Week 9 is now here and we are getting much closer to a clearer picture of the College Football Playoffs. Ohio State remains the No. 1 team in the nation. The Buckeyes scored a resounding 34-0 win over Wisconsin, the Badgers second consecutive shutout in as many weeks.

Week 9 also brought us another head coach firing from a Power 4 school. It was not Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell. It was Florida’s Billy Napier, whose Gators actually beat Mississippi State 23-21 in his final game.

Indiana and head coach Curt Cignetti once again proved to the nation that they are worthy. The Hoosiers were rewarded with the No. 2 ranking in the latest AP poll. They moved up as a result of Miami’s loss to Louisville on Friday night.

Speaking of upsets, No. 9 Georgia beat No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 at home. Unranked Arizona State got the best of Texas Tech, which played without starting QB Behren Morton. The Sun Devils had to hold off a furious Red Raider comeback for the 26-22 win. Then, at night in Provo, No. 15 BYU beat No. 23 Utah as a 3.5-point home underdog. For good measure, Stanford beat Florida State, an 18.5-point favorite, to close out the night.

We’ve got three more games between ranked opponents in Week 9.

• No. 8 Ole Miss @ No. 13 Oklahoma
• No. 15 Missouri @ No. 10 Vanderbilt
• No. 3 Texas A&M @ No. 20 LSU

There is still plenty of college football remaining to be played. The College Football Playoff race is starting to really heat up at this point in the season. Make sure you stay on top of the CFP by checking out the College Football Championship odds and our experts’ predictions for this year’s CFP championship.

The new week should help start to clear up the path to the College Football Playoff. Remember, 12 teams are selected by the CFP committee. The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids. The four highest-ranked teams, regardless of their conference championship status, will receive a first-round bye in the playoff.

College Football Week 9 Schedule

College Football Week 9 Odds

Keep an eye on the latest College Football odds from the top online betting sites and monitor how the lines change throughout the week.

Looking at the Week 9 CFB card, we find almost entirely conference matchups. Normally, at this point in the season, you don’t find many huge point spreads. Elite Power 4 teams are not playing poor to mediocre Group 6 teams.

However, we do have one game this week with a spread in the 30s. Oklahoma State, which fired head coach Mike Gundy several weeks ago, is headed toward a one-win season. The Cowboys travel to No. 14 Texas Tech as 38.5-point underdogs. It’s the week’s largest spread by a mile.

Last week, FAU and South Florida closed with a total above 70 (73.5). That game went Under. This week, it’s Baylor at Cincinnati and the current total is sitting at 68.5. The total opened at 66.5 and is up two points already.

On the opposite end, it’s another low total in the MAC with Ball State-Northern Illinois and a current total of 41.5. However, the lowest total on the board right now belongs to Minnesota and Iowa. The two Big Ten foes are among the best in the nation on defense. Iowa gives up 14.6 points per game and Minnesota allows 19. Six of the last nine Minnesota games have gone Under the total as have 11 of the last 16 in this series.

Our experts will run through the best games for Week 9 and offer preferred picks and predictions. If you want even more advice before placing your week 9 CFB bets, though, be sure to check out what the top sports betting handicappers have to offer.

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College Football Week 9 Predictions

Let’s take a look at the featured College Football Week 9 games and make our NCAAF picks for each game.

Ole Miss Rebels @ Oklahoma Sooners Odds

This is a matchup that hasn’t happened a lot in the history of college football. These two college football teams have met just twice ever. The most recent was last year in Oklahoma’s first season as a member of the SEC. The Rebels won the game 26-14.

With the win, Ole Miss is now 2-0 in the series. The other win came in the 1999 Independence Bowl. Last year’s win sparked a three-game SEC win streak for the Rebels that included a 28-10 win over Georgia. Ole Miss would go on to finish 10-3 last year.

Ole Miss Rebels @ Oklahoma Sooners Predictions

Ole Miss is coming off the 43-38 loss to Georgia last week. It was the first loss of the season for the Rebels, but their road to the SEC championship and College Football Playoff is still open. Even with a loss this week, those roads are likely both still open. The Rebels remaining schedule finds them playing South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida, and the rivalry game with Mississippi State.

Oklahoma recovered from that loss to Texas with a 26-7 win over South Carolina last week. QB John Mateer is back and he leads an Oklahoma offense that is efficient. The Sooners are really all about defense though. They held the Gamecocks to just one score. That’s the fourth game in which the Sooners held a team to seven points or less. Oklahoma is No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense.

