it's now up to 78.5, with tickets and money in the 9/1 range on the Over.

LSU at Auburn odds

Opening line

Auburn +2.5, Over/Under 62.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: As kickoff approaches, this game is down to a pick 'em at The SuperBook, thanks to some sharp play on Auburn starting at +2.5. "The public is playing LSU at pick. We need Auburn to cover +3 or better for a pretty big decision," SuperBook manager/oddsmaker Eric Osterman said.

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: LSU opened -2.5 and stretched to -4 at DraftKings by midweek, but the line jumped the fence to Auburn -1 by this morning and the game is now pick. In this tale of two Tigers, the Bayou Bengals are the public side, getting 70 percent of bets/72 percent of money on the spread. The total jumped from 62.5 to 66, then dialed down to 63.5 on two-way action, with 53 percent of tickets on the Over and 56 percent of money on the Under.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Auburn opened -1, the line flipped to LSU -3 and is now LSU -1.5. Tickets are running 2/1 on the Bayou Bengals, but Auburn is garnering 63 percent of money on the spread.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Auburn opened -1 at PointsBet USA, the line immediately jumped the fence to LSU -1 and is now Tigers -3. But the betting splits don't quite reflect that: Tickets are running 2/1 on LSU, but money is nearly 4/1 on Auburn. The total opened at 62.5 and initially dropped to 61.5, but then reached 66 just in the past hour and is now 65. Ticket count is 2/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.

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Perhaps surprisingly, neither defending national champion LSU nor Auburn are ranked heading into this SEC clash. LSU ticked up to -3.5 a couple of times Monday at FanDuel, but the line is back at the opener of -2.5 Monday night, despite a ticket count of 4/1 and nearly all the money on the Tigers. The total is up a point to 63.5, but FanDuel didn't have early betting splits.

Mississippi State at (2) Alabama odds

Opening line

Alabama -31.5, Over/Under 62.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Mississippi State is getting a little sharp play at BetMGM Nevada, and in fact, a professional bet just moved the Bulldogs from +30 to +29.5. But overall, there's not much of a decision on this game, with point-spread tickets and money running about even. Even parlay play is fairly close, with a little more on Alabama.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Alabama moved from -32 to -31 at PointsBet USA, but the Crimson Tide are still drawing 63 percent of bets/74 percent of money.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Crimson Tide receded from -32.5 to -31 at DraftKings, although Alabama is landing 90 percent of bets and 70 percent of money on the spread. The total is up to 64 from 62.5, as the Over gets hammered with 94 percent of tickets and money.

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The second-ranked Crimson Tide initially moved to -32.5 at FanDuel, but are down to -30.5 Monday night. Point-spread ticket count is almost dead even, although 73 percent of early money is on Alabama. The total is up two points to 64.5, with early tickets more than 8/1 and early money more than 9/1 on the Over.

(5) Georgia at Kentucky odds

Opening line

Kentucky -15.5, Over/Under 44.5

Why the line moved

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Georgia is -17 at PointsBet USA, up from the opener of -15.5, with tickets running about 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Bulldogs. The total moved from 45 to 42.5 to 43, although 78 percent of bets/71 percent of money are on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Georgia is out to -17 from an opener of -15.5 at PointsBet USA, with the ticket count more than 3/1 and money more than 4/1 on the Bulldogs.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Georgia initially fell from -15.5 to -14.5 at DraftKings, but the Bulldogs are now up to -17. Seventy-five percent of tickets and 88 percent of dollars bet are on Georgia. The total dropped from 44.5 to 42.5 on some interesting splits, with 88 percent of bets on the Over and 57 percent of money on the Under.

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This line bounced around a bit early at FanDuel, dipping to Georgia -13.5 and back to the opener of -15.5, before settling at -14.5. The total is down two points to 42.5. FanDuel didn't have betting splits available Monday night..

Where can I bet on college football?

Whether it’s in Las Vegas or online, every sportsbook under the sun offers college football point spreads, plus a cornucopia of other NCAA odds. College football lines tend to be posted shortly after the previous week's schedule is completed, so check out the college football odds at the best sportsbooks available where you live.

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