Josh Pate Best Bets: Week 9 College Football Picks, Predictions

On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, college football analyst Josh Pate provides his picks aboard the Ramen Noodle Express for the coming weekend, offering a preview for Week 9. He dished out first first pick, an SEC game, on Sunday night.

Pate made that pick to end Sunday’s episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show. That’s coming off the segment’s worst week of the year so far from Week 8’s picks.

“I’m going to put the Ramen Noodle Express where my mouth is. By the way, Ramen Noodle Express sucked yesterday. We were, yesterday, 4-7 – our worst day of the season,” said Pate. “But, we had winning weeks the last two weeks, so we’re still above .500. We still have a winning year, but we need to roll this week.”

With that, here are the picks for Pate in Week 9. They will be updated throughout the week.

Arkansas (+1.5) against Auburn

Pate instantly selected Arkansas (2-5, 0-3) to win outright, let alone cover the opening spread of +1.5 for the Razorbacks, against Auburn (3-4, 0-4) in Fayetteville on Saturday. He’d even take the ‘Hogs if they were favored here, as he doesn’t see how this sets up well at all for the Tigers come kickoff next weekend.

Josh Pate: “Here’s where we’re going to start. As of now – and I expect it to change – Arkansas is +1.5 at home against Auburn. Arkansas will beat Auburn on Saturday, so I’m taking any points you give me,” said Pate. “Frankly, I would lay points with Arkansas. This is Bobby Petrino’s game. This is not Hugh Freeze’s game. This is an 11 a.m. kickoff for the Auburn Tigers in Northwest Arkansas. It couldn’t be set up any worse. Give me Arkansas +1.5. Give me Arkansas moneyline.”

Appalachian State (+14.5) at Old Dominion

This game features a pretty large spread, with Appalachian State more than a two-touchdown underdog. The team is coming off a recent loss to Coastal in a 45-37 shootout. Meanwhile, Old Dominion enters on the heels of a two-game losing skid. Someone’s going to get right.

Josh Pate: “We are adding these two games: Appalachian State +14.5. They are playing Old Dominion.”

California (+4.5) at Virginia Tech

California started the year off hot but has lost two of its last four games. It narrowly beat North Carolina last weekend, and it will look to carry that momentum across to the east coast for a Friday night game. Virginia Tech has lost two straight with an interim coaching staff after Brent Pry was fired earlier this year.

Josh Pate: “And we’re adding Cal +4.5. Cal’s flying across country to play at Virginia Tech. We do not like Virginia Tech laying this many points right now. I think that’s a Friday night game in Blacksburg. We’re going to take Cal +4.5.”

UCLA (+25.5) at Indiana

UCLA has won its last three games, but travel to Bloomington to take on the No. 2 Hoosiers who are looking to remain undefeated. Pate believes the Bruins are playing too well at the moment not to cover the spread.

Josh Pate: “I think UCLA is getting too much. +25.5 (is) too much. I think that should be more around 22 or 21, so I’m going to take UCLA plus the points.”

Texas A&M (-2.5) at LSU

The Aggies travel to Death Valley to take on LSU — and Texas A&M is favored to win. Pate predicts Texas A&M to cover, which would mean an 8-0 start for Mike Elko’s squad in year two.

Josh Pate: “I’ve talked about this game all week. I feel good about Texas A&M, so I’m laying 2.5 with A&M at LSU.”

North Carolina (+10.5) vs. Virginia

Pate hasn’t completely given up on Bill Belichick and Co. He’s picking the Tar Heels to cover against Virginia on Saturday. North Carolina took California to the wire last week before ultimately falling 21-18.

Josh Pate: “I’m going to do something I told my Meemaw I would never do. I am going to bet money on Bill Belichick in college,” Pate said with a laugh. “North Carolina is a train wreck. That entire organization is a joke among college athletics. And, yet, we are betting numbers. We are not betting people.”

Illinois (+3.5) at Washington

Pate is extremely confident in the Fighting Illini this weekend. Illinois will be hungry for a victory after suffering a 34-16 loss to Ohio State in its last outing. With Washington coming off a loss against Michigan, Illinois could pounce on the Huskies.

Josh Pate: “The model loves Illinois. We have Illinois winning the game outright,” Pate said. “You know what? We’re adding it.”

Iowa State (-2.5) vs. BYU

Although Iowa State has lost its last two game, it’s favored by 2.5 points to defeat BYU. Pate is rolling with the oddsmakers and expecting the Cyclones to use their bye last week to their advantage for a colossal win over BYU.

Josh Pate: “Coming off a bye. Two losses before that bye. Brigham Young let-down spot. Now, again, I’m not verbalizing anything here that oddsmakers didn’t know when they made the number,” Pate said. “Maybe those factors in certain games mean more than in other games, and I think this is one of those games.”

Boston College (+25.5) at Louisville

Pate doesn’t need Boston College to upset Louisville. He simply needs them to hang around. The Eagles could use a moral victory. They have lost their last six games, most recently falling 38-23 to UConn.

Josh Pate: “I know it didn’t work out great the last time we bet on Bill O’Brien and the boys up there,” Pate said. “Take your loss, just don’t let them run it up on you.”

Memphis (+6.5) vs. USF

Memphis was left stunned last week after falling 31-24 to UAB. The Tigers will be desperate to prove a point on Saturday, squaring off against arguably the best Group-of-Five team in the country this season.

Josh Pate: “They just lost to UAB. Buddy, you talk about a bounce-back spot. They just lost to UAB. So, Memphis +6.5 is an added best bet,” Pate said.

Wisconsin (+31.5) at Oregon

It’s been a long season for Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell and his Badgers. Since winning their first two games, the Badgers have lost five consecutive outings.

On Saturday, Oregon will look to crush any morale the Badgers have left. Nonetheless, Pate doesn’t expect Wisconsin to lie down and accept defeat. The college football expert is picking the Badgers to cover against the powerhouse foe.