CNHI TOP 25 PICKS | Pressure ramps up amid wild season

As the back half of the season treks on, the pressure starts cooking.Week 9 of one of the craziest college football seasons in recent memory trudges on with a few big matchups and more spots for upsets to occur.No. 1 Miami (-14.5) at North CarolinaMiami has played with its food the past few weeks and the Tar Heels are better than they may seem.PICK: 34-24 MiamiNo. 2 Ohio State (-6.5) at USCThe pressure has been cooking for Lincoln Riley, especially the past few weeks. It will continue when the Buckeyes visit the "Mecca" of college football.PICK: 43-20 Ohio StateNo. 3 Georgia (-11.5) vs. No. 17 FloridaThe Bulldogs haven’t lost back-to-back games since 2018. And have won five straight against the Gators. Enough said.PICK: 37-24 GeorgiaMinnesota at No. 4 Indiana (-20.5)Hoosiers haven’t scored more than 20 in three straight games; how will they cover this spread against a Minnesota team that has two upset wins already?PICK: 23-17 IndianaNo. 5 Notre Dame (-30.5) at NavyIt’s been a rough year for Navy and it welcomes a Notre Dame team in need of a bounce-back game.PICK: 45-3 Notre DameNo. 6 Utah (-6.5) at CincinnatiThe Bearcats upset Texas Tech at home last week, but the luck will run out when a much-better Utah team rolls in.PICK: 34-23 UtahNevada at No. 7 UCLA (-22.5)This is a spot for the Bruins to rest before looking to finish the season undefeated — and Nevada is just not any good.PICK: 43-6 UCLAArizona State at No. 8 BYU (-16.5)In search of a get-right game, the Cougars have found a perfect spot against a struggling Sun Devils team.PICK: 34-24 BYUMississippi State at No. 11 Texas (-21.5)The Bulldogs are without Kamario Taylor for the rest of the season. This will get ugly.PICK: 43-6 TexasAuburn at No. 12 Ole Miss (-13.5)Auburn’s luck ran out last week, and the Rebels are in search of a desperate win this week.PICK: 34-21 Ole MissNo. 22 Arizona at No. 13 Texas Tech (-3.5)Can Texas Tech bounce back? If not, Cody Campbell will still blabber online and throw more money at the program.PICK: 23-16 Texas TechVirginia at No. 14 Wake Forest (-12.5)The Cavaliers have had a disappointing start to the season, but much like themselves last year, Wake Forest is the surprise team of the ACC.PICK: 30-20 Wake ForestSyracuse at No. 19 SMU (-10.5)Syracuse is struggling to find a quarterback and SMU is rolling entering this matchup at home.PICK: 41-23 SMUTexas State at No. 20 Boise State (-11.5)The Bobcats have scuffled on the offensive line and will struggle to score against the Broncos’ stifling defense.PICK: 34-16 Boise StateOregon (-3.5) at No. 20 NorthwesternWhat is going on in Eugene? The Ducks have three losses and visit a ranked Northwestern team with former Oregon coach Chip Kelly calling one of the weirdest offenses in the country. It works, though.PICK: 34-26 NorthwesternNo. 23 Missouri (-10.5) at ArkansasThe Razorbacks proved to not be the worst team in the SEC, but are probably the second-worst as they welcome the Tigers.PICK: 27-20 MissouriNo. 24 Oklahoma State (-8.5) at Iowa StateThe ultimate Halloween uniform matchup (OSU in all orange and ISU in all black) will be an offensive showcase in Ames, with the Cowboys finishing on top.PICK: 52-34 Oklahoma State (Lock of the Week)No. 25 Wisconsin at Iowa (-3.5)It’s a tough spot for the Badgers; however, the Hawkeyes can’t seem to nail down a quarterback — shocker.PICK: 18-13 WisconsinSeason Records | ATS: 76-79-1 | ML: 125-31 | Locks: 5-3