Saturday College Football Picks, Odds: Collin Wilson’s Betting Card for Oklahoma vs Kansas, Colorado vs UCLA & More

Week 9 of the college football season is here, and things are just starting to ramp up.

Saturday's slate features a number of key games, including a top-15 battle between No. 8 Oregon and No. 13 Utah in a game that will essentially serve as a Pac-12 knockout.

Along with the showdown in Rice-Eccles, we'll also have an intriguing Big 12 matchup between the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks just one week after OU escaped with a two-point win over conference newcomer UCF.

Then, we'll have another edition of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, as the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs enter as a favorite of just over two touchdowns against their SEC East rival, Florida Gators.

Then, to close it all out, Coach Prime takes center stage once again when his Colorado Buffaloes head to Westwood to take on Chip Kelly and the No. 23 UCLA Bruins.

I broke down all four of these Week 9 college football games and came through with at least one betting pick for each. So, check out each betting preview below — and hopefully I'll be meeting you at the window.

Collin Wilson's Week 9 NCAAF Betting Card

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network senior writer is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.

The Sooners have not lost the game after the Red River Rivalry since 2014, when Kansas State emerged victorious by a single point.

Oklahoma survived a visit from UCF in Week 8, as the Knights' failed two-point conversion would have sent the undefeated Sooners to overtime. The Knights finished with more yards per play, taking advantage of scoring opportunities and turnovers.

With a bye week and Red River in the rearview mirror, the Sooners must now face a gauntlet of Big 12 teams ready to push them out of the conference.

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold is looking to break KU's streak of 18 consecutive losses to the Sooners. The Jayhawks have lost two of their last three games this season, both on the road to Oklahoma State and Texas.

Kansas returns home after a bye week looking to stay healthy at the skill positions on offense.

Leipold is on the verge of getting the Jayhawks to a second consecutive bowl game after a 14-year drought within the program. An upset over the Sooners would provide Kansas a sixth win in the final Big 12 chapter of a rivalry that dates back to 1903.

Find a betting prediction, preview and pick for Oklahoma vs. Kansas below.

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Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby implements one of the fastest offenses in the nation, which is perfectly suited for transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The fifth-year senior has already thrown for more than 2,100 yards in one of the nation's premier passing units.

Not only is Oklahoma among the top five in Passing Success Rate, but the offense is also 26th in pass explosives.

The explosiveness took a hit when receiver Andrel Anthony suffered a season-ending injury against Texas, removing 34 targets and 2.8 yards per route run from the offense. Nic Anderson, who caught the game-winning score against Texas, stepped up to receive his highest target share against UCF, catching five balls for 105 yards.

Running back Tawee Walker is expected to return, supplying the Sooners with their most dangerous weapon in the rush attack.

Oklahoma has struggled with poor marks in Line Yards and Stuff Rate, and the offense allowed UCF to stuff nearly 40% of all rushing attempts in Week 8.

While the offense struggles to control the trench, the defense is the best in the nation when it comes to Stuff Rate.

Venables has completely turned around the Sooner's defense from a season ago. This version of Oklahoma is among the top 10 in Havoc, third downs and Finishing Drives.

Edge Ethan Downs has generated the most pressures this season at 21, supplying a combined 25 quarterback hurries with edge Rondell Bothroyd. The 4-2-5 scheme calls blitz on 41% of defensive snaps while creating pressure on 63% of attempts.

The Jayhawks are expected to start Jason Bean at quarterback for the fifth time this season while Jalon Daniels continues to deal with an injury.

Bean, the sixth-year senior, struggled against Oklahoma State in Week 7 with two interceptions. Despite nine passing touchdowns on the season, Bean has a nearly even distribution in big-time throws versus turnover-worthy plays.

His rushing numbers have also significantly declined, as he's averaging a full yard fewer per attempt from a season ago. Despite the lower numbers, Kansas still ranks among the top 10 in Success Rate and big-play rate.

Another season of Kansas football has brought continued struggles on defense. Coordinator Brian Borland calls a 4-2-5 defense that runs heavy quarters and Cover 3 in the secondary.

The Jayhawks have been one of the worst teams when opponents get into scoring position, allowing 4.7 points on 38 drives beyond their own 40-yard line.

If there's one area in which Kansas has had a presence, it's Defensive Havoc. The Jayhawks have 51 tackles for loss on the season, good enough to be in the top 25 in the nation.

