We have already reached Week 9 of the college football season, and the top teams are starting to emerge. The Big Ten Conference kicked off play in Week 8, and that league has already landed several Top 25 teams.
The Pac-12 Conference is still a week away from beginning play, but the Week 9 schedule is once again loaded with some terrific matchups. Below is a quick look at 12 of the top games featuring Top 25 teams in Week 9.
The Clemson Tigers remain the top-ranked team in the country, and the Tigers are massive favorites again this weekend. Boston College enters this game with a record of 4-2, but it will have to play great to stay in this game.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence continues to put up video game-like numbers this season, but the Tigers have several other weapons as well. The Tigers can score points in a hurry, and the defense is terrific as well.
The Eagles have been throwing the ball well this season, but they need to find a rushing attack. Boston College will need to have long drives to give the defense a chance in this one.
Clemson is arguably the best team in the country, and there is no slowing it down. The Tigers cover the large spread in this game.
The Georgia Bulldogs return to the field Saturday after having a bye in Week 8. They are 14.5-point favorites over Kentucky in this game, though the Wildcats have been a tough team to figure out in 2020.
Georgia was off to a great start this season, but it was dominated by Alabama in its last game. The Bulldogs are looking for quarterback Stetson Bennett to play much better in this outing against Kentucky.
Kentucky has some impressive wins this season, but it looked bad in a 20-10 loss to Missouri on Saturday. Defense has not been an issue for the Wildcats, but this team has to score points to keep up with the Bulldogs.
The Wildcats play much better at home, but Georgia is the superior team. The Georgia Bulldogs cover the 14.5-point spread and win by 20-plus in this game.
Cincinnati might have been the most impressive team in Week 8, dismantling a Top 10 SMU team to remain unbeaten. The Bearcats host Memphis on Saturday and the Tigers are trending in the right direction as well.
The Bearcats are allowing less than 13 points per game this season, and that unit will play a huge role in this matchup. Quarterback Desmond Ridder can do it all for Cincinnati, and that offense is underrated as well.
Memphis will try to turn this game into a track meet, and they have the weapons to do it. The Tigers are averaging 343 passing yards per game, and they will keep the pressure on the Bearcats defense.
Expect this to be a tight game throughout, but Cincinnati is just too strong on defense. The Bearcats come away with a double-digit win on Saturday.
The 4-1 Kansas State Wildcats are 2.5-point underdogs this week despite being a Top 25 team. West Virginia will host its conference rival in this game, and the Mountaineers are looking to get their season rolling.
Kansas State currently leads the Big 12 Conference, making it a target for the remainder of the season. The Wildcats have been winning games with running and defense, but they will have to throw the ball to win this one.
West Virginia might have two losses already this season, but there is plenty of talent on that roster. The Mountaineers can be explosive on offense, and they will try to push the tempo against Kansas State.
This is going to be a tight game, but Kansas State just has too much momentum. Take the 2.5 points and bet on the Wildcats to stay undefeated in Big 12 play with a win.
Both Rutgers and Indiana pulled off upset wins to kick off their 2020 season, and they will square off this weekend. The Scarlet Knights stunned the Michigan State Spartans, while the Hoosiers knocked off the Penn State Nittany Lions in dramatic fashion.
Rutgers scored 38 points in the Week 8 win, but the offensive numbers weren’t that great. The Scarlet Knights were able to take advantage of some costly mistakes from the Spartans.
Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was great for the Hoosiers late in their win, and this team has a ton of offensive weapons. There are still some holes on the defensive side of the ball, but the Hoosiers are for real.
It’s hard to get a good read on either team after just one game, so don’t expect a blowout in this one. Take the 11.5 points and bet on the Scarlet Knights in this matchup.
The Fighting Irish appeared to figure some things out on offense in Week 8, which could be a big problem for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a record of 2-4, and they are trending in the wrong direction.
