College Football Betting Picks for Saturday 10/28/23

Week 9 in college football's regular season is now upon us.

This Saturday might not offer as many high-profile AP Top 25 meetings, but there are absolutely a few contests that you need to look out for. In a rematch of the 2019 and 2021 Pac-12 Conference Football Championship Games, the No. 8 Oregon Ducks and No. 13 Utah Utes will get together yet again.

Additionally, we should see a fairly competitive ACC game out in Bourbon country when the No. 20 Duke Blue Devils visit the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals. Whoever wins there could emerge as the most viable threat to take down the No. 4 Florida State Seminoles for the conference crown -- could being the operative word.

Let's dive into Saturday's college football schedule with an emphasis on scoping out the most valuable lines in traditional betting markets.

Keep in mind when reading: FanDuel Sportsbook is offering a 50% parlay profit boost for all college football games from October 26 through October 28 (see site for stipulations).

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

College Football Betting Picks (10/28/23)

(#8) Oregon Ducks at (#13) Utah Utes

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Spread: -6.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: ORE -250/UTAH +202
• Total: 47.5 (-105/-115)

The respective football programs of Oregon and Utah have had some fierce battles in the modern era. In the past four years alone, both sides have defeated the other to earn a Pac-12 title. In the regular season, the on-field action has also been back-and-forth. Simply, this Saturday's showcase in Salt Lake City should be adversarial.

The Ducks and Utes each enter this contest at 6-1 straight up (SU), having suffered their losses to conference rivals. Against the spread (ATS), Oregon is 5-1-1 while Utah shows 4-2-1.

However, when surveying ESPN's current CFB power index, the Fighting Ducks are a bit ahead at 10th in FBS (21.6 FPI). Utah is still quite respectable at 22nd (12.3 FPI) in the same rankings.

With Utah quarterback Cameron Rising still dealing with a season-ending knee injury from the previous Rose Bowl, the Utes seem to have found their guy right now in Bryson Barnes. However, Barnes should be prepared for a tougher defense in the Ducks than the one he saw last weekend against the No. 24 USC Trojans.

Best Bet: Over 47.5 (-105)

I am higher on Oregon in the current campaign, but admittedly, the home-field advantage for the Utes in SLC is deterring me from playing the Ducks while giving 6.5. However, considering UO's offensive cast with quarterback Bo Nix, tailback Bucky Irving, and receivers Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson, I do trust in the scoring. Let's go over 47.5 total points in this one.

In 2023, the Ducks are averaging an exceptional 47 PPG -- the second-best clip in the country. When glancing at the CFB game projections on numberFire, this contest shows an estimated UO winning score of 30.21-23.88. That difference is nearly identical to the spread of 6.5, but that combined total (54.09) clears the set number by a much wider margin.

(#20) Duke Blue Devils at (#18) Louisville Cardinals

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Spread: LOU -4.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: DUKE +160/LOU-194
• Total: 46.5

I'm enthralled by this one. Duke and Louisville are both at thriving moments on the gridiron. Head coach Jeff Brohm has his alma mater Cardinals humming at a 6-1 SU record, while the Blue Devils are 5-2 in head coach Mike Elko's second season.

The ACC has been fairly scrappy in 2023, and these two sides have been majors parts of that. For Louisville, they are looking to bounce back from their first loss of to year. At the hands of the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Cardinals were outlasted in Steel City last Saturday, 38-21.

Duke is also coming off a conference loss. In one of CFB Week 8's biggest games, the Blue Devils traded blows with No. 4 Florida State in Tallahassee through the first half, but they got shut out by the 'Noles in Q3 and Q4.

Come Saturday, who gets back in the win column?

Best Bet: Louisville ML (-194)

I really like both quarterbacks in this meeting. Duke's Riley Leonard has been a prolific dual-threat player in 2023 while Louisville's Jack Plummer is throwing the ball quite well. Leonard has produced four rushing scores by averaging 7.1 yards per carry this season. As for Plummer, he yields a 153.2 rating right now, having already tossed 13 touchdowns on the year.

On ESPN's latest SP+ rankings, these schools are neck-and-neck. The Dukies are currently positioned 26th in the nation (11.6 rating) while the Cardinals are one spot behind at 27th (10.7).

That's a little too close together for me to take Louisville covering north of a field goal (4.5 points), but I trust in their home-field advantage to at least pull out a victory SU. Let's go Louisville moneyline; they have not lost at Cardinal Stadium since Week 3 of last season.

(#11) Oregon State Beavers at Arizona Wildcats

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Spread: ORST -3.5 (-102)
• Moneyline: ORST -160/ARIZ +132
• Total: 56.5 (-115/-105)

An interdivisional clash in the Pac-12, the No. 11 Oregon State Beavers will travel down to Tuscon to match up with the Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats have made positive strides over the past two years under head coach Jed Fisch. Keep in mind: Arizona combined for just one total win through the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.

At 6-1 SU, Oregon State is one of the top programs in the conference. Similar to aforementioned Jeff Brohm with Louisville, head coach Jonathan Smith has thrived leading his alma mater in Corvallis. Even better, he has quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei playing the best ball of his career behind a shining QBR of 84.8 -- the seventh-best figure in the FBS.

Is 'Zona now playing at a level where they can contend with the Beavs? I'm not so sure, but the oddsmakers have the line in this contest (ORST -3.5) a little closer together than I expected to see. More than likely, the Cats will be leaning heavily on dynamic quarterback Jayden De Laura to weather a solid Beaver defense.

Best Bet: Oregon State -3.5 (-102)

Oregon State's current team is built thoroughly. In terms of scoring, they rank within the top 40 schools on offense (12th) and defense (38th). Vying for a conference title, I simply think the Beavers will understand the task at hand this weekend. Laying just three points with a hook, ORST ATS feels like a valuable play for Saturday night.

Looking back at the CFB game projections from numberFire, the Beavers are estimated to win at Arizona by a score of 30.59-25.83. That leaves a point differential of 4.76, providing over one point of cushion on the current spread. With a three-game winning streak, I think Oregon State channels their momentum into the Wildcats on the road.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.