This game comes down to how the Sooners defense handles Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels have proven they can score on anyone, but Oklahoma presents a huge challenge. The Sooners have won all of their true home games and their last five at home have gone Under the total. That’s likely again on Saturday.

Bet: Oklahoma -205, Oklahoma -4.5 (-110), Under 53.5 (-115)

Missouri Tigers @ Vanderbilt Commodores Odds

Missouri holds a commanding lead in this series – 11-4-1. Thirteen of the 16 games in the series have come since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. The two teams have met every year since. That’s because they were both in the old SEC East Division.

Since 2012, Missouri holds a 10-3 advantage. They have won the last five in a row, including last year’s 30-27 win in double overtime. The game was tied at 20-20 after a scoreless fourth quarter. Blake Craig, who had missed three field goals in regulation, hit a 37-yarder in the second overtime for the win.

Missouri Tigers @ Vanderbilt Commodores Predictions

With identical 6-1 records going into this SEC game, Missouri and Vanderbilt are both 2-1 in conference play and hoping to maintain their hopes of winning the conference. The Tigers had to go to double overtime last week to beat Auburn 23-17. Vanderbilt won at home against LSU, 31-24, to continue their incredible run.

Missouri QB Beau Pribula completes 72% of his passes and throws for 1,365 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wideout Kevin Coleman Jr. leads the receiving corps with 388 yards on 40 catches. RB Ahmad Hardy, has 782 yards and nine touchdowns on 115 carries and the Missouri offense is one of the most balanced in the country.

On the other side, Vandy QB Diego Pavia has thrown for 1,409 yards and 14 touchdowns while gaining 352 yards on the ground. TE Eli Stowers has 323 receiving yards and two scores. The Commodores defense is opportunistic creating 12 turnovers so far this season. The run defense is elite, holding opponents to 92 yards per game (12th).

This should be another great football game in Week 9. It’s a revenge angle for Vanderbilt, who is also favored against the Tigers for the first time in forever. It was a similar story last week as Vandy was favored against LSU at home. Expect a similar outcome this week.

Bet: Vanderbilt -142, Vanderbilt -2.5 (-115), Over 52.5 (-105)

Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Carolina Gamecocks Odds

The Crimson Tide has won four of the last five games in the series. The last time Alabama lost to the Gamecocks was 2010 and that game was played in Columbia, the site of this year’s game. The two teams have only played 17 times and Alabama has won 14. Two of the three losses have come at South Carolina.

Alabama was a 21-point home favorite against South Carolina last year. Two years ago was the last time the teams played in Columbia. The Tide was a 26.5-point favorite. The Gamecocks did not have QB LaNorris Sellers then. Sellers can be a difference maker.

Last year, the Gamecocks came within a two-point conversion of forcing overtime against Alabama.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Carolina Gamecocks Predictions

The Gamecocks (3-4) have been a disappointment so far this season. Sellers is a proven, quality SEC quarterback. WR Nyck Harbor (6-5, 240) is an absolute freak, but the offense only averages 20.1 points per game. That’s 115th in the nation.

The Gamecocks defense is still an elite unit. They rank in the the top-35 in the country in both pass defense and scoring defense. South Carolina gives up 20 points per game. The problem this week is that the Gamecocks will face an offense that is starting to really come together.

Alabama is averaging 35 points per game and just put 37 on Tennessee in a huge win last week. There is potential for a let-down though. The Tide are coming off an emotional win against a rival and now play an SEC game in a sandwich spot. Alabama has LSU next, though the Tide do get a bye next week.

Expect the Gamecocks to battle as they need a marquee win to help salvage their season and get them closer to bowl eligibility. It doesn’t get much easier for South Carolina either as they face ‘Bama then Ole Miss and Texas A&M. All three teams are currently ranked in the AP Top 10.

Both defenses are among the best in the SEC and in the nation. Still, expect both teams to score some points. Over the last three meetings between the two, they have averaged a combined 59.34 points per game.

Bet: ML pass, South Carolina +11.5 (-108), Over 47.5 (-112)

BYU Cougars @ Iowa State Cyclones Odds

These two programs don’t have much history meeting just five times prior to this year. The last meeting came in 2023. Iowa State won easily 45-13 in Provo. The Cyclones earned their fifth straight win over the Cougars. All of the previous four games were played in 1974 or earlier.

BYU comes off a huge win last week. The Cougars were a 3.5-point home underdog against Holy War rival Utah. BYU not only covered, but also got the straight-up win. Iowa State lost a tough 24-17 decision to Colorado. It was the Cyclones second consecutive loss after starting the season 5-0. Both losses were on the road.

