The best and worst situational spots for teams in Week 9
Another week of college football, another handful of situational spots.
Before crunching the numbers for Week 9, be sure to keep these notes in your back pocket.
Potential letdowns/hangovers
Michigan State (vs. Purdue)
Line: Michigan State -2.5
After starting the season with three losses by a combined eight points, the Boilermakers have ripped off four straight wins, none bigger than last week's 29-point rout of Ohio State.
Going on the road following an upset over the No. 2 team in the country is typically the formula for a letdown, but I'd argue Michigan State is more likely to slip up.
The Spartans are coming off a home loss to archrival Michigan, and they continue to lose playmakers for quarterback Brian Lewerke. Weeks after starting receiver Cody White went down for the season, the Spartans are now down their No. 1 pass catcher in Felton Davis, who suffered a season-ending injury against the Wolverines.
Washington State (at Stanford)
Line: Stanford -3
Stanford at Notre Dame; Washington at Oregon; Oregon at Washington State; Colorado at USC. It's been tough for ranked Pac-12 teams going on the road this season, especially after big wins. Washington State will look to buck the trend Sunday when the No. 14 Cougars travel to Palo Alto to take on No. 24 Stanford.
Head coach Mike Leach and the Cougars netted their biggest win of the year Saturday during a ranked battle against Oregon, moving to 6-1, but now face the same letdown spot that's been the Achilles' heel for other teams within the conference this season.
A night game in Palo Alto against a ranked team with extra rest (more on this below), Washington State is tasked with bringing the same intensity and then some if it wants to beat the Cardinal in three straight meetings.
Matchup edge
Maryland (vs. Illinois)
Line: Maryland -18
Illinois has relied on its rushing attack more than most teams in the country. The Fighting Illini are No. 26 in the nation in run-play percentage, calling for rushes 59.2 percent of the time. They'll likely have to get out of their comfort zone and throw the ball Saturday against a Maryland defense that's allowing just 3.4 yards per rush this season, a number that's better than the likes of Notre Dame, Washington, Mississippi State, and Alabama.
Minnesota (vs. Indiana)
Line: Indiana -2.5
Minnesota's defense has been better than the numbers would indicate, with its S&P+ rating in the same tier as Boise State, South Carolina, Ohio State, and USC. Offenses this season have beat up on the Golden Gophers by stretching the field vertically, but Indiana isn't capable of doing that.
Minnesota's pass defense is tied for No. 20 in the country in yards per completion, allowing just 10.8. The Hoosiers are a dink-and-dunk offense that's averaging 9.5 yards per completion.
Extra rest
West Virginia (vs. Baylor)
Line: West Virginia -13.5
Baylor and No. 14 West Virginia come into Thursday's game with extra rest, though the Mountaineers should have the advantage based on recent trends. Since 2005, ranked teams at home following a bye week are covering the spread 58.9 percent of the time, according to BetLab, per The Action Network's John Ewing. Furthermore, teams in this situation off a loss in their previous game - West Virginia lost to Iowa State in Week 7 - have been even better, hitting at a 66.7-percent clip over the same time frame.
South Carolina (vs. Tennessee)
Line: South Carolina -7.5
South Carolina needed the bye in Week 8 in the worst way. Not only did the Gamecocks suffer a narrow home loss to Texas A&M the week prior, but it was also an opportunity to rest starting quarterback Jake Bentley, who's been hampered by a knee injury.
Bentley's had two of his better games against Tennessee over his career, combining to go 30-for-44 for 296 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Volunteers will either turn to a less-than-100-percent Jarrett Guarantano - who suffered a rib injury last week against Alabama - or call upon Keller Chryst. Whichever quarterback gets the nod will have to stay within striking distance in one of the more hostile environments in the country.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.