College Football Week 9 Predictions: Every Game, Every Pick

We’re all waiting for next week, when a few of the biggest games – Miami vs Notre Dame, for one – are finally here. Until then, this should be another amazing Saturday with Missouri at Arkansas, Clemson at Florida State, and Washington at Nebraska among the headliners. Below are our predictions for every game, and go here for the links to the full game previews and predictions for the biggest battles.College Football Week 9 Predictions Oct 3, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer (3) celebrates after a first down against the Maryland Terrapins during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn ImagesJump For Each GameCal at NC St | BC at Duke | UAB at UCFBGSU at WMU | MU at ODU | KSt at ColCoastal at Ga St | UConn at AF | Tem at ECULa Tech at USA | Stan at UofL | KU at TCUCo St at Utah St | UTEP at NDSU | FIU at LibUSM at ULM | UNM at SJSU | App St at GSUOk St at ISU | Clem at FSU | Wazzu at SDSUGa Tech at Pitt | Mizzou at Ark | Wash at NebArmy at Mem | TXST at Boise | NIU at UNLVOregon St at Fresno St | Big Game PreviewsCal at NC StateGame Time: 12:00 PM ETTV: ACC NetworkConsensus Line: NC State -6.5, o/u: 56.5Can the coaching change make NC State better at football now? The Wolfpack weren’t bad before, but the loss to Stanford was enough to get rid of Dave Doeren and bring aboard Philip Riv… not yet. Running backs coach Todd Goebbel will be the interim head man as the Wolfpack step up the ground attack at home against a Cal run defense that’s been ripped apart over the last few weeks.Prediction: NC State 31, Cal 24Boston College at DukeGame Time: 12:00 PM ETTV: CWConsensus Line: Duke -6.5, o/u: 48.5Boston College is playing far better, on a two-game winning streak with a running game that ripped Georgia Tech to shreds and a passing attack that lit up Pitt. Now it has to deal with a Duke defense that’s been terrific. The Blue Devil offense has hit a wall, but it doesn’t turn it over. Boston College forced 12 takeaways in its four wins and one in the three losses.Prediction: Duke 27, Boston College 21UAB at USFGame Time: 12:00 PM ETTV: ESPNUConsensus Line: USF -7.5, o/u: 42.5Both teams had two weeks off to get ready for this, with the winner taking a huge step in the American race. USF’s offense isn’t moving, but the defense has been able to get by. The Bull run defense will hold up, and the offense will be saved by two UAB turnovers shortening the field. UAB is 0-3 on the road and 4-0 at home, so … Prediction: USF 26, UAB 17Bowling Green at Western MichiganGame Time: 12:00 PM ETTV: CBS Sports NetworkConsensus Line: Western Michigan -13.5, o/u: 44.5Western Michigan got whacked by Toledo last week, but it’s just fine in the MAC title chase as long as the defense gets back to form. Bowling Green has been more interesting over the last few weeks with a sharper midrange passing game. The Broncos will control the game with the ground attack, overcoming a decent day from the Falcon attack.Prediction: Western Michigan 30, Bowling Green 16Marshall at Old DominionGame Time: 1:00 PM ETTV: ESPN+Consensus Line: Marshall -2.5, o/u: 46.5Old Dominion’s offense has totally collapsed. It’s last in the nation, averaging just 251 yards per game – 35 fewer than the second-worst offense, Kent State’s. Marshall’s defense will hold up just fine, but the offense will have to work. The Herd ground game will do just enough to survive in a low-scoring fight.Prediction: Marshall 20, Old Dominion 17Kansas State at ColoradoGame Time: 2:00 PM ETTV: TNTConsensus Line: Colorado -2.5, o/u: 46.5Colorado is on a five-game losing streak, with the wheels coming off in a blowout loss to Oklahoma State last week. Kansas State’s offense has to run well to win, but it’ll stop midway through the second half. The Buffaloes will finally come up with the right late scoring drive to finally put an end to the losing streak. Prediction: Colorado 26, Kansas State 23Coastal Carolina at Georgia StateGame Time: 2:00 PM ETTV: ESPN+Consensus Line: Georgia State -6.5, o/u: 55.5Can Georgia State stop turning the ball over? It has to against a Coastal Carolina team that only wins when it forces a ton of turnovers. The Chanticleers beat Marshall with six takeaways and Fordham with