CFB Week 9 picks: Can Ole Miss bounce back as road underdog?
Our college football picks got too hot over the last month. So, naturally, we were humbled by a 2-5 Week 8 slate. It's back to the drawing board to come up with another winning streak, starting with an intriguing Week 9 card. Here are our Saturday seven.
π Check out all college football Week 9 lines on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Game time: 12 p.m. ET
π Pick: Ole Miss +5.5
Ole Miss is hungry for a bounce-back after losing its first game to Georgia last week. Oklahoma doesn't have any truly impressive wins on its resume. The Sooners have only played one ranked SEC opponent, and they lost 23-6.
This matchup pits Ole Miss' high-powered offense against an Oklahoma defense that's allowed the fewest yards per game in the SEC. However, Texas successfully ran the ball against Oklahoma. Ole Miss has enough offensive firepower to score on the Sooners, whose defensive numbers are inflated by their poor competition. Oklahoma's offense, meanwhile, ranks in the bottom half of the SEC in points and yards per game. Quarterback John Mateer hasn't looked healthy since he returned from injury. The Sooners can't score enough to keep up with the Rebels.
Game time: 12 p.m. ET
π Pick: Indiana -26.5
UCLA has won three straight games against weak competition, but two of those were at home. Although the Bruins have been a cute redemption story since firing their coach, Indiana is on a different level. The Hoosiers have pummeled most of their Big Ten opponents. They should have similar success dominating UCLA on both lines of scrimmage and with their rushing attack. Indiana averages 226 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, UCLA's defense allows the most rushing yards per game in the conference. The Bruins are overmatched and are traveling from west to east for a noon kickoff.
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
π Pick: Vanderbilt -2.5
Missouri has benefited from a home-heavy schedule, playing its first six games in Columbia. It went on the road for the first time last week, and Auburn, which hasn't won an SEC game, took Missouri to overtime. Vanderbilt hasn't lost at home and is coming off a win over LSU. This is a coin-flip contest between two teams that like to run the ball. The Commodores are more trustworthy at home than the Tigers are on the road, giving them the slight edge.
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
π Pick: Texas A&M -2.5
I'm done backing LSU, which is obviously way worse than the sum of its talented parts. LSU has defeated inferior opponents such as Clemson, Florida, and South Carolina but faltered against comparable teams. The Tigers' two losses to Ole Miss and Vanderbilt came when they were underdogs of fewer than three points. LSU is back at home now, but I'm not convinced that will fix its glaring issues.
The Tigers have a putrid offensive line and a nonexistent rushing attack that averages the SEC's second-fewest rushing yards per game. They rely too heavily on the passing game, bailing out defenses with their predictability. Texas A&M is 7-0 with impressive wins over Notre Dame and solid SEC opponents. This is the Aggies' toughest test yet, but they'll be up to the task against a flailing LSU squad.
π Check out all college football Week 9 lines on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Game time: 4:15 p.m.
π Pick: Mississippi State +7.5
Mississippi State has been a covering machine, entering Saturday's matchup 6-1 against the spread. The Bulldogs haven't won a marquee SEC game yet, but they've competed against Florida, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. They've played significantly better at home, where they beat Arizona State and lost to Tennessee in overtime. With Texas struggling offensively, this should be a low-scoring game, allowing Mississippi State to keep it within a touchdown.
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
π Pick: South Carolina +11.5
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers hasn't looked great in his two games since returning from injury, but don't forget he was a Heisman candidate before he got hurt in September. South Carolina was a sleeper in the SEC because of Sellers. He should eventually return to form as a dynamic quarterback. Alabama's rushing defense is one of the worst in the SEC, meaning Sellers will have opportunities to take off.
Alabama conquered its most recent road tests against Missouri and Georgia, but the Crimson Tide's offense is obviously better at home. South Carolina's defensive front could disrupt Ty Simpson, who's one of the best signal-callers in the nation. This is just too many points.
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
π Pick: Virginia Tech -4.5
Sometimes the spread tells you everything you need to know. Virginia Tech is 2-5, while California is 5-2. Yet, Virginia Tech is still favored at home. The Hokies have been disappointing, but Cal's record isn't indicative of its talent. The Golden Bears' last two losses to Duke and San Diego State were by a combined 58 points. They barely escaped a putrid UNC team last week. After starting 0-3, Virginia Tech is 2-2 in its last four games.
Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more coverage.
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