Boo, who? College football's Halloween Saturday promises more October spookiness

A Week 9 Halloween Saturday in college football?

It’s rather anticlimactic, at least in terms of boos and frights.

That’s because the top teams in the country already spent much of October holding on to the walls in a desperate attempt — failing, in many cases — to make it through a haunted house of a month without soiling themselves.

In Week 6, No. 1 Texas lost to unranked Oklahoma, LSU lost to unranked Kentucky and popular national championship pick Oregon lost at home to unranked UCLA.

In Week 7, No. 1 Georgia lost at home to unranked Auburn, Texas lost at home to unranked Florida and three other presumed title contenders — Notre Dame, Indiana and Alabama — went down.

And in Week 8, No. 2 BYU fell at unranked UCF while Texas Tech, Tennessee, Iowa and USC all took it on the chin from unranked foes.

The “unranked” thing has become one of the dominant themes of a season in which upsets — otherwise known as bad losses — have been the norm and only three unbeaten teams remain, well below what’s usually the case as November nears. Does anybody out there really think No. 1 Miami, No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 Utah will avoid getting dinged eventually? Put me down for a “no” on all three.

It boggles the mind to think about the College Football Playoff committee eventually managing to seed the 12-team tournament to anyone’s satisfaction. The disagreement — speaking of boos — might be louder and lustier than ever.

Meanwhile, the “unranked” thing has seeped all the way into my addled brain as I consider my predictions for this weekend’s games. A trick or a treat? Heck, I don’t know. Just take the Milk Duds and get off my stoop.

Week 9 picks

All games Saturday; my picks to cover listed first.

Illinois (-2½) at Maryland (11 a.m., FS1, 890-AM): Playing in place of injured quarterback Katin Houser, Michael Clayton last week became only the third Illini true freshman ever to win a start, a 21-10 upset of Oregon. Clayton threw for only 84 yards in that game, though, which won’t cut it on the road — not even against the dysfunctional Terrapins, who are down a head coach after Mike Locksley was fired. Will the 4-3 Illini hold things together enough to win one in honor of coach Bret Bielema’s dad, Arnie, who died on Sunday? I-L-L, 24-20.

Michael Hickey/Getty

Navy (+30½) vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (11 a.m., ABC 7, 780-AM): The Midshipmen have lost five games — four of them by one score — but they’ve run the ball to their standard and put a ton of points on the board. It might not take more than a couple of touchdown drives to cover against the Irish, who could be holding a few things back for their Week 10 mega-matchup with Miami. Middies get smacked around but cover in Foxborough, Mass.

No. 22 Arizona (+3½) at No. 13 Texas Tech (11 a.m., ESPN): Everybody is talking about Texas Tech billionaire booster Cody Campbell, who is putting the pressure on the one-loss Red Raiders, but the quiet truth is their one-loss visitors have the better season résumé and more mojo coming in. Give me the Wildcats in overtime.

Iowa (-3½) vs. No. 25 Wisconsin (11 a.m., Fox 32): The Badgers come in hot — their defense is playing lights-out — but it’s the Hawkeyes who have owned the Heartland Trophy series of late and have won the last three matchups in Iowa City by an average of over 22 points. Hawkeyes in a classic knuckle-dragger, 20-13.

No. 17 Florida (+12½) vs. No. 3 Georgia (2:30 p.m., ABC 7): The neutral-site game, forever and a day held in Jacksonville, Fla., has moved to Atlanta for the first time, which doesn’t seem all that neutral. Both teams had an extra week to prepare for the Cocktail Party. Bulldogs, 31-21.

USC (+6½) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (6:30 p.m., NBC 5): Put the Buckeyes on upset alert because they’re starting a freshman QB, Luke Fahey, who has neither been there nor done that and now, with star Julian Sayin out, gets the nod for the first time. It’s not like the Buckeyes can just lean into their rushing attack, which has been so-so. The Trojans have a shot, but I’ll take the visitors by less than the spread.

My favorite favorite: Oregon (-3) vs. No. 20 Northwestern (2:30 p.m., Peacock, 720-AM): The Ducks are a bit of a mess, but the indignity of that — along with their speed and home turf — should propel them against an opponent that has traveled a mighty long way to get there. Ducks by double digits.

My favorite underdog: North Carolina (+14½) vs. No. 1 Miami (6:30 p.m., ABC 7): The whole season has been weird. Bill Belichick coaching college ball will never not be weird. Give me more weird. Tar Heels in an upset that makes utterly no sense at all.

Last week: 4-1 straight-up, 3-2 against the spread.

Season to date: 41-15 straight-up, 31-25 against the spread.