four, and those were the only two wins. The Panthers will run wild, even with two turnovers keeping this from getting out of hand.Prediction: Georgia State 34, Coastal Carolina 24UConn at Air ForceGame Time: 3:00 PM ETTV: Mountain WestConsensus Line: Air Force -2.5, o/u: 51.5Can UConn outrush Air Force? It’s 4-0 when running for more than 185 yards, but the Air Force run defense will hold up at home, and its own ground attack will do what it does. The two teams will combine for over 500 yards on the ground in a very fast, very entertaining game.Prediction: Air Force 28, UConn 24Cal at NC St | BC at Duke | UAB at UCFBGSU at WMU | MU at ODU | KSt at ColCoastal at Ga St | UConn at AF | Tem at ECULa Tech at USA | Stan at UofL | KU at TCUCo St at Utah St | UTEP at NDSU | FIU at LibUSM at ULM | UNM at SJSU | App St at GSUOk St at ISU | Clem at FSU | Wazzu at SDSUGa Tech at Pitt | Mizzou at Ark | Wash at NebArmy at Mem | TXST at Boise | NIU at UNLVOregon St at Fresno St | Big Game PreviewsTemple at East CarolinaGame Time: 3:00 PM ETTV: ESPN+Consensus Line: East Carolina -5.5, o/u: 50.5Wildly disappointing, Temple is too good to lose at home to Charlotte like it did last week 38-31. East Carolina lost its last two games in overtime on the road, and now it’ll take it out on the Owls as long as it can finally chill on the turnovers. Temple has forced three in the last six games. Prediction: East Carolina 35, Temple 17Louisiana Tech at South AlabamaDate: Saturday, October 31, 2026Game Time: 3:00 PM ETTV: ESPN+Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, ALConsensus Line: Louisiana Tech -6.5, o/u: 58.5On a four-game winning streak, Louisiana Tech has found its groove with a good passing game and a run defense that’s stuffing everything. It also helps that it just beat ULM and Old Dominion teams with no offense whatsoever. Coming off a loss to Marshall, South Alabama will kick the offense up a few notches in a high-scoring game decided by one late Jaguar turnover.Prediction: Louisiana Tech 37, South Alabama 31Stanford at LouisvilleGame Time: 3:15 PM ETTV: ACC NetworkConsensus Line: Louisville -22.5, o/u: 60.5Stanford is playing well under new head coach Tavita Pritchard, cranking up the passing game in fun shootouts with timely scoring and clutch late stops … at home. The Cardinal are brutally awful on the road, failing to score more than seven in any of the three losses. Louisville’s balanced attack will roll at will as it tries to hang around in the ACC title chase.Prediction: Louisville 44, Stanford 16Oct 24, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks safety Taylor Davis (27) celebrates during the second half against the Baylor Bears at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn ImagesKansas at TCUGame Time: 3:30 PM ETTV: FS1Consensus Line: TCU -5.5, o/u: 45.5Just when it seemed like all was lost, the Kansas offense stepped up in a 25-24 win over Baylor last week that got Bear head coach Dave Aranda fired. The problem is a Jayhawk defense that can’t stop anyone on the road, but TCU’s problem is that it can’t seem to score anywhere. The Horned Frog defense holds up as Kansas cranks up the yards, but not the points.Prediction: TCU 24, Kansas 21Colorado State at Utah StateGame Time: 3:30 PM ETTV: USA NetworkConsensus Line: Utah State -6.5, o/u: 61.5The Colorado State defense has been a flaming hot mess. It’s the worst in the nation by a mile, giving up over 50 more yards per game than the second-worst defense, West Virginia’s. Utah State’s offense has been sputtering and coughing, but it’s about to have a whole lot of fun, especially on the ground as the Aggie attack finally gets moving.Prediction: Utah State 34, Colorado State 30UTEP at North Dakota StateGame Time: 3:30 PM ETTV: Mountain WestConsensus Line: North Dakota State -24.5, o/u: 42.5UTEP can’t get this dog to hunt. It’s supposed to have a fun offensive style, but it’s not working. The turnovers have stopped, but that won’t matter with North Dakota State getting back on track after a tough loss to New Mexico. It’ll be a methodical, balanced day from the Bison.Prediction: North Dakota State 38, UTEP 13FIU at LibertyGame Time: 3:30 PM ETTV: CBS Sports NetworkConsensus Line: Liberty -13.5, o/u: 45.5Liberty appears to be steamrolling its