Mother Nature will play a role in Week 9, as Lawrence is forecasted for double-digit winds and a bit of precipitation. While the wind may not be strong enough to have an impact on special teams and passing, the slippery conditions could make the game explosive.

Both the Oklahoma and Kansas defenses are outside the top 80 in broken tackle rate, an issue for a Jayhawks team that's 96th in tackle grading, per PFF.

The Sooners have a much better defense when it comes to stopping explosives, ranking 17th and 26th in Rush and Pass Expected Points, respectively.

Both offenses are expected to gain plenty of available yards, but the team that cashes in on scoring chances stands the best chance to cover the spread.

Kansas ranks dead last in red-zone efficiency, allowing opponents to score on all 27 attempts. Meanwhile, Oklahoma sits 16th in Offensive Finishing Drives, averaging 4.2 points on 42 drives beyond the opponent's 40-yard line.

Consequently, Gabriel will have no issues dissecting a Kansas secondary that generally lines up in quarters coverage, a look in which he has a 62% Success Rate and plenty of explosive plays.

Action Network projects this game at Oklahoma -9 and a total of 64 — both directly in line with the market.

There's an expectation this game will play out similar to last season's matchup, where both teams gain an abundance of available yards with the red zone being the determining factor.

The downgrade at quarterback for Kansas and its inefficiencies in red-zone defense result in value on Oklahoma to cover the spread at -10 or better.

The excitement in the Pac-12’s final season roles through Rice-Eccles Stadium in Week 9. Oregon will leave the friendly confines of Eugene for Salt Lake City, where Utah has one of the best home-field advantages in college football.

The Utes are celebrating after a road victory as touchdown underdogs to USC, as head coach Kyle Whittingham summarized how his team feels.

Utah is now a leading contender to win the Pac-12, hosting Oregon in this game with a Week 11 showdown scheduled at Washington.

Oregon also controls its own destiny. A sweep of the remaining schedule will put the Ducks in the conference championship game.

Head coach Dan Lanning rebounded from a loss to Washington by beating Washington State by two scores in Week 8. The Ducks continued to cruise as one of the best offenses in the nation, creating 14 explosives against the Cougars.

Oregon has one of the easiest paths of all Pac-12 teams in regard to the November schedule, as a win in Week 9 will set the Ducks up to be a contender on the national stage.

This game will serve as a Pac-12 knockout game with the winner having an outside chance of making the College Football Playoff.

As its strength of schedule continues to improve, there has been no drop-off in Oregon's offense.

Quarterback Bo Nix has an outstanding 19:1 ratio in passing touchdowns to interceptions after health played a factor in the Ducks' 2022 decline when the Auburn transfer was limited by an ankle injury.

This season has seen the fifth-year quarterback cut down on rushing attempts, logging just 74 scramble yards compared to 281 a season ago.

Oregon boasts the top offense in the nation from a Quality Drives perspective, starting with the lethal rushing attack of Bucky Irving and Jordan James.

Both running backs average at least 7.6 yards per carry, creating a combined 49 missed tackles on the season. Oregon plays at the second-highest rate in standard downs, as the Ducks are rarely behind the chains.

Nix has been excellent when it comes to throwing the ball with the top overall rank in on-target passes.

No individual player in college football is having an easier season than punter Ross James, as the Ducks have kicked on fourth down just 16 times this season.

The 3-3-5 defense has been fantastic against the pass this season. Oregon ranks top-15 against the pass in terms of Success Rate and explosives, ranking 34th in coverage by PFF.

The Ducks' nickel package runs a heavy amount of Quarters and Cover 1, but excelling against the pass may have little value against the current Utah offense. The Utes run a heavy amount of inside zone from 12 personnel, so Oregon is expected to stuff the box and look to replicate its success against opponents with this run concept.

The general feeling in Week 8 was that the Utes would not be able to keep up with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from an offensive perspective in the Coliseum.

Utah thrived in shutting down the USC offense, limiting the Trojans to a single methodical drive while producing six tackles for loss.

The Utes kept up on offense, receiving four total touchdowns from quarterback Bryson Barnes. The junior had the best passing game of his career despite three drops by targets.

Utah has found new life on offense through a backup quarterback and a converted safety in Sione Vaki at running back.

The offense was lifeless for most of the season with injuries across the roster, but it blasted the USC defense for 13 explosive plays. The Utes had as many explosive drives as the Trojans, a testament to the rising offense and declining USC defense.

Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley continues to call one of the best defenses on the West Coast. Utah ranks top-10 in Havoc and Defensive Quality Drives, making it difficult for opposing offenses to move the chains and protect the football.

The 4-2-5 defense has a moderate blitz rate in standard downs, ultimately bumping to 69% in long second- and third-down attempts. The defense has been fantastic in passing downs, ranking as the best in college football in terms of Success Rate.

Where Utah struggles on defense is in standard downs, allowing explosives at a bottom-10 rate in FBS.

Oregon's success in early downs will be the determining factor in the Ducks' ability to win and cover the game.

Oregon has the best offense in the nation in standard downs, assisted by the run game with Irving and James. The Ducks are hit at the line of scrimmage at the second-lowest rate nationally, so they should be confident in moving the pile against the Utes' front seven.

Utah has been susceptible to allowing chunk plays in standard downs through the air. The Utes excel in zone coverage, opting to run Cover 1 and Cover 3 on the majority of defensive snaps.

Nix has been excellent against these select coverages, executing a high number of explosives against Cover 1.

Nix leads a passing offense that's best overall in on-target rate, so Utah must crowd wide receivers Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson in coverage. The Utes rank 18th in on-target allowed rate, indicating there should be some resistance to Oregon's downfield passing attack.

The Ducks must lean on one of the best discipline factors of the offense — the nation's second-best rank in Havoc Allowed. Protecting the football will be key against an opportunistic Utah defense.

The Utah handicap comes down to its use of inside zone runs against the Ducks' front seven. Barnes, Vaki and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson run twice as many zone rush concepts inside the tackles than outside, as the Utes rank top-30 in Stuff Rate Allowed and Line Yards.

The Oregon defense has been excellent at defending inside zone when loading the box with seven or more defenders.

The Ducks play a majority of zone coverage snaps in quarters, a consistent thorn in the side of Utah's passing attack.

The Utes will opt to complete passes within 10 yards or behind the line of scrimmage, taking advantage of Oregon in open space. The Ducks rank 110th in broken tackles allowed, a positive sign for Jackson and Vaki.

Action Network projects Oregon as a three-point favorite. An opener of three was quickly steamed to the current market number of a full touchdown.

The Ducks have yet to face an offense with a heavy ground attack, as Washington, Washington State, Stanford and Colorado are all pass-first offenses. Utah will have success running inside zone, creating explosives via missed tackles from the Ducks.

Expect Oregon to utilize its downfield passing attack while the Utes break enough tackles to keep this within a possession.

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is set to determine the leader of the SEC East.

Georgia leads the all-time series 54-44-2 and has won five of the last six iterations against the Gators. Head coach Kirby Smart has led the charge during the winning streak and is looking to get the Bulldogs in position for a third national title.

This game will have plenty of intrigue from the Georgia offensive side, as its missing one of the best weapons in all of college football.

A victory from Florida will put head coach Billy Napier in the driver’s seat of the SEC East. The Gators' only conference blemish came on the road in Week 5 against Kentucky, a team with two losses in the division standings.

Florida has rebounded since the loss to the Wildcats, blowing out Vanderbilt and surviving a shootout with South Carolina in Week 7.

Both teams enter this game coming off a bye week, and the winner will have the inside track to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.

The big news heading into Jacksonville is the loss of tight end Brock Bowers, who is undergoing tightrope surgery for an ankle injury. The junior has amassed a team-high 51 targets, taking the bulk of his catches behind the line of scrimmage.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo took over the position from Todd Monken, who departed for the Baltimore Ravens. The Bulldogs were expected to adopt the Monken offenses of previous years, using heavy motion and misdirection to feed Bowers the ball between the hash marks.

There has been explosiveness out of other weapons for quarterback Carson Beck, as wideouts Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Rara Thomas have combined for 44 targets with an average of 2.4 yards per route run.

Oscar Delp will serve as the starting tight end with Bowers out, but expectations are low, as he has just 16 targets on the season.

With the injury to Bowers, Georgia is expected to play less 12 personnel and more 11 in single tight end sets. The Bulldogs have been twice as explosive with a higher Success Rate in 11 than 12 personnel.

As for the passing zones where Bowers feasts on opponents, Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett should take over as the hot read from the slot position. Lovett had a season-high nine targets in relief of Bowers against Vanderbilt in Week 7.

The junior has a history as one of the most explosive slot targets in the country after averaging a monster 2.9 yards per route run in 76 targets for the Tigers last season.

