Taking Bets | Hello Playoffs, Goodbye Playoffs | Week Nine

2024 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 17-14 (Week Eight: 3-1) 
TD Wood: 13-17-1 (Week Eight: 3-1)
Mallory McCormack: 14-17 (Week Eight: 2-2)
Greg Bosworth: 12-19 (Week Eight: 0-4)

Each Friday evening, the “Taking Bets” column readies sports fans for their football weekend with keen and not-so-sharp ideas on the bets to make or those with potential to avoid. Gathered here are the host of The Staredown Mallory McCormack, host of Takin’ On Sports TD Wood, editor-in-chief Blaine Duncan, and co-host of Takin’ On Sports Greg Bosworth! Find the bets, which includes one NFL game per week, on the site each Friday evening at 6:30!

Blaine Duncan 
Last week, my picks felt right because of trends and tropes I’ve noticed in every college football season. Let me try it again. 

Notre Dame versus Navy (+13.5) [MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ] - Damn, Navy gets no love! First they’re only ranked 24th yet are undefeated thus far and then this spread! I suppose the line is almost right, but it looks a little like the books are counting on people to compare Navy to Notre Dame’s previous opponent of Georgia Tech where last week the Irish won by an 18-point margin. I don’t see it happening here. Navy has been tough this season, and good for them. The Midshipmen may not win, but (kinda, sorta) home dogs are a good bet. 

Arkansas (-6.5) at Mississippi State - Huh. I don’t get this one, either. State is bad, bad. Arkansas is not going to win any titles this year, but they’ve had some good-to-great games. And let’s be honest on what this boils down to: I love Sam Pittman. This goes against my previous pick with being on the road and all, but give me Arkansas by two touchdowns. 

Maryland at Minnesota (-4.5) - This low line looks attractive because, as TD can attest, don’t trust the Tarapains past September. And it’s late October. Know what else? Brian Oliu lives in Minnesota now and that’s enough for me. Maybe he’ll be at the game! It’s the Golden Gophers by ten! 

NFL Game of the Week: Bills (-3) at Seahawks - The Bills should continue with some momentum gained last week against the Titans last week. They’re looking to make the playoffs and beyond, yes, but they’re the better team here and it’s hard not to see them winning by seven at least.   

TD Wood
OK, I’m feeling it now. We’re starting to really get a sense of who teams really are, even if we don’t have a clear elite team in the nation. The name of the game now is to avoid the astronomical upsets (or find those upsets in your favor). Great schedule this week, as we get five matchups between Top 25 teams. 

Notre Dame versus Navy (+13.5) [MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ] – There’s a fair to good chance I’m picking with my heart over my head on this one, but something tells me Navy hangs around in this one. The Middies are on a roll, and they’re not just running the ball out of their triple option, but they can throw the rock. Blake Horvath is the real deal, and is gonna scare a lot of Notre Dame fans on Saturday.

West Virginia at Arizona (-3.5) – The Wildcats responded to their upset of Utah by losing three straight. Fortunately, the Mountaineers offer a great opportunity to get back in the win column. ‘Zona comes out on top at home. 

Charlotte at Memphis (-17.5) – Memphis has a shot to make the CFP, but with a loss to Navy earlier this season, they don’t have a lot of room for error, which should raise their level of focus. Charlotte has been inconsistent this season, the Tigers should handle them at home.

NFL Game of the Week: Giants at Steelers (-6) – When in doubt, go with a good, well-coached, confident team over the messy team with little hope. 

Mallory McCormack 
Good grief, y’all. October is almost over and I’m hoping that my eerily horrible picks go out the door with it. Let’s try this again. 

LSU (+1) at Texas A&M - LSU is clicking on all cylinders and I think they walk out on top of the SEC (ugh).

Penn State (-6.5) at Wisconsin - Penn State is trying to make a case to be in the Top Four. Getting this win by a TD or more will help. 

Auburn at Kentucky (-2.5) - I don’t love this game, but Kentucky bounces back from a weird few weeks. 

NFL Game of the Week - Eagles (+2.5) at Cincinnati - I feel like Saquon and the Eagles are hitting their stride. I love Mike Hilton on the Bengals but that defense will be worn down by the end. 

Greg Bosworth 
Just when I thought I was starting to figure things out! I feel a big bounce back this week. A lot of interesting games on the schedule.

LSU (ML +110) at Texas A&M - Kyle Field will be rocking Saturday night as the Aggies and Tigers face off for the number one spot in the SEC going into November. It is definitely a toss-up game, but unlike last week, I’m not doubting LSU again. Garrett Nussmeier has been great in the clutch and will be the difference Saturday night.

BYU (ML +110) at UCF - I get it, this has all the feels of a trap game in Orlando and we’ve seen Gus Malzahn thrive in this type of contest before, but I have faith in BYU. Jake Retzlaff is having a heck of a season and I don’t see the Cougar hype train derailing in Orlando.

Penn State at Wisconsin (+6.5) - The Badgers have been playing good football and it will be rocking Saturday night in Camp Randall. This is a must win for Penn State if they want to show they are amongst the best teams in America, but it definitely won’t be easy. Luke Fickell will have his team ready and the only thing that would shock me on Saturday night would be if Nittany Lions blow them out.

NFL game of the week: Cowboys at 49ers (-4)  - This is a game of attrition with both teams missing several key pieces. Neither team has lived up to preseason expectations and I’m sure NBC expected two much better teams when they scheduled this for primetime. This game could go a lot of ways, but recent history between these two says at home, the 49ers find a way not only to win but cover the spread. 

Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.