BYU Cougars @ Iowa State Cyclones Predictions

Both of these teams were considered top contenders to win the Big 12 title in 2025. The Cougars are 4-0 in conference play after last week’s big win. The Cyclones have two conference losses, but they are not out of it yet.

Iowa State does win at home. They’ve won five straight at Jack Trice Stadium. Interestingly, BYU finds itself as the underdog for a second straight week despite being the higher-ranked team. BYU is currently ranked 11th in the latest AP poll. The Cyclones fell out of the rankings after the loss to Colorado.

Rocco Becht leads a solid Iowa State passing game. The Cyclones score 29.2 points per game, throwing for 242 yards and rushing for 163 per game. Head coach Matt Campbell’s team is very good defensively. The Cyclones allow just 19.0 points per game, 28th-best in the nation.

The Cougars under head coach Kilani Sitake are built similarly and have a more explosive offense with QB Bear Bachmeier running the show. BYU has great balance – 204 rushing yards per game, 233 passing yards per game. The Cougars average 35.6 points per game.

They are even better on defense. LB Jack Kelly is an animal and leads the team in sacks with five. BYU ranks 14th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 14.6 points per game. They rank in the top 40 versus the run and the pass.

The spread opened with BYU laying -1.5 and has flipped to Iowa State -2.5 currently. It’s interesting line movement and it’s trying to tell us something. Iowa State gets the big bounce-back upset victory.

Bet: Iowa State -142, Iowa State -2.5 (-118), Over 48.5 (-115)

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Iowa Hawkeyes Odds

This rivalry goes back several decades and began in 1891. Minnesota won the first 12 games in the series and holds a 63-53-2 lead, but the Hawkeyes have dominated the series recently. Iowa has won nine of the last 10 games in the series.

Interestingly, the road team has won each of the last two. Minnesota’s only win in the last 10 years was a 12-10 win at Iowa in 2023. Head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers will be hard-pressed to repeat that task in 2025. Fleck must replace his quarterback once again.

It’s pretty simple for Fleck. Run the football and play great defense. It’s a similar recipe for Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa Hawkeyes. That’s why Ferentz is the longest-tenured head coach in the Big Ten and in the country.

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Iowa Hawkeyes Predictions

Both of these teams are 5-2. Minnesota pulled a huge upset last week as they dominated Nebraska and beat the Cornhuskers 24-6. The defense was outstanding, limiting Nebraska to just 213 total yards, but that game was at home. The Golden Gophers two losses were both on the road (Ohio State, Cal).

Iowa lost its rivalry game to Iowa State, 16-13, and then dropped a tough one to No. 2-ranked Indiana 20-15 at home. The Hawkeyes have the upper hand in this series with Minnesota’s lone win in the last 10 meetings coming two years ago in Iowa City.

We raved about QB Mark Gronowski coming into this season, but he really hasn’t lived up to the expectations. Plus, Gronowski has been banged up. Make no mistake, it’s defense that is the reason why Iowa is 5-2.

Minnesota allows 19 points per game, which ranks 27th in the nation. Iowa checks in at No. 9, allowing 14.6 per game. Over the past several years, Iowa was an automatic Under because of a horrible offense. While new offensive coordinator Tim Lester has injected life into the offense over the last two seasons, the Under is still in play. Sportsbooks opened this game total at 38.5.

The Under has cashed in 11 of the past 16 meetings between these two teams. Last season, Iowa was a 2.5-point road favorite. Now, they are favored by 9.5 at home. Minnesota has proven it can score at times too. The Gophers average nearly 27 points per game. This total might be too low.

Bet: ML pass, Minnesota +9.5 (-112), Over 39.5 (-108)

Texas A&M Aggies @ LSU Tigers Odds

The home team has won eight straight in this SEC rivalry. The Aggies won last year in QB Marcel Reed’s coming out party. He rushed for three touchdowns after coming off the bench to spark the Texas A&M win.

The difference in this game will come down to which defense is better at this point in the season. Both are among the best in the country. LSU head coach Brian Kelly has said that this is his best roster in his four seasons in Baton Rouge. The results – a 5-2 record through seven games – say otherwise.

Texas A&M Aggies @ LSU Tigers Predictions

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was a strong Heisman Trophy candidate coming into the 2025 season. That ship has sailed though as the Tigers offense is one of the more confusing disappointments this season. LSU averages 25.6 points per game. There are 86 teams in the FBS that average more than the Tigers.