The transfer of Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz has been a success for the Gators. The fifth-year senior has his lowest Turnover Worthy Play rate of his career, logging just a single mistake in the opener against Utah.

Florida ranks 12th in FBS in On-Target Rate, a statistic that captures the highest level of accuracy in which the receiver does not have to make adjustments. Mertz has thrived against Cover 3 and Quarters coverage, struggling only with secondaries that flash Cover 2.

The Gators have the 41st-highest rate of Standard Downs thanks to running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne, who are both averaging more than five yards per carry.

The inside and outside zone run concepts have been successful, despite Florida ranking 129th in average third down distance (8.3 yards per attempt). The Gators have struggled to create pass explosives, often leaving Mertz in scramble opportunities.

The defense has been completely revamped since the 2022 campaign, as 29-year old Austin Armstrong brings a multiple look from Southern Miss. The Gators play a nickel package, mixing two, three and four down lineman with a blitz percentage of 38%.

Florida has been fantastic against the rush, ranking top-10 in terms of Success Rate and limiting explosives on the ground.

The place to beat the Gators' defense has been through the air, as Florida ranks last in allowing explosives in Standard Downs.

Despite the healthy amount of blitz, Armstrong’s defense has been unable to generate consistent pressure or defend opponent scoring opportunities.

The game plan for Georgia is straightforward, as Florida has been excellent against the rush and leaky against the pass.

The injury to Bowers will open up downfield verticals for the Bulldogs against a Florida defense that runs a Cover 3 package. Beck has lived comfortably against Cover 3 across 141 snaps this season, posting high marks in Success Rate and explosives.

Lovett will work the same zones as Bowers from the slot position, as he's caught 20 of 25 targets in-between the hash marks this season. Beck has been excellent on passing attempts beyond 20 yards this season, racking up nine Big Time Throws to just a single Turnover Worthy Play.

If the Gators' defense is ripe to give up pass explosives, will the offense do enough to keep this within two possessions?

Georgia bucked the trend of starting slowly in its victory against Vanderbilt, as it entered halftime up 24-7.

The one weakness of Georgia is more self-induced, as the pass rush ranks outside the top 100. That number is a result of the Bulldogs sending a low amount of blitzes with four or less defenders.

Georgia prefers to stay in Quarters coverage, ranking top-10 in opponent Passing Success Rate. Florida is at a heavy disadvantage on third downs in this matchup. It's converting at a rank of 108th and is facing a Bulldogs defense that is best overall in the nation. Of the 89 attempts from opponents, Georgia has allowed just 21 conversions.

Georgia is on pace to break the single-season third-down defensive all-time rate of 21% from the 2016 Michigan Wolverines.

Georgia has a history of sleepwalking through the first half of the season before the transcendental curve turns upwards. There are heavy advantages for Georgia in the passing game against the Florida defense, as Beck will look to spread the ball to other explosive targets without Bowers.

Florida has plenty of positives this season on the offensive side of the ball, including a rank of seventh in Quality Drives. The Gators should have a few methodical drives resulting in points, but staying ahead of the chains is key.

With the Georgia defense maintaining the best third-down unit in the nation, and with Florida’s offense near the bottom in average distance to go, the Gators will only survive with successful plays on first downs.

Considering Georgia is fifth in Defensive Success Rate on first downs, this could be a long cocktail party for the Gators.

The Colorado Buffaloes descend upon the Rose Bowl to face the UCLA Bruins in a matchup between two Pac-12 teams that desperately need a victory.

UCLA has two conference losses, both coming on the road at Oregon State and Utah, but the Bruins fired back in Week 8 by demolishing the Stanford Cardinal, 42-7, for a second Pac-12 victory.

The quarterback carousel continues for UCLA, an aspect that should pay off down the stretch as teams get desperate for depth.

While the Bruins desperately need a win to keep their Pac-12 Championship hopes alive, the Buffaloes need a win to keep their dreams of making a bowl intact.

Colorado sits at four wins on the season, eclipsing the closing preseason win total of 3.5.

Head coach Deion Sanders sits two victories away from leading the Buffaloes to a bowl game, but the schedule is not conducive to getting Colorado to the postseason. The Buffaloes will be a multi-score underdog to Oregon State, Washington State and Utah. While Arizona projects as just a five-point favorite over Colorado, the Buffs need multiple upsets to reach bowl season.

Will one of those upsets happen this week in Pasadena? Find a betting prediction, pick and preview for Colorado vs. UCLA below.

