Ohio State and Georgia Among top-25 teams on Week 9 upset alert

Top-25 Contenders Face Make-or-Break Tests in Week 9

No program in college football has managed to dodge the upset bug this fall. Georgia already learned that lesson the hard way earlier this month when Auburn walked off Sanford Stadium with a win, squandering the Bulldogs’ brief stay at No. 1. While the remaining unbeatens—Miami, Utah, and UCLA—have dodged the actual bite, they have certainly felt the nip of close calls.

That vulnerability sets the stage for a volatile Week 9 slate, where five top-25 teams find themselves on high upset alert just days before the initial College Football Playoff rankings reveal. Insights from the upcoming selection committee will shed light on conference valuations, record strength, and the weight of quality victories this fall.

Ohio State Travels to USC With a Freshman Under Center

No. 2 Ohio State hits the road to face USC as a 6.5-point favorite, but the Buckeyes carry an unknown into Los Angeles. Ryan Day declined to name his starting quarterback for the Saturday bout, though true freshman Luke Fahey is widely expected to get the nod after stepping in for Julian Sayin two weeks ago against Indiana.

How much Day’s offensive game plan changes with a newcomer directing traffic remains to be seen. The uncertainty makes this a prime upset spot for the Big Ten’s current co-leader with UCLA.

“We all got to be tighter here. We got to help a young quarterback get his first win as a Buckeye. And it’s going to take our best,” Day said Monday. “And that means everyone that’s part of the program has got to be really good in everything that we do. So extra focus this week.”

Georgia Welcomes Florida to Atlanta

No. 3 Georgia meets Florida at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a rivalry showdown following an extra week of preparation for both squads. Florida’s Jon Sumrall has kept his quarterback plans coy from the Bulldogs.

Tramell Jones Jr. delivered a stellar performance in place of the injured Aaron Philo during the Gators’ last time out, presenting Buster Faulkner and Florida’s offensive staff with a dilemma. While Georgia now has game film on both signal-callers, the offensive tweaks change a bit depending on who trots out there with the first team.

Beyond Florida’s offensive changes, the primary hurdle for the Bulldogs is self-inflicted damage. Georgia ranks fourth in the SEC at plus-3 in turnover margin, but failed to deliver against Auburn following Gunner Stockton’s three giveaways. Another sloppy afternoon could hand the Gators an upset, even as double-digit underdogs.

Utah Visits Cincinnati Ahead of the Holy War

No. 6 Utah heads to Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite, stepping right into the Bearcats’ crosshairs after the Bearcats’ takedown of Texas Tech last weekend. The Utes boast the Big 12’s second-best scoring offense at 37.4 points per game and total offense at 478.4 yards per contest, alongside a ferocious run defense.

Cincinnati must figure out how to bottle up junior running back Cole Tabb, who shredded opponents for a season-high 173 yards and a score last time out while averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Adding to the tension is an obvious lookahead factor: Utah hosts BYU on November 7 for a mammoth showdown with CFP implications, a matchup that loses some shine if the Utes stumble in Cincinnati.

Texas Tech Hosts Arizona as Narrow Favorites

No. 13 Texas Tech returns home as a narrow 3.5-point favorite against a surging Arizona team riding a five-game win streak. The Red Raiders surrendered four passing touchdowns in their loss to Cincinnati, and Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita—sitting on 2,064 passing yards and 18 touchdowns—possesses the talent to pick apart secondary coverage breakdowns.

PICKING College Football Week 9: Florida-Georgia, Ohio State-USC, Arizona-Texas Tech, Clemson-FSU

Joey McGuire holds an 8-8 career record against top-25 opponents, the best winning percentage (.500) in the Big 12. Securing a win keeps his team’s major goals intact.

Missouri and Arkansas Renew Rivalry Stakes

No. 23 Missouri travels to Arkansas as a 9.5-point favorite. The Razorbacks snapped their SEC losing skid at Vanderbilt on October 17 and are eager to play spoiler against a ranked division rival clinging to playoff hopes.

Arkansas first-year coach Ryan Silverfield admitted this week that “it’s good to have some hate” in preparation for the Tigers, though he insists he is treating it like any other game in Week 9 at home. The historical odds favor Missouri, which holds a 2-10 record in this series since entering the SEC in 2014.

Regarding health status, Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy practiced this week for the initial time this campaign following his recovery from a gunshot injury suffered during a May concert. Coach Eli Drinkwitz labeled Hardy’s availability for Saturday as to-be-determined.