The claim to LSU’s fame this season is the defense. The Tigers allow just 14.6 points a game, 10th in the nation. They lost to Vanderbilt last week, giving up a season-high 31 points. The other loss came to Ole Miss, a game where the Tigers gave up 24 points. In their five wins, LSU held its opponents to 10, 7, 10, 10, and 10 points. To have success this week, the defense will have to come through.

Texas A&M is ranked No. 3 in the nation at 7-0. The Aggies defense ranks in the top 50 against the run (46th) and pass (46th) and they allow 23.4 points per game. The offense has really been good with Reed back at quarterback. The Aggies have scored 31 or more points in all but one game and that was a 16-10 win over Auburn, another very good SEC defense.

Playing at home will help keep LSU in this game, but their body of work just isn’t the same as the Aggies. If you know anything about this rivalry, the scoreboard operator is usually pretty busy.

Bet: Texas A&M -135, Texas A&M (-2.5, -115), Over 48.5 (-115)

Michigan Wolverines @ Michigan State Spartans Odds

It’s Big Brother versus Little Brother in this in-state Big Ten rivalry. Michigan owns the rivalry with a 74-38-5 record in the series. The Spartans had a nice run between 2008 and 2015 where they won eight of the nine games. Michigan has won the last three straight, including last year’s 24-17 win in Ann Arbor.

All eyes have been on freshman QB Bryce Underwood at Michigan. The offense has actually been pretty good. That’s because the Wolverines have had great success running the football. Michigan has the No. 22 rushing offense in the nation, averaging 212.1 yards per game.

That running game has helped Underwood and the passing game. Underwood has thrown for 1,440 yards and seven touchdowns this season. His completion percentage (62.4%) could be better, but he has only thrown two interceptions.

Michigan Wolverines @ Michigan State Spartans Predictions

Michigan comes into this one ranked once again in the AP Top 25. The defense has been elite. They are coming off an impressive win over Washington, holding the Huskies to just seven points. MSU comes into the game on the heels of a four-game losing streak.

The streak started with a home loss to USC. The Spartans lost to Nebraska and then lost back-to-back games to UCLA and No. 2 Indiana by identical 38-13 scores. The offense has not been good, especially the running game. MSU ranks 107th in the nation in rush offense averaging 123 yards per game.

The defense has practically fallen apart. Michigan State allows 32.7 points per game (122nd). The pass defense is horrific, allowing 251.4 yards per game (111th). The run defense isn’t as bad, allowing 131.5 yards per game (51st).

Now, it’s a rivalry game, but keep in mind Michigan was a 3-point home favorite a year ago. This year, the Wolverines are a 14-point chalk on the road. That’s a huge swing and it tells you how bad things are in East Lansing and how well things are going in Ann Arbor.

This is the highest total in this game in a couple years and each of the last two and three of the last four have gone Over. MSU has nothing to lose and would love to salvage its season with a win over its biggest rival. Not happening, but it’ll help push the total Over.

Bet: ML pass, Michigan -14 (-110), Over 48.5 (-110)

Best College Football Week 9 Bets

Here are our favorite bets this week:

• Alabama @ South Carolina +11.5 (-108)
• Minnesota @ Iowa Over 39.5 (-108)
• Michigan -14 @ Michigan State (-110)

Alabama comes off the big win over Tennessee. They are clearly the better team here, but the Gamecocks almost upset the Tide last season. Head coach Shane Beamer is in sort of a must-win situation with the Gamecocks at 3-4.

South Carolina has two more games against Top 10 teams in the coming weeks. To ensure bowl eligibility, the Gamecocks need a win. They probably don’t do that, but they can keep this one close at home.

Iowa is not the same Hawkeyes offense as the past few seasons. In fact, the Over has cashed in 13 of the Hawkeyes last 20 games. Iowa averages almost 30 points per game. Minnesota averages right around 27. Both teams play really good defense, but the total is just too low in this one. It has even moved up a point since opening.

Michigan has owned Little Brother Michigan State for the last three seasons. The average score in those three games? Michigan 34, Michigan State 8. The Wolverines defense will be too much for an MSU offense that has put up 13 points in consecutive weeks. The Michigan running game will pound the Spartans defense and allow the Wolverines to get another win and cover over its in-state rival.

If you want to place all three of these Week 9 picks into an NCAAF parlay, then you would win a staggering $608on a $100 wager. That’s a 6x on your investment. If you want more parlay action, check out our best College Football parlays of the week. For the NFL bettors, we also have an NFL parlay of the week.