way to the Conference USA title game, but it still has five games to go to get there. FIU’s defense is strong enough to keep this from getting ugly, and too many Liberty penalties will be a factor, but at home, the Flames will keep it all going with their suffocating D.Prediction: Liberty 24, FIU 20Southern Miss at ULMGame Time: 3:30 PM ETTV: ESPN+Consensus Line: Southern Miss -3.5, o/u: 55.5ULM finally got a win, shocking Troy 21-14, but it’ll have a hard time keeping up against a Southern Miss team that’s having a hard time stopping decent offenses. The Golden Eagles lost to Troy 55-34. ULM pulls this off with three takeaways to overcome a blah day from the offense.Prediction: ULM 27, Southern Miss 26Cal at NC St | BC at Duke | UAB at UCFBGSU at WMU | MU at ODU | KSt at ColCoastal at Ga St | UConn at AF | Tem at ECULa Tech at USA | Stan at UofL | KU at TCUCo St at Utah St | UTEP at NDSU | FIU at LibUSM at ULM | UNM at SJSU | App St at GSUOk St at ISU | Clem at FSU | Wazzu at SDSUGa Tech at Pitt | Mizzou at Ark | Wash at NebArmy at Mem | TXST at Boise | NIU at UNLVOregon St at Fresno St | Big Game PreviewsNew Mexico at San Jose StateGame Time: 4:00 PM ETTV: Mountain WestConsensus Line: New Mexico -14.5, o/u: 42.5New Mexico is playing like a team good enough to make a push for the Group of Six’s spot in the College Football Playoff, but it’s a grinding squad. The Lobo style travels well, but the Spartan defense will keep this close. Both teams know how to play low-scoring games, but New Mexico does it better.Prediction: New Mexico 24, San Jose State 17App State at Georgia SouthernGame Time: 6:30 PM ETTV: ESPN+Consensus Line: Georgia Southern -5.5, o/u: 57.5App State found itself at the right time, ending James Madison’s perfect season in an overtime thriller after surviving Coastal Carolina in a firefight. Georgia Southern has a consistent attack, and the defense is grinding, but App State is fine as long as it doesn’t turn the ball over – that cost it in the loss to Old Dominion. The Mountaineers will be sharp.Prediction: App State 30, Georgia Southern 27Oklahoma State at Iowa StateGame Time: 7:00 PM ETTV: FS1Consensus Line: Oklahoma State -8.5, o/u: 57.5The Oklahoma State offense has kicked it all in at just the right time. The Cowboy defense isn’t just along for the ride, but Iowa State’s offense won’t be able to keep up the pace, even on the road. The Cyclones are struggling against the top Big 12 teams, and Oklahoma State is now just that. Iowa State won’t come up with enough key late stops.Prediction: Oklahoma State 34, Iowa State 24Oct 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive line Rylan Kennedy (15) and defensive line Mandrell Desir (3) celebrate after a sack during the second quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesClemson at Florida StateGame Time: 7:00 PM ETTV: ACC NetworkConsensus Line: Florida State -6.5, o/u: 49.5There was a time not all that long ago when this national title-level matchup would stop the world. Clemson is sputtering with little to no consistency on offense – turnovers are an issue – but the defense is keeping the team in games. Florida State is playing relatively well, but it’s losing. After two weeks to rest after the double-overtime loss to Miami, the Seminoles win by completing passes. FSU is 3-0 when Ashton Daniels hits at least 63% of his passes. Clemson is 0-3 when allowing teams to hit 57% of their throws.Prediction: Florida State 30, Clemson 24Washington State at San Diego StateGame Time: 7:00 PM ETTV: CBS Sports NetworkConsensus Line: San Diego State -2.5, o/u: 47.5San Diego State is a crazy night-and-day different team at home. It’s 0-4 on the road, getting annihilated in all four games, giving up 56 points to Colorado State last week, and 66 to Oregon State in mid-October. At home, this bunch finds a way to win tight battles. Washington State doesn’t score enough to push through.Prediction: San Diego State 24, Washington State 20Jump For Each GameCal at NC St | BC at Duke | UAB at UCFBGSU at WMU | MU at ODU | KSt at ColCoastal at Ga St | UConn at AF | Tem at ECULa Tech at USA | Stan at UofL | KU at TCUCo St at Utah St | UTEP at NDSU | FIU at LibUSM at ULM | UNM at SJSU | App St at GSUOk St at ISU | Clem at FSU | Wazzu at SDSUGa Tech at Pitt | Mizzou at Ark | Wash at NebArmy at Mem | TXST at Boise | NIU at UNLVOregon St at Fresno St | Big Game PreviewsGeorgia Tech at PittGame Time: 7:30 PM ETTV: ESPN2Consensus Line: Pitt -7.5, o/u: 54.5Georgia Tech isn’t playing a lick of defense, but Pitt isn’t nearly the same offensively without quarterback Mason Heintschel – who’s out for the year hurt. The Panthers are 0-3 with their starting quarterback out, but at home they’ll get the ground game going against a Georgia Tech defense that gave up close to 400 rushing yards and five scores last week against Boston College.Prediction: Pitt 31, Georgia Tech 24Missouri at ArkansasGame Time: 7:45 PM ETTV: SEC NetworkConsensus Line: Missouri -9.5, o/u: 48.5Emotions will be high as Missouri’s star running back Ahmad Hardy is expected to be back for a little bit of work after suffering a gunshot wound this offseason. Arkansas will be tough at home – the defense is holding up way better than it did last year – but Missouri’s offense will be back to form after sitting for two weeks on the 31-3 loss to Ole Miss.Prediction: Missouri 27, Arkansas 21Cal at NC St | BC at Duke | UAB at UCFBGSU at WMU | MU at ODU | KSt at ColCoastal at Ga St | UConn at AF | Tem at ECULa Tech at USA | Stan at UofL | KU at TCUCo St at Utah St | UTEP at NDSU | FIU at LibUSM at ULM | UNM at SJSU | App St at GSUOk St at ISU | Clem at FSU | Wazzu at SDSUGa Tech at Pitt | Mizzou at Ark | Wash at NebArmy at Mem | TXST at Boise | NIU at UNLVOregon St at Fresno St | Big Game PreviewsWashington at NebraskaGame Time: 8:00 PM ETTV: Big Ten NetworkConsensus Line: Nebraska -7.5, o/u: 49.5Nebraska has slipped with two straight tough losses, but it gets back on track at home against a Washington team that flew to Purdue, won by 12, flew back to Seattle, and two weeks later flew back out to Lincoln. Nebraska will need a bit to get up to speed, but the ground game will get to 200 yards in a good win to set the tone for the finishing kick.Prediction: Nebraska 26, Washington 23Army at MemphisGame Time: 8:00 PM ETTV: ESPNUConsensus Line: Memphis -6.5, o/u: 59.5The Memphis run defense is terrific. It got hammered by Boise State back in early September, but no one else was able to get to 180 rushing yards. Memphis was beaten the one time turnovers were an issue – three in the 31-17 loss at Tulane, and two against everyone else. Army won’t force enough mistakes, but the ground game will work in a good, fun game.Prediction: Memphis 37, Army 30Texas State at Boise StateGame Time: 10:00 PM ETTV: CWConsensus Line: Boise State -11.5, o/u: 63.5When will the Texas State offense consistently crank up the offense to win a game like this? It got past the bizarre 31-29 loss at San Diego State to win two straight fights, and now it’ll give Boise State a fight. The Broncos will win, but they’ll have to work to pull away.Prediction: Texas State 38, Texas State 26Northern Illinois at UNLVGame Time: 10:30 PM ETTV: CBS Sports NetworkConsensus Line: UNLV -24.5, o/u: 53.5Now that Sacramento State has its first win of the season – taking down Kent State on Friday night – Northern Illinois is the lone remaining winless team. It’s not going to change that against a UNLV team that spent two weeks relaxing after a 41-31 loss to Air Force. Northern Illinois won’t have the offense to keep up.Prediction: UNLV 41, Northern Illinois 13Oregon State at Fresno StateGame Time: 11:00 PM ETTV: USA NetworkConsensus Line: Oregon State -5.5, o/u: 58.5Can Fresno State stop the nation’s best passing game? Oregon State star receiver Jesse Legree will go off against a Fresno State defense that’s 0-3 against teams that connected on at least 64% of their passes. Braden Atkinson is hitting 69% of his passes, and he’ll open it up on the Bulldog secondary.Prediction: Oregon State 42, Fresno State 35Biggest College Football Games of Week 9Notre Dame at NavyArizona at Texas TechWisconsin at IowaSMU at SyracuseIllinois at MarylandMichigan at RutgersAuburn at Ole MissPurdue at Penn StateNorthwestern at OregonArizona State at BYUFlorida vs GeorgiaMinnesota at IndianaUtah at CincinnatiVirginia at Wake ForestNevada at UCLASouth Carolina at OklahomaMiami at North CarolinaOhio State at USCMississippi State at TexasConsensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.