Week 9 of college football was a pivotal moment for both bettors and playoff contenders, featuring a slate of ranked matchups, surprising upsets, and sharp analysis from Vegas experts. This week’s results significantly reshaped the top 25 and set the stage for crucial discussions ahead of the first College Football Playoff rankings release.
The ninth week of the college football season delivered on all fronts: high-stakes matchups, unexpected outcomes, and critical insights for those tracking the betting lines and the coveted College Football Playoff spots. From Friday night thrillers to a jam-packed Saturday, fans witnessed performances that will undoubtedly dictate the narratives moving forward. As the committee prepared to release its initial playoff rankings, every game carried immense weight.
Vegas Expert Bruce Marshall’s Week 9 Insights
For bettors, the focus often turns to seasoned experts, and Bruce Marshall, a legendary Vegas handicapper, was once again at the forefront with his Week 9 picks against the spread. Known for his extensive background with the famed Gold Sheet sports betting newsletter, Marshall’s analysis is highly anticipated by the college football community. He brought a significant hot streak into Week 9, boasting a 24-10 roll (+1281) on his official SportsLine college football spread betting picks, as reported by CBS Sports.
Marshall’s methodology, dubbed his “tech corner technique,” meticulously evaluates all relevant trends and the latest college football odds. One of his standout recommendations for Week 9 was backing Michigan State (+4.5) to cover on the road against Michigan. This pick went against recent trends, as Michigan had won four of the past six rivalry games and demonstrated strong spread numbers in previous seasons. However, Marshall emphasized that past trends could be misleading this season, citing Michigan’s struggling 1-6 against the spread (ATS) record and Michigan State’s recent success, covering in three of its past four games, including an outright upset against Iowa as a 6.5-point underdog.
Marshall highlighted head coach Jonathan Smith’s prowess as an underdog, stating, “The Spartans are 4-1 as underdogs for head coaching Jonathan Smith, a role he played well previously at Oregon State (17-10-1 between 2019-23),” according to SportsLine. This insight underscores the importance of coaching philosophy and team psychology in betting, especially when traditional statistics might suggest a different outcome.
Key Week 9 Matchups and Their Impact
The Week 9 schedule was packed with intriguing games, including several ranked matchups that had significant playoff implications:
- No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy: Notre Dame entered as a 13.5-point favorite.
- No. 25 Vanderbilt (+18.5) vs. No. 5 Texas: A surprising top-25 team, Vanderbilt faced a tough test.
- No. 15 Alabama vs. No. 21 Missouri (+17): A crucial SEC battle.
- No. 8 LSU vs. No. 14 Texas A&M (-1): Another high-stakes SEC showdown that could shape the College Football Playoff picture.
These games not only offered compelling betting opportunities but also served as de facto playoff eliminators or enhancers, with outcomes directly influencing how the committee would view contenders.
The SEC Showdowns: A Playoff Crucible
The Southeastern Conference once again proved to be a crucible for playoff aspirations, with three matchups featuring ranked opponents. As detailed by USA TODAY Sports, these games were:
- No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 19 LSU: Texas A&M put its undefeated record on the line.
- No. 8 Mississippi at No. 11 Oklahoma: A significant inter-conference clash.
- No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 14 Missouri: A surprising matchup of two strong SEC programs.
These contests underlined the intense competition within the SEC and its outsized influence on the national championship race.
The College Football Playoff Picture After Week 9
Week 9 was the last chance for many teams to impress the College Football Playoff committee before the initial rankings were released. The results led to significant shifts, particularly the upset of a prominent undefeated team.
Undefeated Teams Hold Strong, Except One
Most of the remaining undefeated Power 5 teams successfully navigated their Week 9 challenges:
- No. 1 Georgia (8-0): Crushed Florida 43-20, demonstrating offensive depth even without star tight end Brock Bowers.
- No. 2 Florida State (8-0): Dominated Wake Forest 41-16, with quarterback Jordan Travis leading the charge.
- Michigan (8-0): Secured a win, maintaining their perfect record despite the Wolverines’ struggle against the spread this season.
- Washington (8-0): Survived a road scare against Stanford, winning 42-33, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns.
- Ohio State (8-0): Won a low-scoring slugfest against Wisconsin 24-10, showcasing their defensive strength.
However, the biggest storyline impacting the playoff picture was the fall of an undefeated giant.
Kansas Shocks No. 6 Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners, the last undefeated team in the Big 12, suffered a stunning upset at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks. After leading 21-17 at halftime, Oklahoma’s defense crumbled in the second half. Kansas quarterback Jason Bean ignited the comeback with a 38-yard touchdown run, followed by two more touchdown drives of 65 and 80 yards to seal the victory. This 39-33 win marked Kansas’ first triumph over Oklahoma in the series since 1997, a truly historic moment for the program, as reported by ESPN. The upset immediately complicated Oklahoma’s path to the playoff and added another layer of intrigue to the Big 12 race.
ESPN Writers’ Playoff Picks After Week 9
Following the Week 9 results, ESPN’s college football writers offered their projections for the top four playoff spots, highlighting the ongoing debate and varying perspectives:
- Andrea Adelson: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Ohio State
- Blake Baumgartner: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Kyle Bonagura: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Bill Connelly: 1. Michigan, 2. Georgia, 3. Ohio State, 4. Florida State
- Heather Dinich: 1. Ohio State, 2. Florida State, 3. Georgia, 4. Washington
- David Hale: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Ohio State
- Chris Low: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Ohio State, 4. Florida State
- Harry Lyles Jr.: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Ohio State, 4. Florida State
- Ryan McGee: 1. Georgia, 2. Ohio State, 3. Washington, 4. Florida State
- Adam Rittenberg: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Alex Scarborough: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Washington, 4. Florida State
- Mark Schlabach: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Paolo Uggetti: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Tom Van Haaren: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Florida State, 4. Washington
- Dave Wilson: 1. Michigan, 2. Georgia, 3. Ohio State, 4. Florida State
The consensus leaned heavily towards Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State, with Ohio State and Washington vying for the fourth spot. Oklahoma’s loss certainly made the committee’s decision more straightforward, at least in eliminating one undefeated contender.
Looking Ahead: The Road to the Playoffs
With Week 9 firmly in the books, the college football season continues its relentless march towards the playoff. Future matchups, such as Georgia potentially facing a test from Missouri and Washington heading on the road to battle USC, will be pivotal. Each remaining game is a crucial audition for teams hoping to secure one of the coveted playoff berths. The drama of the regular season continues to build, promising more upsets and memorable performances as teams battle for supremacy.
