College Football Week 9 Picks: Predictions for Every Saturday Game

Week 8 of the college football season turned out to be the wildest and most entertaining weekend of the season so far. Big-name contenders like LSU, Texas A&M, Clemson, UCLA and Louisville all tasted defeat in what turned out to be a weekend filled with stunning upsets.

This week, the top three teams in the country—Alabama, Florida State and Oregon—are all heavy favorites. However, other Top 10 teams such as Stanford, Missouri and Texas Tech are all facing tough challenges.

So should we expect any more big, standings-shaking upsets this week?

Here’s a look at the predictions and picks for every Saturday game of Week 9.

Saturday’s Super Six Picks

Ohio State Buckeyes (-16)

In its first three games against Big Ten opponents, Ohio State has yet to have a true statement performance, beating Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa by an average of just nine points. The Buckeyes should finally be ready to have a true breakout showing in a Saturday night spotlight game against Penn State. 

The Nittany Lions likely spent their bye week celebrating their big four-overtime win over Michigan. But true freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg and the rest of the team will likely be in for a rude awakening in Columbus.

Florida State Seminoles (-32)

It would be understandable to expect a letdown performance from Florida State, following the team’s huge 51-14 victory over Clemson last week. But this is a Seminoles squad that seems to be on a mission to dominate in 2013, and they’re going to look to send a statement every time they step on the field this season.

QB Jameis Winston may have been on the sideline during last year’s stunning loss at NC State. However, Winston and Florida State’s key veteran leaders such as Christian Jones, Lamarcus Joyner and Rashad Greene remember just how embarrassing that defeat was. They’ll be looking to avenge that loss by beating down on a severely overmatched Wolfpack squad in Tallahassee.

There will be no mercy shown in this lopsided blowout.

 

Texas Longhorns (+2.5)

The doom and gloom aura surrounding head coach Mack Brown and Texas following the Longhorns’ disastrous defensive performances in back-to-back blowout losses to BYU and Ole Miss now seems to have subsided after a huge win over rival Oklahoma. The Longhorns are slowly but surely starting to get back on track. That resurgent rise should continue against a TCU team which just isn’t getting competent play from QB Trevone Boykin right now.

Though the Horned Frogs have a quality defense, led by All-American CB Jason Verrett, they simply won’t have an answer for explosive RB Johnathan Gray and the dynamic receiver duo of Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley. 

Texas wants revenge for last year’s 20-13 loss in Austin, and the Longhorns will get it.

 

Virginia Tech Hokies (-13)

Virginia Tech may be ranked 14th in the first BCS rankings of the season. But, it still feels like the 6-1 Hokies are flying under the radar at this point. That will likely change soon enough, though, if QB Logan Thomas and the team’s smothering defense continues to play at the high level we’ve seen since the opening loss to Alabama back in Week 1. 

The Hokies defense, which currently ranks second in the nation in total defense, should turn in another dominant effort against a Duke offense, led by first-year starting QB Anthony Boone, which has been feasting on subpar defenses over the last few weeks.

Virginia Tech should be able to keep Boone and the Blue Devils offense corralled. On the flip side, Thomas will likely be able to create plenty of big, explosive plays against a Duke defense which has given up 104 plays of 10 yards or more, the most in the ACC.

SMU Mustangs (-14)

SMU is a much better team than its 2-4 record would lead you to believe, especially when you consider the fact that the Mustangs’ four losses all came at the hands of solid opponents: Texas A&M, TCU, Rutgers and Texas Tech. 

This week, we should finally get to see just how powerful June Jones’ offense can really be when SMU squares off against a weak Temple defense, which is prone to allowing big, explosive plays in the passing game.

The Mustangs’ dangerous receiver tandem of Jeremy Johnson and Darius Joseph should be able to create plenty of big plays against the Owls secondary, which currently ranks 115th in the nation in pass defense.

 

San Jose State Spartans (-8)

The battle between San Jose State and Wyoming has been billed as a showdown of two of college football’s top passers: David Fales and Brett Smith. However, the real difference in this game will be the Spartans’ defense, which is led by three of the Mountain West’s top defenders: CB Bene Benwikere, LB Keith Smith and DT Travis Raciti.

Though on paper, the Spartans' defense doesn’t look great, the unit is certainly capable of putting together a stifling shutdown performance at home against a Cowboys offense which really struggled in losses to Texas State and Colorado State in recent weeks.

If the Spartans' defense comes to play, Fales and the San Jose State offense should be able to do enough to win this game by double-digits.

