ESPN College GameDay 2016: TV Schedule and Predictions for Week 9 Location

The ESPN College GameDay crew will invade Pac-12 territory in Week 9 to preview the heavyweight bout between the No. 4-ranked Washington Huskies and the No. 17-ranked Utah Utes.

The storylines run deep ahead of the contest, which will mark not only one of the biggest tests of the year for an undefeated Washington team thinking about crashing the College Football Playoff, but it also carries massive conference implications.

As usual, Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack and others will hit the scene to preview the event, taking to President's Circle in Utah for the second year in a row.

Here's everything you need to know about College GameDay and a preview of Saturday's matchup.

College GameDay Week 9 Info                                           

Date: Saturday, Oct. 29

Time (ET): 9 a.m. to noon; game is at 3:30 p.m.

Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah

Watch: ESPN; game is on Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: WatchESPN; Fox Sports Go

Preview

The Huskies have won 10 games in a row. Nearly each one of their opponents this year has fallen by at least 24 points, with the lone exception being a 35-28 overtime win over Arizona. Otherwise, the Huskies have cruised during a run that includes a notable 44-6 rout over then-No. 7 Stanford.

No wonder the Huskies have the Pac-12 title and CFP on their minds. The defense has allowed only 14.6 points per game. Quarterback Jake Browning has 26 touchdowns with only two interceptions, and running back Myles Gaskin has averaged a silly 6.3 yards per carry for 727 yards and six touchdowns.

Still, Washington knows better than to underestimate a ranked Utah team at home.

"I know their fans will be really excited. That's usually what happens. I think there was going to be really good energy in that stadium whether GameDay came or not. This probably just pours a little more energy into the stadium," head coach Chris Petersen said, according to ESPN.com.

The Utes can't go unnoticed, as they boast an offense that dropped 52 points on UCLA last week. Quarterback Troy Williams, who transferred away from Washington, has accounted for 12 total touchdowns this year. Running back Joe Williams has averaged 6.9 yards per carry and has five scores.

Utah's normally stout defense should get a boost at home, too. The unit has allowed more than 28 points in a game just once.

As ESPN.com's Chris Low pointed out, it will have the task of keeping Saturday's game close so Utah can pull off the upset:

The war of wills between familiar teams will decide much, as both squads have come under fire for not playing the toughest of schedules yet.

In other words, Saturday is the biggest game of the season for both teams. The perceived better team is on the road, but the team on Washington's schedule with the best chance of playing spoiler has been Utah all along.

Prediction

Sometimes, it's best to analyze how Las Vegas feels about a matchup and roll with it. 

Here, don't overthink it—pick Washington. According to Odds Shark, the Huskies come in as 10.5-point favorites, even on the road. That sounds about right, given the sparse number of points the Huskies have surrendered on a weekly basis.

Utah's game plan will revolve around keeping the game close, but the offense isn't explosive enough to pull ahead and stay there. Williams hasn't impressed as a passer (seven touchdowns, five interceptions), so his chances against a unit that hardly allows two scores per game don't look great.

Maybe this is a more defensive-minded affair than most expect, but Washington has scored a minimum of 35 points in every game this season—with 41 or more in six of seven.

Look for Browning and Gaskin to give the elite defense some breathing room and never look back.

Prediction: Washington 35, Utah 23

Stats and information via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.