Georgia Tech has allowed at least 48 points in each of the last two weeks, and this defense is searching for answers. Notre Dame just scored 45 points against Pittsburgh in Week 8, and this will be another big game for the offense.
This game will get out of hand in a hurry as the Fighting Irish will cruise to a victory.
Oklahoma State is a perfect 4-0 so far this season, but the Cowboys will be tested on Saturday when they host the Texas Longhorns. The Big 12 Conference has been hard to figure out in 2020, and this is another interesting matchup.
Oklahoma State is allowing just 12 points per game this season, and that defense has been leading the way. The Cowboys can score points as well, but this team will look to shut Texas down.
The Longhorns are averaging more than 307 passing yards per game, and Sam Ehlinger is one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Ehlinger will play well in this one, but he needs more help.
Texas just can’t seem to figure things out, and Oklahoma State is one a roll. The Cowboys win this game by a touchdown or more.
Mississippi State will get a chance to pull off a massive upset on Saturday night when they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama has been extremely impressive this season, and that offense is explosive.
After stunning LSU in the season opener, Mississippi State has really struggled. The Bulldogs try to throw their way to victory, and that just doesn’t work well in the SEC.
Alabama is scoring almost 50 points per game this season, and quarterback Mac Jones is putting up ridiculous numbers. The Crimson Tide have struggled at times on defense, but head coach Nick Saban will get things figured out.
This game is a complete mismatch on paper, and it will play out that way on the field. Take the Crimson Tide in this one.
The Wisconsin Badgers are one of the favorites to win the Big Ten West this season, and they have a tough road game at Nebraska on Saturday. Wisconsin is 1-0 to begin the season, while Nebraska is 0-1.
The Cornhuskers suffered a 52-17 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, and Nebraska was only competitive for a quarter. Nebraska was able to run the ball well in that loss, but the defense is a major concern.
Wisconsin had little trouble beating Illinois on Friday night, and quarterback Graham Mertz had five touchdowns in the win. Mertz has since tested positive for COVID-19, and his status for this game is up in the air.
With or without Mertz, the Badgers are the better team. Take Wisconsin -8.5 over Nebraska on Saturday.
Penn State is looking for redemption after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Indiana in its season opener. The Nittany Lions will host the Ohio State Buckeyes, arguably the best team in the Big Ten Conference.
The Nittany Lions allowed 36 points against Indiana, and that unit has to play better in this game. Penn State has plenty of offense to keep this game tight, but that unit needs some help.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was nearly perfect in the season opener, and he put himself in the Heisman Trophy conversation. The Buckeyes scored 52 points in a win over Nebraska, and the defense was solid as well.
Playing at home will Penn State in this game, but it still won’t be enough. Ohio State is simply too good, and it beats the Nittany Lions by 14 points or more.
Arkansas is one of the most improved teams in the country this season, already picking up a pair of SEC wins. Texas A&M still has SEC title hopes, and it is a big home favorite in this game.
Quarterback Feleipe Franks gives the Razorbacks a potent offensive attack, and Arkansas has run the ball well in 2020. This game will likely be high-scoring, and Franks will have to play well.
Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond is having another huge season for the Aggies, and he is playing his way up the NFL draft order. The Aggies do have some issues on defense, but they can really score.
This game will likely be closer than most expect, and taking the 10.5 points and the Razorbacks is the right play in this game.
The Virginia Cavaliers began the season as a ranked team, but the Cavaliers are just 1-4 on the season. North Carolina enters this game with a 4-1 record and is currently No. 15 in the polls.
Virginia has been a mess on offense all season long, averaging 24 points per game in 2020. The Cavaliers will have to find a way to put some points on the board if they want to keep this game close.
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell has thrown for more than 1,400 yards so far this season, and the Tar Heels love to attack deep. The Tar Heels are scoring more than 37 points per game, and that offense should enjoy another big day in this one.
Don’t expect this game to be close for long as the Tar Heels cruise to a blowout win.
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