Interesting situation here in Underdog Land, which is where your beloved Underdog Challengers dwell. The No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff rankings – Tennessee – is more than a touchdown underdog this weekend. Curious, yes. Has that happened before? Glad you asked!
In 2014, Mississippi State was sporting a spiffy 9-0 record and was deemed No. 1 by the inaugural CFP committee. Game 10 was at Alabama, and the Bulldogs were a 9.5-point underdogs. Alabama won 25-20, kicking off a close to the season where Mississippi State lost three of its final four, including a 49-34 defeat to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
So can the top-ranked Vols "upset" No. 3 Georgia as 8-point underdogs? The esteemed Bill Bender, currently in third place in our contest, thinks not. But this is a game everyone on the panel thought long and hard about.
MORE: Betting trends to know ahead of Georgia-Tennessee
To review the rules: Each expert picks three underdogs to win each week. If the pick hits, the expert gets the amount of points the team was an underdog. Our standings after nine weeks (and yes, the basketball-first guy is still in first).
| Expert | Correct Picks | Points |
| Mike DeCourcy | 10 | 46 |
| Bill Trocchi | 6 | 44 |
| Bill Bender | 11 | 38.5 |
| Zac Al-Khateeb | 4 | 16 |
On to the upsets:
Mike DeCourcy, Senior writer
Stanford (+5) vs. Washington State
Will you get through my picks without being reminded I’m still leading the Underdog Challenge? Are you kidding? This is way better than winning a fantasy football league (unless that league involves real money). Entering November in the pole position is feeling like one of the great achievements of my career, up there with achieving Lifetime Platinum status with a certain hotel company’s frequent guest program. If I win this thing, I’m going to be insufferable. Hey boss, is there a trophy for that? (Editor's note: Only if Trocchi wins.)
No. 10 LSU (+13.5) vs. No. 6 Alabama
Alabama has not messed around since dropping that back-and-forth game at Tennessee. As opposed to last week, when locating a possible upset seemed nearly impossible, there is greater upset potential in many of the matchups on this week’s schedule. But Death Valley still is no easy place to gain a road win, and LSU has a ton to gain by winning this game. Brian Kelly has done an underrated job in his first season with the Tigers because so many of those in position to rate him, so to speak, don’t care for him. Until he’s impossible to ignore, that’ll be the default position. If the Tigers take down the Tide, he’ll have everyone’s attention.
MORE: Playoff scenarios for Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama
No. 13 Kansas State (+3) vs. No. 24 Texas
This line seemed so inviting I had to check it three times to make sure I was reading it right. Last time out, the Wildcats clobbered the No. 9 team in the country, Oklahoma State, so comprehensively they could have covered a 47½-point spread – and now they’re getting a field goal at home? Man, I’m not one to suggest I know more than the oddsmakers, and maybe this is one of those lines that is too good to be true. But I can’t resist.
Bill Trocchi, Senior editor
Boston College (+10) vs. Duke
Yes, Boston College is bad. But I just can’t stay away from those home dogs on weeknights in college football. Florida International came through for me last week in a similar situation. Also, the Eagles handed me 15.5 points in Week 5 with a home upset of Louisville, so I’m going back to the Chestnut Hill well.
Texas Tech (+8.5) at TCU
Another pick that doesn’t make a lot of sense, other than the fact that I don’t think TCU is going 12-0 and they have to lose at some point. Lookahead spot for the Frogs with Texas on deck. I like to take big swings. It has me in second place to date.
Vanderbilt (+7) vs. South Carolina
Vanderbilt has taken a step forward in a lot of areas this season, and there is urgency to snap this 25-game SEC losing streak to make the progress feel real. South Carolina is the opportunity to do that. Vanderbilt lost 21-20 at South Carolina last year, surrendering the winning touchdown with 37 seconds left. Gamecocks don’t escape this season.
MORE: Against the spread picks for Week 10's Top 25 games
Bill Bender, Lead college football writer
No. 13 Kansas State (+2.5) vs. No. 24 Texas
The Wildcats were an underdog last week, too, and all they did was beat Oklahoma State 48-0. This is shaping up to be one of those one-score games, and the Longhorns are 1-3 in that situation this season. Kansas State keeps its Big 12 championship game hopes alive.
No. 20 Syracuse (+3.5) at Pitt
Both teams have lost two straight games, and it will be a fun showcase game for running backs Israel Abanikanda and Sean Tucker. Look for Garrett Shrader to make the clutch throws in the fourth quarter, and the Orange break a four-game losing streak to the Panthers.
Auburn (+13) at Mississippi State
The Bryan Harsin era is over, and that could take the pressure off the Tigers under interim coach Cadillac Williams. This team still has given up 40-plus points and is on a four-game losing streak, so this is a longshot. But these teams played a 43-34 shootout last season. Look for Auburn to put up a fight here.
Zac Al-Khateeb, Content producer
Nebraska (+16) vs. Minnesota
It’s Week 10 of the season and I’m painfully aware that I’m last in the standings, by a wide margin. I need some big wins to get back in the race. Enter Nebraska, which is 3-5 on the season and 2-3 under Mickey Joseph. The Cornhuskers have a two-game losing streak and are facing a Minnesota team with the always-dangerous Mohamed Ibrahim. But the Gophers’ 31-0 win over Rutgers snapped a three-game skid; I’m looking for Nebraska to earn a statement win here — perhaps the last one of the season.
No. 1 Tennessee (+8) at No. 3 Georgia
Hendon Hooker leads the nation’s top-producing offense, but now the Volunteers will face the reigning national champion Bulldogs in a game that decides the SEC East division. (For what it’s worth, star Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith will be out with an injury.) Regardless, any worries that Tennessee would look ahead last week to this game in a matchup against Kentucky were quickly squashed as the Volunteers won, 44-6. This team is singularly focused on winning, and already has five ranked victories on the season. Look for a sixth on Saturday.
No. 23 Liberty (+13.5) at Arkansas
Arkansas earned this near-two-touchdown spread amid a 5-3 start. But the Flames represent a dangerous opponent capable of putting up scores in bunches. Indeed, the team’s only loss was a 37-36 shootout with Wake Forest earlier this year. Liberty scores an average of 30 points per game, while Arkansas gives up 31.9 points per game and has allowed 35 points or more in three of their last four games. This could be potentially disastrous for Sam Pittman and Co. if they don’t show up. Will Hugh Freeze attempt to use this game as an audition for the Auburn job?
MORE: Bowl projections | Heisman Trophy race