The Buffaloes will be on 15 days of rest for this game after an epic collapse against Stanford in Week 7. Colorado took a 29-0 lead into halftime only to be outscored, 36-7, in the second half.  The overtime loss was gut-wrenching and possibly ended Colorado's bowl hopes.

Colorado's penalties and third-down struggles provided Stanford with a path for the upset. The Buffaloes logged 17 penalties for 127 yards while allowing the Cardinal to convert 10 of their 18 third-down attempts.

On the bright side, cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter returned to action after missing several games with injury.

Colorado remains a pass-first team, electing to throw on 58% of snaps with a Rushing Success rank of 72nd. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders continues to excel, throwing 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

Sanders has thrived in crowded pockets, as the junior has a minimal 16% drop in adjusted completion rate under pressure. The team's Havoc Allowed rank is no fault of Sanders, as the offensive line has given up 56 tackles for loss this season.

Defensively, it's been a frustrating campaign for coordinator Charles Kelly.

The Buffaloes are outside the top 100 in nearly every statistical category, with near dead-last ranks in Havoc and Explosive Passes Allowed. The defensive front seven has also generated the third-fewest total pressures of any team in FBS.

Colorado's defense has one bright spot as the team ranks 10th in Passing Downs Success Rate as the Buffaloes are quick to move from nickel to dime packages in 37% of defensive snaps.

Rumors continue to circulate about UCLA five-star freshman Dante Moore, including an injury and potential transfer portal entry. The quarterback had a forgetful game in a loss at Oregon State two weeks ago, throwing three interceptions while logging five turnover-worthy plays.

Head coach Chip Kelly was quick to dismiss those rumors as the reason for Moore not playing until the fourth quarter against Stanford.

Kelly continues to be mum on the starting quarterback, indicating that past success won't play a role when it comes to selecting the starter for the following week.

Kent State transfer Collin Schlee has yet to start a game, while Ethan Garbers was given the nod against Stanford. Garbers cashed in against the Cardinal, completing 20-of-28 passes with two touchdowns.

Moore is the quarterback with the highest ceiling, evidenced by a number of explosive pass completions throughout the year. The freshman has yet to record a mistake on 31 pass attempts beyond 20 yards.

There's a much more productive narrative around the UCLA defense, a group that ranks among the top 10 in Havoc and Finishing Drives.

The top overall pass rush is led by edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who has generated 32 pressures on the season. The Murphy twins, Grayson and Gabriel, have provided an additional 40 quarterback hurries, making UCLA the most harassing defense in all of college football.

The UCLA defense is set to tee off on a Colorado offensive line that has allowed 122 offensive pressures this season. The Bruins are also expected to stuff any rush attempts from Dylan Edwards or Anthony Hankerson.

This handicap comes down to Colorado's offensive execution on passing downs.

Sanders has been disciplined under pressure, rarely making mistakes without recording a fumble. The Bruins defense has been burned by opponents in passing downs with a downshift in Success Rate and explosives on long third-down attempts.

If Colorado is to challenge in this game, it will come through Sanders' scrambling and accuracy on passing downs.

Could there be relief for Moore in a game against the Buffaloes defense? Colorado ranks 129th in generating pressure with a rank of 114th in third-down stops, which should provide a favorable situation for a freshman quarterback to thrive.

However, Colorado's defense also plays plenty of Cover 3, the coverage Moore has struggled with the most.

However, Colorado's inability to generate success or limit explosives in Cover 3 will prove problematic against the Bruins.

The Buffaloes rank 92nd in on-target allowed rate, a statistic that reviews whether or not the opposing target stays in stride. Colorado doesn't make opposing targets adjust, nor do the Buffaloes record more than four pass breakups per game, so this matchup sets up favorably for UCLA's passing offense.

Action Network projects this game at UCLA -18 with a total of 64.5 — both aligned with the current market.

Colorado has played in a high-scoring affair against every opponent that has a pulse on offense, as TCU, Stanford, USC, Oregon and Colorado State all scored a minimum of 35 points.

There should be no resistance against UCLA wideout J. Michael Sturdivant, who's averaging an elite two yards per route run. While the Bruins are top-20 in pass explosives, the Colorado defense ranks 126th in Passing Expected Points.

Both Chip Kelly and Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis prefer fast-paced games, as each offense averages 23 seconds per play or less.

Avoid the late backdoor potential from Colorado and look at the UCLA team total for investment at 40.5 or better.

Pick: UCLA Team Total Over 40.5

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