Predictions For Every Saturday Game

 

Louisville Cardinals at South Florida Bulls

Spread: Louisville (-20.5)

Total: 46.5

Picks: Louisville (-20.5), OVER

Prediction: Louisville 42, South Florida 17

 

Oklahoma State Cowboys at Iowa State Cyclones

Spread: Oklahoma State (-12.5)

Total: 56

Picks: Iowa State (+12.5), UNDER

Prediction: Oklahoma State 28, Iowa State 20

 

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Spread: Nebraska (-10)

Total: 52

Picks: Nebraska (-10), OVER

Prediction: Nebraska 38, Minnesota 24

 

Houston Cougars at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Spread: Rutgers (-7)

Total: 61

Picks: Rutgers (-7), UNDER

Prediction: Rutgers 34, Houston 24

 

Ball State Cardinals at Akron Zips

Spread: Ball State (-9)

Total: 54

Picks: Akron (+9), UNDER

Prediction: Ball State 27, Akron 23

 

Connecticut Huskies at UCF Knights

Spread: UCF (-23)

Total: 52.5

Picks: Connecticut (+23), UNDER

Prediction: UCF 28, Connecticut 17

 

Northwestern Wildcats at Iowa Hawkeyes

Spread: Iowa (-3.5)

Total: 52.5

Picks: Northwestern (+3.5), OVER

Prediction: Northwestern 38, Iowa 31

 

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Miami Hurricanes

Spread: Miami (-24)

Total: 54.5

Picks: Miami (-24), UNDER

Prediction: Miami 38, Wake Forest, 10

 

Vanderbilt Commodores at Texas A&M Aggies

Spread: Texas A&M (-17)

Total: 68.5

Picks: Texas A&M (-17), UNDER

Prediction: Texas A&M 42, Vanderbilt 21

 

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Cavaliers

Spread: Georgia Tech (-10)

Total: 48.5

Picks: Virginia (+10), OVER

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Virginia 23

 

Pittsburgh Panthers at Navy Midshipmen

Spread: Pittsburgh (-5)

Total: 52

Picks: Navy (+5), OVER

Prediction: Navy 34, Pittsburgh 30

 

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats

Spread: Ohio (-25)

Total: 51

Picks: Ohio (-25), OVER

Prediction: Ohio 48, Miami (Ohio) 17

 

Toledo Rockets at Bowling Green Falcons

Spread: Bowling Green (-4)

Total: 56

Picks: Bowling Green (-4), UNDER

Prediction: Bowling Green 27, Toledo 21

 

Western Michigan Broncos at Massachusetts Minutemen

Spread: Massachusetts (-4)

Total: 46

Picks: Massachusetts (-4), OVER

Prediction: Massachusetts 31, Western Michigan 24

 

Temple Owls at SMU Mustangs

Spread: SMU (-14)

Total: 62

Picks: SMU (-14), OVER

Prediction: SMU 44, Temple 28

 

Eastern Michigan Eagles at Northern Illinois Huskies

Spread: Northern Illinois (-31)

Total: 65.5

Picks: Northern Illinois (-31), UNDER

Prediction: Northern Illinois 45, Eastern Michigan 10

 

Buffalo Bulls at Kent State Golden Flashes

Spread: Buffalo (-1)

Total: 50

Picks: Buffalo (-1), UNDER

Prediction: Buffalo 27, Kent State 20

 

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

Spread: Michigan State (-9.5)

Total: 49

Picks: Michigan State (-9.5), OVER

Prediction: Michigan State 35, Illinois 23

 

Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Tulane Green Wave

Spread: Tulsa (-3)

Total: 48.5

Picks: Tulsa (-3), UNDER

Prediction: Tulsa 26, Tulane 17

 

Clemson Tigers at Maryland Terrapins

Spread: Clemson (-17)

Total: 60

Picks: Maryland (+17), UNDER

Prediction: Clemson 31, Maryland 21

 

NC State Wolfpack at Florida State Seminoles

Spread: Florida State (-32)

Total: 58

Picks: Florida State (-32), OVER

Prediction: Florida State 52, NC State 14

 

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Oklahoma Sooners

Spread: Oklahoma (-6.5)

Total: 59

Picks: Texas Tech (+6.5), UNDER

Prediction: Oklahoma 30, Texas Tech 27

 

Duke Blue Devils at Virginia Tech Hokies

Spread: Virginia Tech (-13)

Total: 47.5

Picks: Virginia Tech (-13), OVER

Prediction: Virginia Tech 38, Duke 17

 

Tennessee Volunteers at Alabama Crimson Tide

Spread: Alabama (-28)

Total: 51.5

Picks: Alabama (-28), OVER

Prediction: Alabama 45, Tennessee 10

 

Boston College Eagles at North Carolina Tar Heels

Spread: North Carolina (-6.5)

Total: 58.5

Picks: Boston College (+6.5), OVER

Prediction: Boston College 34, North Carolina 28

 

