Cover 3 College Football Podcast: Week 9 LOCKS (October 23, 2025)

Best Bets, ATS Picks for Ole Miss-Oklahoma, Illinois-Washington & More!

Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott
Platform: CBS Sports
Date: October 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This action-packed episode of the Cover 3 Podcast focuses on making Week 9 college football "locks," with Chip, Tom, Danny, and Bud sharing their top picks, betting trends, and analysis of the biggest matchups. From the early Thursday night Sun Belt showdowns to Saturday's primetime SEC battles, the crew reviews last week's results, discusses adjustments based on surprises, and gives listeners actionable bets for the coming slate. The show maintains its trademark blend of banter, sicko picks, and detailed reasoning, all while tracking their intra-podcast season-long picks competition.

Key Segments, Picks & Analysis

Recap: Week 8 Performances ([02:34]–[08:37])

• Bud Elliott (5–4):
  • Wins: Temple, North Texas, Minnesota (outright), Vanderbilt, Oklahoma
  • Misses: ECU team total under, Utah, Tennessee, Wash/Mich over
  • Quote: “Tennessee... that’s just good night with the 99 yard pick six there.” — Bud ([03:48])
• Chip Patterson (7–2):
  • Big hits on unders and favorites; split in lock fights
  • Season: 48–37
  • Explains show’s spreadsheet: “Blues are lock agreements... reds are lock fights.” ([05:27])
• Danny Kanell (7–3):
  • “Seven good picks and three really wrong ones, is what I take away.” ([06:45])
  • Doubling down on his Miami National Championship pick.
• Tom Fornelli (4–5):
  • Frustrated misses on team totals; likes the long-term process.
  • On Wyoming: “They just didn’t score points. Just makes me so mad.” ([08:12])

Early Week Action: Thursday/Friday Locks ([09:17]–[13:02])

Thursday

• South Alabama @ Georgia State
  • Discussion on betting Thursday/Friday underdogs; trend: underdogs covering 70% on those nights. (Tom, [10:42])

Friday

• Bud’s LOCK: North Texas team total OVER 42.5
  • “I don’t know if the conditions could be more ideal for scoring here…” ([12:10])
• No other panel locks for Friday games

Saturday Marquee Games & Best Bets

Ole Miss @ Oklahoma ([13:02]–[17:36])

• Chip: UNDER 54.5
  • “Oklahoma defense imposes its will…” ([13:26])
• Bud: AGREEMENT, UNDER 55; also leans toward OU defense
• Tom: Oklahoma -5.5
  • "I don’t think Ole Miss and Chambliss are going to have a ton of success against this defense." ([15:15])
• Danny: Oklahoma -5.5 (Lock agreement)
  • “Oklahoma’s defense shuts down Trinidad Chambliss.” ([17:06])

Missouri @ Vanderbilt ([18:16]–[20:27])

• Bud: OVER 51.5
  • “I trust both offenses here…”
• Danny: Vanderbilt -2.5
• Dennis (the Dentist): Vanderbilt First Half OVER 13.5 (via Bud)
  • “Vandy’s been over this number in every SEC game this year…” ([19:55])

BYU @ Iowa State ([21:09]–[23:50])

• Tom: BYU +2.5
  • “Wrong team favored.” ([21:11])
• Bud: BYU +3 (joins, cites ISU injuries)
• Danny: BYU +3 (UNITY pick)
• Mascot banter: “Cosmo the Cougar” ([23:47])

Minnesota @ Iowa ([24:07]–[26:32])

• Bud: Iowa -8.5
• Chip: UNDER 39.5
  • “If this game has too many points, it sullies the great history of this pig.” ([25:43])
• Bud: Minnesota Team Total UNDER 14.5

Illinois @ Washington ([27:14]–[29:19])

• Chip: Illinois +4.5
• Bud: OVER 54 (leans on potential for points from both, weather impact)
• Panel notes OL/suspension issues for Washington ([28:54])

Texas A&M @ LSU ([29:52]–[32:32])

• Tom: Texas A&M -2.5
  • “LSU’s offense is cheeks.” ([30:09])
• Chip: First Half UNDER 24.5
• Danny: OVER
  • “I think this could be a little wacky.” ([32:32])

Deep Dive “Board is Open” & Undercard Bets ([36:45]–[62:54])

