Clemson fought adversity to beat Syracuse on Saturday – despite four turnovers and a two-touchdown deficit, the Tigers stormed back to win. D.J. Uiagalelei was sent to the bench after turning the ball over a third time, with Syracuse up 10, in favor of Cade Klubnik, who led the Tigers to scores on three of the next four drives, despite the fact that Klubnik only completed two passes. Now Clemson heads into the bye week with a perfect 8-0 record and with the ACC Atlantic title all but clinched. Is this a team that can win a national championship? If you look at the struggles that some of the other blue bloods in the sport have faced, then you see that this is definitely a year of parity, so the answer is in the affirmative, but nothing is certain. We have some solid online betting picks for your Week 9 action, though.
NCAA News: Sure Winners for Week 9
→ Thursday, October 27
Virginia Tech Hokies (+13.5) at #24 N.C. State Wolfpack
(7:30 pm ET, ESPN)
It’s worth noting that N.C. State will have Jack Chambers, a transfer from Charleston Southern, at quarterback in place of Devin Leary, who is done for the season. The Wolfpack did have the bye week to make offensive adjustments, though, and Virginia Tech has been 0-3 straight up and ATS on the road and has lost four in a row overall straight up. However, the Hokies have won five in a row in this series, with the last four wins coming by 11 or more points. N.C. State has not beaten Virginia Tech at home since 1991. I see N.C. State pulling off the win here – but by two touchdowns? Virginia Tech to cover.
→ Saturday, October 29
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3) at #16 Syracuse Orange
(12:00 pm ET, ABC)
We really don’t know which Notre Dame team will show up at Syracuse on Saturday. The line opened at Syracuse -3 ½ but has tightened since then, with the Irish getting action. This is the same Notre Dame that has lost at home to Marshall and Stanford – but also played Ohio State tough on the road and beaten BYU in Las Vegas. Syracuse had Clemson down by 14 on the road on Saturday before the Tigers mounted a comeback (helped, if we’re going to be honest, by a few horrendous officiating decisions). That was the Orange’s first loss of the season, but their offense was able to do a lot of damage against Clemson’s vaunted defense, and Syracuse also swiped four turnovers. I think the Orange bounce back and take care of business against a rebuilding Irish team. Syracuse to win and cover.
#1 Georgia Bulldogs (-22.5) vs Florida Gators
(3:30 pm ET, CBS, in Jacksonville)
The World’s Largest Cocktail Party is set for Saturday afternoon, and while this point spread seems a bit wide given the rivalry at stake, Georgia is 3-0 when favored to win by fewer than 30 points this season. Florida, though, is 2-0 against the spread when coming in as the underdog this season. Remember, this is a Georgia team that went to Missouri a month ago and almost lost, winning only by four points. Florida had the bye this week, so they have had time to incorporate their lessons from a 45-35 home loss to LSU two weeks ago. Florida to cover.
#9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (+1.5) at #22 Kansas State
(3:30 pm ET, FOX)
That comeback against Texas vaulted the Cowboys back into the top ten, but that didn’t keep the sportsbooks from listing Oklahoma State as the underdog despite sitting 13 spots in the poll above this week’s opponent. Kansas State has to deal with injuries to tailback Deuce Vaughn and quarterback Adrian Martinez. Can Spencer Sanders deliver on the road? I say yes, which would keep Oklahoma State lined up for a rematch with TCU in the Big 12 title game. Oklahoma State to cover.
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