Joel Klatt predicts Penn State at Wisconsin, other marquee Week 9 games

College football analyst Joel Klatt has been on a heater picking against the spread this season. Klatt boasted a 4-2 record last week, an 18-4 record this month, and a 29-14 record this season against the spread. These are numbers than many bettors wouldn’t mind having themselves this season.

This weekend, Week 9 presents a loaded schedule of new opportunities for fans to place bets and potentially win big. That includes a Saturday slate that has the potential to be one of the best of the year given the matchups ahead.

Klatt locked in his picks for the weekend on Thursday, looking to keep his hand hot once again. Check out his selections against the spread, his rationale, and even a score prediction for Week 9’s biggest games below.

Illinois at Oregon (+21.5)

The top-ranked Ducks are favored by 21.5 points when they host the Fighting Illini this weekend. It’s a large number that Klatt thinks is too big considering Illinois is the No. 20 ranked team in the country fresh off of an impressive win over the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.

“I’m gonna take the points for Illinois, I think Oregon gets the win, but Illinois covers,” Klatt said. “That’s a good omen for the Ducks, I think this game is somewhere in that Oregon 34, Illinois 17 range. I think Oregon could win handily, but 21.5 is a lot for a team that is so sound and physical as Illinois.”

LSU at Texas A&M (-2.5)

The only two undefeated teams in SEC play square off this weekend in College Station. But Klatt doesn’t just like LSU to cover the spread as 2.5-point underdogs against Texas A&M, but to win the game outright with a betting line that surprised him.

“I was shocked that A&M was favored in this game, I think LSU is going to win the game,” Klatt revealed. “They have a quarterback I trust more than the opposition, so even on the road, a guy that I believe has showed up in big moments in (Garrett) Nussmeier, I think he wins the game. Now, I don’t think they’re going to blow them out, but 27-24 LSU? You bet.”

Notre Dame vs. Navy (+12.5)

Klatt has a spicy pick for Norte Dame and Navy’s ranked, neutral site matchup in Metlife Stadium on Saturday. Klatt shockingly picked the No. 24 ranked Midshipmen over No. 12 Notre Dame in what would be an epic upset victory.

“I like Navy outright, I’m calling for the upset. I’ve got them 20-17,” Klatt said. “I think the magical year continues, I think we start talking about a Navy potential playoff birth after this win over Norte Dame … They’re getting 12.5, that’s an easy one for me.”

Missouri at Alabama (-13.5)

This weekend’s game in Tuscaloosa is a no-brainer for Klatt given two major factors: Missouri battling numerous injuries at key positions and Alabama coming off their second loss of the season. All that makes this a must-win game forth both to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race.

“There is no way 13.5 is enough, the only time Missouri has traveled on the road in the SEC this year they got blown out by 31 by Texas A&M. 13.5 is not enough, give me Bama,” Klatt said. “I think generously I’ve got 38-21. I’m given the 13.5, I’m riding with Bama as the favorite and I think this has all the makings of Missouri not playing well.”

Penn State at Wisconsin (+6.5)

A Big Ten matchup rounds out the weekend’s top games when No. 3 Penn State travels to Camp Randall Stadium. It’s a spot Klatt labeled as a trap game for Penn State after Wisconsin has been nothing short of dominant in their last three games.

“I think Penn State wins, but I’m gonna take the points with Wisconsin. It’s a 6.5-point line, I think we can all see a situation where Penn State wins this game 24-21, 27-21, right around there. They escape, maybe they’ve got to comeback, looking towards next weekend in that game against Ohio State,” Klatt said.