Other Notable Picks

• Houston +7.5 (Chip) — "Houston to be able to be competitive and threaten to pull off the upset." ([37:40])
• Arizona State -7 (Danny) — “I will fight him all day long… this team will be fine.” ([39:11])
• Baylor/Cincinnati OVER 66.5 (Tom)
• Cincinnati -3.5 (Danny)
• South Carolina +12 (Danny, fade Bama’s road trend)
• NC State +7 (Bud) (at Pitt)
• USF -4.5 (Chip; Alex Golesh coach ‘iron/FE/effin elite’ story)
• USF/Memphis OVER 61.5 (Danny)
• Akron Team Total UNDER 18.5 (Bud, “sicko mode” play, [49:20])
• Central Michigan -15.5 (vs. UMass) (Tom)
• Texas Tech -36.5 (Chip)
• Kansas -2.5 (Danny; Sunflower Showdown)
• Alabama/South Carolina UNDER 47.5 (Tom)
• North Carolina Team Total UNDER 20.5 (Chip)
• Boston College +25.5 (Bud)
• SMU -3 (at Wake) (Danny)
• Wisconsin 1H Team Total UNDER 2.5 (Tom)
• Oregon 1H -19.5 (Chip)
• Michigan Team Total OVER 30.5 (Bud)
• Colorado/Utah OVER 49.5 (Tom)

Notable Analysis, Banter, & Quotes

• Underdog Thursday/Friday trend:
  “...underdogs are covering like 70% of the time [on Thu/Fri nights].” — Tom ([10:42])
• On Ole Miss-Oklahoma:
  “I think Oklahoma’s defense shuts down Trinidad Chambliss.” — Danny ([17:06])
• Previewing Iowa/Minnesota:
  “If this game has too many points, it sullies the great history of this pig.” — Chip ([25:43])
• ‘Sicko mode’ explanation:
  “You know, will I actually watch this game [Akron team total under]? Not live, but I will go back to figure out how it lost.” — Bud ([51:24])
• Effin' elite/Periodic Table story (USF):
  “Anybody who’s smart enough to cheat in chemistry and still wind up being the South Florida Bulls head coach is effin' elite…” — Chip ([45:40])

The Dentist’s Specials ([16:37], [19:55], [65:15])

• Oklahoma 1H Team Total UNDER 14.5
• Vanderbilt 1H OVER 13.5
• Auburn/Arkansas OVER 55.5
• Texas/Mississippi State UNDER 45.5

Moneyline Sprinkles ([67:40]–[76:05])

Bud Elliott (Sprinkle King, up 15 units):

• Syracuse +660
• Northwestern +260
• Tulsa +190
• FAU +500

Danny Kanell:

• BYU +130
• Purdue +110
• Illinois +160
• Auburn +100

Tom Fornelli:

• BYU +130
• Illinois +160
• FAU +500
• Utah State +130
• Minnesota +275
• Ball State +190

Chip Patterson:

• Wake Forest +140
• NC State +205
• Kentucky +280

Noted: BYU and Illinois as popular sprinkle picks this week.

Fun Quotes & Memorable Banter

• On betting the MAC:
  “If you watch the MAC like we do…” — Bud, with immediate laughs ([50:48])
• On stakes:
  “I need to make up some ground on Chip. I will fight him all day long.” — Danny, on Arizona State vs Houston ([39:11])
• On South Carolina's Alabama upset hypothetical:
  “Wouldn’t it be hilarious... if cocktober reigns?” — Chip ([43:03])
• On empty stadiums:
  “Miami’s gonna win in front of nine people.” — Chip ([79:20])
• Effin' elite periodic table (USF): Whole segment is a must-listen for laughter and chemistry coach tales ([45:40]–[47:03])

Recap Graphic ([63:29]–[65:13])

Hosts recite their full Week 9 LOCKS.

• Chip: Focuses on totals, value underdogs
• Bud: Deep dives on team totals & “sicko” unders
• Danny: Prefers favorites in spots, some bold underdogs
• Tom: Mix of totals, moneylines, and narrative-driven picks

Conclusion

The Cover 3 crew provides listeners with a comprehensive slate of CFB picks for Week 9, mixing statistical insights, on-field injury updates, classic banter, and value hunting. They revisit trends, debate the logic behind fading or backing certain teams, and keep stakes high in their intra-show competition. The show ends on a high note, reviewing Moneyline sprinkles and the week’s quirkiest moments, ensuring fans are ready to win some bets and enjoy the full college football Saturday experience.

Listen for:
Sicko picks, coach stories (USF’s Golesh), lots of BYU/Illinois love, and some legendary podcast banter.