UTEP Miners at Rice Owls

Spread: Rice (-18)

Total: 59

Picks: UTEP (+18), OVER

Prediction: Rice 38, UTEP 27

 

West Virginia Mountaineers at Kansas State Wildcats

Spread: Kansas State (-11.5)

Total: 52.5

Picks: West Virginia (+11.5), UNDER

Prediction: West Virginia 24, Kansas State 20

 

Utah Utes at USC Trojans

Spread: USC (-6)

Total: 52

Picks: USC (-6), OVER

Prediction: USC 37, Utah 27

 

Troy Trojans at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Spread: Western Kentucky (-10)

Total: 61

Picks: Western Kentucky (-10), UNDER

Prediction: Western Kentucky 35, Troy 21

 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Air Force Falcons

Spread: Notre Dame (-20)

Total: 57

Picks: Notre Dame (-20), UNDER

Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Air Force 14

 

UAB Blazers at UTSA RoadRunners

Spread: UTSA (-7.5)

Total: 59.5

Picks: UTSA (-7.5), OVER

Prediction: UTSA 41, UAB 24

 

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at FIU Golden Panthers

Spread: Louisiana Tech (-5.5)

Total: 50

Picks: FIU (+5.5), UNDER

Prediction: FIU 26, Louisiana Tech 20

 

UNLV Rebels at Nevada Wolf Pack

Spread: Nevada (-6.5)

Total: 68

Picks: UNLV (+6.5), OVER

Prediction: UNLV 44, Nevada 38

 

Georgia State Panthers at Louisiana-Monroe WarHawks

Spread: Louisiana-Monroe (-14)

Total: 51

Picks: Louisiana-Monroe (-14), OVER

Prediction: Louisiana-Monroe 38, Georgia State 17

 

UCLA Bruins at Oregon Ducks

Spread: Oregon (-23.5)

Total: 72.5

Picks: Oregon (-23.5), OVER

Prediction: Oregon 59, UCLA 31

 

North Texas Mean Green at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Spread: North Texas (-12)

Total: 50

Picks: Southern Miss (+12), OVER

Prediction: North Texas 34, Southern Miss 24

 

South Alabama Jaguars at Texas State Bobcats

Spread: South Alabama (-2)

Total: 50.5

Picks: Texas State (+2), UNDER

Prediction: Texas State 24, South Alabama 17

 

Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks

Spread: Baylor (-35)

Total: 64.5

Picks: Kansas (+35), UNDER

Prediction: Baylor 45, Kansas 17

 

Wyoming Cowboys at San Jose State Spartans

Spread: San Jose State (-8)

Total: 71

Picks: San Jose State (-8), OVER

Prediction: San Jose State 45, Wyoming 35

 

South Carolina Gamecocks at Missouri Tigers

Spread: Missouri (-3)

Total: 53

Picks: Missouri (-3), UNDER

Prediction: Missouri 26, South Carolina 19

 

Idaho Vandals at Ole Miss Rebels

Spread: Ole Miss (-41)

Total: 58

Picks: Idaho (+41), OVER

Prediction: Ole Miss 49, Idaho 14

 

Florida Atlantic Owls at Auburn Tigers

Spread: Auburn (-24)

Total: 51

Picks: Florida Atlantic (+24), OVER

Prediction: Auburn 37, Florida Atlantic 20

 

Texas Longhorns at TCU Horned Frogs

Spread: TCU (-2.5)

Total: 51.5

Picks: Texas (+2.5), UNDER

Prediction: Texas 27, TCU 21

 

Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio State Buckeyes

Spread: Ohio State (-16)

Total: 56

Picks: Ohio State (-16), OVER

Prediction: Ohio State 41, Penn State 21

 

Arizona Wildcats at Colorado Buffaloes

Spread: Arizona (-13)

Total: 56

Picks: Colorado (+13), OVER

Prediction: Arizona 38, Colorado 27

 

Fresno State Bulldogs at San Diego State Aztecs

Spread: Fresno State (-7)

Total: 62.5

Picks: San Diego State (+7), OVER

Prediction: Fresno State 38, San Diego State 34

 

Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State Beavers

Spread: Stanford (-4.5)

Total: 56

Picks: Oregon State (-4.5), OVER

Prediction: Stanford 37, Oregon State 34

 

Cal Golden Bears at Washington Huskies

Spread: Washington (-28)

Total: 67

Picks: Washington (-28), UNDER

Prediction: Washington 48, Cal 17

 

Colorado State Rams at Hawaii Warriors

Spread: Colorado State (-4.5)

Total: 56

Picks: Colorado State (-4.5), UNDER

Prediction: Colorado State 31, Hawaii 20

Note: All lines courtesy of Covers.com. Games involving FCS opponents are not included.