It’s Week 9 in the 2022/23 NCAAF season, and with the end of the regular season already on the horizon, we look at this weekend’s matches and bring you our NCAAF betting picks for the matches involving the favorites.
This weekend there is no match scheduled for the Crimson Tide. Still, the other two favorites in the betting to win the NCAAF Championship – the Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes – are both in action.
Last weekend the Bulldogs had a weekend off, but they have still maintained their number one AP ranking. Georgia is also still the favorite in the latest betting to be the NCAAF Championship winner, which we will come to later.
Joining the Bulldogs at the top of the betting is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes defeated Iowa 54-10 last weekend, smashing the 30.5-point handicap by the top Vegas odds makers. The win sees Ohio retain their number two ranking and gives them a 7-0 record this season.
The third team in the betting mix with the top Vegas sportsbooks is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They may have been the preseason favorites, but Nick Saban’s team is still in contention after one defeat and a couple of scratchy wins. Last weekend they bounced back from the disappointment of losing to Tennessee the previous week by defeating MS State 30-6.
The Crimson Tide beat the spread set at 21, which was in the main down to the fact that they shored up the defense, which had come in for some heavy criticism following the 52 points it conceded the previous weekend.
Following on from last weekend’s results, there is no major difference in the betting to win the 2023 NCAAF Championship.
The Georgia Bulldogs are into +200 joint favorites with BetOnline. This after being +210 second favorites before last weekend’s fixtures and not even playing in that slate. Make of that what you will.
Elsewhere, and although now joint favorites, Ohio State is still +200. No real difference there. And as for the ongoing soap opera that is the Alabama Crimson Tide, they are now +375, having been +425 the previous week.
The latest betting odds can be found below from BetOnline, while you will find more information and betting offers at our BetOnline sportsbook review.
| NCAAF 2023 National Championship Betting |  |
|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs | +200 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +200 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +375 |
| Michigan | +1200 |
| Tennessee | +1400 |
| Clemson | +1600 |
Now it’s time to get some NCAAF betting picks, starting with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes take their unbeaten record to Pennsylvania this weekend in their most challenging match of the season so far. Ranked 13, Penn State will be the biggest test the Buckeyes will face before what looks to be their showdown match with Michigan at the end of November.
The Nittany Lions have lost just once this season, that was 41-17 to Michigan two weekends ago. So this match against the Buckeye represents their last opportunity to bag themselves a statement victory this regular season.
In the betting, it’s not looking favorable for them. BetOnline has the Lions at +440 on the moneyline, with the Buckeyes at -560. In the handicap market, the Lions are given a 15.5 points start. Penn State is -105, with the Buckeyes at -115.
Finally, on the total points spread, the magic number is a straight 61. Both over and under 61 are -110.
For my money, the Buckeyes have been relentless this season. They have a light doubt over Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and while he may only play a limited role, I don’t see it affecting the match’s outcome. It may affect beating the spread, but most weekends, the Buckeyes comfortably beat it.
Therefore I’m making the Buckeyes (-15.5) on the handicap spread my first betting pick this weekend.
Another side with an unbeaten record is the Georgia Bulldogs. Still ranked at number one, the Bulldogs will face off against a Florida side that has won three of its last five, and in one of the matches they didn’t win, they pushed Tennessee (ranked three) all the way.
Last weekend the Bulldogs had a weekend off, and I don’t see them letting up this Saturday despite possibly having one eye on the following week when they face Tennessee.
In the betting, the Bulldogs are -2500 on the moneyline. The Gators are +1100. The handicap for this match is set at 22.5 points in favor of the Gators. The Bulldogs are getting backed to beat that mark as they are into -117, with the Gators at -103. The points spread is set at 56.5, with over and under both priced at -110.
I’m going for two bets on this match. First, I’m going with the Bulldogs to win on the handicap spread at -117. Second, with most of the Gators’ matches being high scoring, I’m also going for over 56.5 on the total points spread.
