As another week of college football kicks off, it’s time for predictions and insight on the biggest games of the week.
We’ve already broken down the five best matchups for Saturday more in-depth here, with three SEC showdowns between ranked teams highlighting the Week 9 slate.
Meanwhile, let’s take a spin through the entire top 25 schedule …
Score Predictions For AP Top 25 Matchups Saturday
Before we get to the picks for Saturday, it’s only fair that we take account of last week’s predictions.
And oof … we went 11-7.
Misses: LSU (lost to Vanderbilt), Duke (lost to Georgia Tech), Texas Tech (lost to Arizona State), Memphis (lost to UAB), USC (lost to Notre Dame), Auburn (lost to Missouri), Utah (lost to BYU).
Best score picks: Alabama 38, Tennessee 28 (actual score: 37-20); South Florida 45, Florida Atlantic 21 (actual score: 48-13); Cincinnati 41, Oklahoma State 21 (actual score: 49-17)
Worst score pick: Memphis 49, UAB 17 (actual score: UAB, 31-24)
Onward and upward.
Here are our Week 9 score predictions …
(All game times ET; all point spreads via ESPNBet)
UCLA (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten) at No. 2 Indiana (7-0, 4-0), 12 p.m. on Fox: The Bruins have become a fun story under interim head coach Tim Skipper, but this is the week their three-game winning streak ends. Indiana is simply too good, too disciplined and too focused. The Hoosiers are a 26.5-point home favorite and that’s right in line with how we see it. Indiana, 47-21.
Syracuse (3-4, 1-3 ACC) at No. 7 Georgia Tech (7-0, 4-0), 12 p.m. on ESPN: Georgia Tech is 7-0 for the first time since 1966, looked impressive in dispatching of a good Duke team last week and should keep rolling against a Syracuse team that has lost three straight games. Dual-threat QB Haynes King is one of the most impactful players in college football and gets it done again for the Yellow Jackets, who are 16.5-point favorites. Georgia Tech, 34-28.
No. 8 Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 SEC) at No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1), 12 p.m. on ABC: The game of the week. Ole Miss is looking to bounce back from its loss at Georgia and stay in thick of the SEC race. Oklahoma, meanwhile, begins a stretch of five straight games against ranked opponents to close the schedule. The Rebels have the No. 8-ranked offense (491.9 YPG) and rank 16th in scoring at 37.4 PPG, while Oklahoma leads college football in total defense, giving up just 213 yards per game, while ranking second in points allowed (9.4 per game). The Sooners are 5.5-point favorites at home, but we think it’s more likely this game starts a second-half fall-off for OU. Ole Miss, 28-20.
No. 16 Virginia (6-1, 3-0 ACC) at North Carolina (2-4, 0-2), 12 p.m. on ACC Network: Maybe North Carolina breaks through and wins at some point, but it’s hard to expect that given all available evidence. Virginia got pushed to the end by Washington State last week in a 22-20 win, so the Cavaliers aren’t invincible. They are 10.5-point favorites, and maybe it’s closer than that Saturday, but we’re not seeing an upset. Virginia, 28-21.
No. 18 South Florida (6-1, 3-0 AAC) at Memphis (6-1, 2-1), 12 p.m. on ESPN2: The AAC race doesn’t get the attention of the SEC or Big Ten, but it’s one of the tightest conference races heading into this final stretch. And these are probably the two best teams in the conference, which has a chance to send its winner to the CFP. So the stakes are big here. Memphis took a stunning loss to UAB last week after QB Brendon Lewis left the game early with an injury. Lewis is reportedly expected to play Saturday, which is huge for the Tigers. But South Florida is a 6.5-point favorite and our pick as well. The Bulls have been too good this year, losing only to Miami. South Florida, 47-38.
No. 4 Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC) at South Carolina (3-4, 1-4), 3:30 p.m. on ABC: The Crimson Tide come off four straight wins over ranked opponents and get what would seem to be a reprieve while visiting the Gamecocks. South Carolina opened the season ranked No. 13, but it’s lost four of its last five games and has lost by at least 9 points to every ranked opponent it’s faced. No reason to overthink this. The Crimson Tide is an 11.5-point favorite. Alabama, 33-21.
No. 15 Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1), 3:30 p.m. on ABC: Vanderbilt is in the top 10 for the first time since 1947 after its win over LSU last week and QB Diego Pavia is a rising Heisman Trophy candidate. Can he and the Commodores keep it going? They average 213 rushing yards per game and rumbled for 239 vs. LSU, but Missouri has the No. 7-ranked rushing defense in the FBS, holding opponents to 83.86 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers also have an elite rushing attack of their own, ranking 7th nationally at 244.86 YPG. Running back Ahmad Hardy is third in the country with 868 rushing yards and 9 TDs. Vanderbilt is a 2.5-point favorite at home, but we’re calling the upset. Missouri, 31-28.
