Analysts predict Texas Tech win and split on Iowa for Week 9

College football enters Week 9 with a landscape defined by volatility, as only three unbeaten teams remain in the Power Four and the first College Football Playoff rankings debut in less than a week. High-stakes matchups, including the SEC’s Georgia vs. Florida showdown in Atlanta, highlight a weekend expected to continue the chaos seen within the top 25 over the last two weeks.

According to CBS Sports, only two matchups this week feature nationally ranked teams: Georgia vs. Florida and a Big 12 clash between Arizona and Texas Tech.

Analysts Predict Texas Tech Will Beat Arizona

In the Big 12, No. 22 Arizona faces No. 13 Texas Tech, who enter as 5.5-point favorites. Analysts Brad Crawford and Chris Hummer both predict a Texas Tech victory. Hummer suggests the Red Raiders’ defensive front may bottle up Arizona’s run game, predicting a 27-20 score. Crawford does not believe Arizona will find a way to beat Texas Tech in Lubbock, predicting a 31-24 result. He notes that Texas Tech is the defending league champion and needs a win to keep hopes alive for the CFP or the Big 12 title game.

In the Big Ten, No. 25 Wisconsin is a 3.5-point underdog against Iowa. The analysts are split on the outcome:

Chris Hummer predicts an Iowa win (20-17) but believes Wisconsin will cover the spread, noting that Iowa’s success depends on avoiding turnovers.
Brad Crawford views Wisconsin as his “upset special,” predicting a 23-20 win for the Badgers, which he notes could move the team inside the top 20 of the initial CFP rankings.

Ole Miss Favors Blitzes Against Auburn

The SEC features a matchup between Auburn and No. 12 Ole Miss, with the Rebels favored by 12.5 points. Hummer notes that Ole Miss blitzes frequently to create havoc, leaving the game’s outcome dependent on Auburn’s Byrum Brown.

The weekend’s predictions come as analysts track their season records. Chris Hummer currently leads Brad Crawford with a 51-20 straight-up record and a 38-32-1 record against the spread, following a strong performance in Week 8. Crawford holds a 47-24 straight-up record and a 35-35-1 record against the spread.