Arguably one of the most impressive streaks in college football history ended on Saturday then-No. 2 Ohio State was stunned at Penn State, 24-21. OSU had never lost a true road game under Urban Meyer, winning 20 straight. That’s amazing. But the Buckeyes are still in solid shape for the College Football Playoff if they win out as they only slipped to No. 6 in the AP Top 25. Here are five Week 9 games to watch and their Sports Interaction NCAA football odds. Matchups on Saturday unless noted.
No. 14 Florida vs. Georgia
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Point spread: Florida -7 NCAAF ATS Pick: Gators
It’s the annual World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, Fla. Florida was on its bye last week but now controls its own destiny to win the SEC East Division for a second straight year. That said, the Gators still have tough conference road games at Arkansas and LSU remaining. Georgia also was off last week following a shocking 17-16 home loss to Vanderbilt on Oct. 15 that all but ended the Dawgs’ hopes of playing for the SEC title. Florida won its second straight in the Georgia series last year, 27-3, holding the Bulldogs to just 223 total yards. Many people think that loss was what got Georgia coach Mark Richt fired at the end of the regular season. He’s now at Miami.
No. 8 Baylor at Texas
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Point spread: Baylor -3 NCAAF ATS Pick: Longhorns
Baylor, coming off its bye week, could be the most fake unbeaten team in the nation as the Bears have played a laughable schedule thus far other than beating a decent Oklahoma State team. The schedule gets much tougher starting with this game. Texas lost for the fourth time in its past five games Saturday, 24-21 at Kansas State. It’s now a matter of when the school fires Coach Charlie Strong, not if. If UT is embarrassed at home in this one, Strong might get the boot on Sunday. The Longhorns closed their 2015 season with a 23-17 upset at No. 12 Baylor. The loss knocked the Bears, who were down to their fourth-string quarterback at one point in the UT game due to injuries, out of the Sugar Bowl.
No. 4 Washington at No. 17 Utah
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Point spread: Washington -10.5 NCAAF ATS Pick: Utes
This could be a preview of the Pac-12 Championship Game, especially if Utah wins this one. The Utes are tied for the Pac-12 South lead following a 52-45 win at UCLA on Saturday. Joe Williams had 332 rushing yards in the victory, the most ever recorded by a Utah player in a single game. It is also the most rush yards recorded by a FBS player in a single game this season. Washington, the Pac-12 North leader and one of seven unbeatens left in the country, handled Oregon State 41-17 on Saturday. Last season, the Utes won at Washington, 34-23. Utah forced four Washington turnovers and had a defensive touchdown as part of a 24-point second quarter. Jake Browning threw for 257 yards with a TD and interception for Washington.
No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin
When: 7 p.m. ET Point spread: Wisconsin -8 NCAAF ATS Pick: Cornhuskers
Very big game in the Big Ten West Division. Unbeaten Nebraska leads the division and is 7-0 for the first time in 15 years following Saturday’s 27-14 win over Purdue. Wisconsin is two games back of the Huskers in the West and come off a 17-9 win at defending division winner Iowa. The Badgers have won the past three meetings with the Cornhuskers. It was 23-21 in Lincoln last year as Rafael Gaglianone hit a 46-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. It was the first time Wisconsin made a game-winning kick in the final minute of regulation since 1997. UW started its last drive at its own 30 with 1:03 left after some questionable clock management the drive before by Nebraska.
No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State
When: 8 p.m. ET Point spread: Clemson -3.5 NCAAF ATS Pick: Tigers
Go ahead and put the Tigers into the ACC Championship Game — and probably in the College Football Playoff again — with a win here as they will be heavy favourites in their remaining regular-season games. Clemson was off last week and already holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with No. 5 Louisville in the Atlantic Division. An FSU upset gives a sliver of hope for the Cardinals to win the Atlantic. Clemson will have top running back Wayne Gallman even though he suffered a concussion in the Tigers’ very fortunate 24-17 overtime win vs. NC State on Oct. 15. Florida State also was off last week but has no realistic shot at the division title with two conference losses. Clemson ended a three-game losing streak in this series with a 23-13 home win over FSU last November to clinch a berth in the ACC title game. Gallman had the game-clinching 25-yard TD run with 2:34 remaining. Clemson hasn’t won in Tallahassee since 2006.
