College GameDay podcast picks LSU at Texas A&M, other top Week 9 games

Week 9 of the college football season is here, and there are several intriguing matchups scheduled for the weekend. The ESPN College GameDay podcast recently previewed this week’s slate of games, which includes the only unbeaten teams in the SEC facing off in LSU and Texas A&M.

College GameDay host Rece Davis, ESPN insider Pete Thamel and gambling expert Stanford Steve made picks for the biggest games of Week 9 straight up and against the spread. Here’s who they are taking:

Washington at Indiana (-6.5)

Stanford Steve: Washington +6.5
Rece Davis: Indiana -6.5
Pete Thamel: Indiana -6.5

Indiana aced its first true test of the season last weekend, destroying Nebraska 56-7. The more the Hoosiers win, the bigger the games become, and they have another important contest this week as they are hosting Washington.

Indiana will be without star quarterback Kurtis Rourke against the Huskies after he was hurt in the win over Nebraska. Despite that, the Hoosiers are still favored by close to a touchdown, according to FanDuel.

The trio is split on this game as Stanford Steve has Washington covering the 6.5 points, while Rece Davis and Pete Thamel like Indiana by a touchdown-plus. All three have the Hoosiers winning the game, though.

“I think Indiana wins. I think Indiana also covers. So I’m going to go with the Hoosiers winning by 10,” Rece Davis said.

LSU at Texas A&M (-2.5)

Stanford Steve: Texas A&M -2.5
Rece Davis: LSU +2.5 (and outright)
Pete Thamel: Texas A&M -2.5

The only two remaining undefeated teams in SEC play will face off this weekend when Texas A&M hosts LSU. The Aggies and Tigers both dropped their season openers in out-of-conference games, before responding with six straight wins. This is a huge game as far as reaching the College Football Playoff and SEC title game, and the group is split on who will win.

“I think this game is going to be a bit of a slog,” Thamel said. “And I think A&M finds a way to win at home at night.”

Stanford Steve agrees with Thamel, while Davis has LSU covering the spread and winning outright.

Penn State (-6.5) at Wisconsin

Stanford Steve: Wisconsin +6.5
Rece Davis: Penn State -6.5
Pete Thamel: Penn State -6.5

Wisconsin got off to a 2-2 start to the season, before pounding Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern in its last three games. Now the Badgers get a big step up in competition, though, hosting a Penn State team that is one of the few unbeaten college football teams left in a power conference.

Stanford Steve believes the Badgers can hang around and give Penn State a game, while Davis and Thamel like the Nittany Lions to cover.

“One of the best places for a Saturday night game, I truly believe it,” Stanford Steve said of Wisconsin. “It’s tremendous being there numerous times. … Give me Wisconsin plus the points but Penn State wins the game.”

Notre Dame (-13.5) vs. Navy

Stanford Steve: Notre Dame -13.5
Rece Davis: Notre Dame -13.5
Pete Thamel: Notre Dame -13.5

Navy has been one of the biggest surprises of the college football season. The Midshipmen are off to an impressive 6-0 start and have won every game by at least two scores. The Midshipmen will face by far their biggest test of the season to date on Saturday when they go up against Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium.

Despite Navy being undefeated and playing well, all three college football analysts have Notre Dame winning and covering the nearly two-touchdown spread.

“I just have a hard time seeing Navy just step up in class here with Notre Dame,” Thamel said.

Texas (-18.5) at Vanderbilt

Stanford Steve: Vanderbilt +18.5
Rece Davis: Vanderbilt +18.5
Pete Thamel: Vanderbilt +18.5

Vanderbilt has already stunned one college football powerhouse this season in Alabama and will now look to repeat that feat this weekend against Texas. The Longhorns were the top-ranked college football team in the country before getting handled by Georgia last weekend in Austin.

Texas must now be ready to go against a Vanderbilt team that has exceeded everyone’s expectations this year. All three College GameDay pod members expect Vandy to cover the nearly three-touchdown spread but to lose outright.

“This number is 18 points, which I feel like is a lot,” Stanford Steve said. “It’ll be a home game for Texas. I think in the end, their offense scores enough. I’ll say it’s a really high scoring game and Texas wins, Vanderbilt covers the 18.”

Boise State (-3.5) at UNLV

Stanford Steve: Boise State -3.5
Rece Davis: Boise State -3.5
Pete Thamel: Boise State -3.5

Boise State and UNLV are both off to excellent starts to the season. Both teams have one loss and are 2-0 in Mountain West games. All three members of the College GameDay pod have Boise State winning and covering.

“Can you really pick against Ashton Jeanty at this point?” Thamel said. “This is, other than Oregon, their biggest showcase of the season. … Jeanty’s been remarkable, and until somebody stops him, I’m not going to predict somebody stops him.”

SMU (-11.5) at Duke

Stanford Steve: SMU -11.5
Rece Davis: SMU -11.5
Pete Thamel: SMU -11.5

SMU is looking to keeps its College Football Playoff and ACC championship hopes alive this weekend when it faces Duke in Durham. The Mustangs and Blue Devils are both 6-1 overall, while SMU is unbeaten in ACC play.

Stanford Steve, Rece Davis and Pete Thamel each believe SMU will win and cover the 11.5-point spread.

“SMU, since making the quarterback change, has scored at least 34 points in every game. Even if they don’t quite get to that number, it’s really hard seeing Duke getting close to that,” Davis said. “So I’m going to take SMU to win the game. I’m going to go ahead and take SMU to cover, too.”