No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) at Iowa State (5-2, 2-2), 3:30 p.m. on Fox: Earlier this season, Iowa State was the ranked team and a top Big 12 contender while BYU was off the radar. That’s flipped as the Cougars are one of just six remaining unbeaten teams in college football and scored a huge win over Utah last week. Iowa State lost two straight to Cincinnati and Colorado before a much-needed bye week to regroup. This feels like a trap game for BYU, sandwiched between the momentous win over Utah and with Big 12 favorite Texas Tech next on the schedule. The Cyclones are actually a 2.5-point favorite and our picks as well. Iowa State, 27-21.
No. 23 Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) at Washington (5-2, 2-2), 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network: The Fighting Illini have been blown out in their two biggest games — by Indiana and Ohio State — but they’ve otherwise taken care of business, led by one of the more underrated QBs in the country in fifth-year senior Luke Altmyer (1,821 passing yards, 13 TDs, 1 INT). Washington is a 3.5-point favorite, but that feels off. Illinois, 35-31.
Oklahoma State (1-6, 0-4 Big 12) at No. 14 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1), 4 p.m. on ESPNU: The Red Raiders were one of the most dominant teams in college football before losing 26-22 at Arizona State last week while playing without starting QB Behren Morton. Morton is expected to be available off the bench while resting his ankle another week, with Will Hammond getting the start again. It shouldn’t matter against Oklahoma State, though. The Red Raiders are a whopping 37.5-point favorite. Texas Tech, 41-10.
Baylor (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) at No. 21 Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0), 4 p.m. on ESPN2: Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson leads the FBS with 2,376 passing yards (with 21 TDs and 7 INTs) and the Bears can put up points with anyone (36.3 per game), so there is some upset potential here. Cincinnati has won six straight, led by QB Brendan Sorsby (1,732 passing yards, 18 TDs and 1 INT, 340 rushing yards and 6 TDs). The Bearcats are a 3.5-point favorite. Cincinnati, 38-35.
Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3), 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network: It’s hard to assume anything about this Texas team with QB Arch Manning continuing to struggle. He was just 12-of-27 passing for 132 yards and 0 TD last week as the Longhorns needed overtime to get past last-place Kentucky, 16-13. Mississippi State has lost three straight since a 4-0 start, but it’s been competitive most weeks. Texas is a 7.5-point favorite. Texas, 28-20.
Wisconsin (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) at No. 6 Oregon (6-1, 3-1), 7 p.m. on FS1: Wisconsin has been shutout in consecutive games by a combined 71-0 margin against Iowa and Ohio State. There’s no reason to think the Badgers will do much of anything against an Oregon team capable of dominating any week. The Ducks are 31.5-point favorites. Oregon, 44-10.
Stanford (3-4, 2-2 ACC) at No. 9 Miami (5-1, 1-1), 7 p.m. on ESPN: The Hurricanes have had a long week to process their loss to Louisville last Friday night and regroup. Miami still has all of its goals alive and should be out to make a statement this week. The Hurricanes are a 28.5-point favorite. Miami, 49-10.
No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0 SEC) at No. 20 LSU (5-2, 2-2), 7:30 p.m. on ABC: The Aggies are the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC, but they’ve also only faced one ranked opponent so far (a 41-40 win at Notre Dame in Week 3). LSU is playing for its season and Brian Kelly is coaching for his job. The Aggies are 2.5-point favorites, but we’re calling the upset. LSU, 31-28.
Boston College (1-6, 0-4 ACC) at No. 19 Louisville (5-1, 2-1), 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network: The Cardinals will look to follow up their major upset win at Miami last week while taking on the worst team in the ACC at home. Boston College’s only win this season came against Fordham. Louisville is a 26.5-point favorite. Louisville, 41-14.
No. 25 Michigan (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) at Michigan State (3-4, 0-4), 7:30 p.m. on NBC: Michigan State is in a freefall with four straight losses by double-digit points. It’s hard to see that turning around today against a physical Michigan team that shook off its loss at USC with a 24-7 win over Washington last week. The Wolverines are 13.5-point favorites. Michigan, 28-10.
No. 17 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC) at Kentucky (0-4, 2-4), 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network: Kentucky did push Texas to overtime last week, but the Wildcats have nonetheless lost nine straight SEC games going back to last season. Tennessee has looked plenty vulnerable — getting pushed for four quarters by Mississippi State and Arkansas — and got blown out by Alabama last week, but this seems like the time for the Vols to make a statement. Tennessee is an 8.5-point favorite. Tennessee, 41-31.
Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) at No. 24 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1), 8 p.m. on ESPN2: Houston has been one of the most surprising teams in college football, but the Cougars lost big to the only ranked team they’ve played so far (Texas Tech). Arizona State has its back to the wall if it wants to repeat as Big 12 champs. The Sun Devils are 7.5-point favorites. Arizona State, 36-24.