Week 9 will be a separation weekend in the SEC – with three matchups between ranked teams that will help shape the conference race and CFP picture.
No. 8 Ole Miss travels to No. 13 Oklahoma in the early window at noon on ABC. The Rebels and Sooners each have one loss.
No. 15 Missouri travels to No. 10 Vanderbilt at 3:30 p.m. On ESPN in what could be the most intriguing game of the day. Both teams have one loss. The winner could be in good shape to get that 10-win mark.
Then, No. 3 Texas A&M – the lone unbeaten team left in the SEC – travels to No. 20 LSU at 7:30 p.m. On ABC. Can the Aggies escape Death Valley at night?
Those three games are the highlight of the final weekend of October.
Each week, we pick games against the spread for AP Top 25 teams. Here is a look at our record involving AP Top 25 teams heading into Week 9. (Odds according to Caesars)
Straight up: 98-35 (14-6 in Week 8)
Against the spread: 60-71-2 (9-11 in Week 8)
MORE: College Football Playoff forecast after Week 8
Week 9 picks against the spread
Saturday, Oct. 25
UCLA at No. 2 Indiana (-24.5) (12 p.m., Fox)
Nico Iamaleava averages 189 passing yards with six TDs and two interceptions in three games with interim coach Tim Skipper and offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel. He'll be asked to do more in this game to keep pace with the Hoosiers, who have outscored two Big Ten opponents 101-20 at home this season.
Pick: Indiana wins 41-14 and COVERS the spread.
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No. 18 South Florida (-4) at Memphis (12 p.m., ESPN2)
Memphis suffered a shocking loss to UAB. How will the Tigers bounce back against South Florida? The Blazers had 219 rushing yards against Memphis. South Florida averages 55 points per game in American Conference play. This game should clear the over.
Pick: South Florida wins 41-34 and COVERS the spread.
Syracuse at No. 7 Georgia Tech (-17.5) (12 p.m., ESPN)
Quarterback Rickie Collins has three interceptions in each of Syracuse's last two losses, and that could jump-start a blowout if the Orange are not careful. These are the two worst rush defenses in the ACC. Will Syracuse be able to limit the opportunities for Haynes King – who has one interception all season? Georgia Tech is 1-2 ATS when favored by double digits this season.
Pick: Georgia Tech wins 31-14 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma (-4.5) (12 p.m., ABC)
How does Ole Miss bounce back after the 43-35 loss to Georgia? The good news is Trinidad Chambliss handled his first road start. Ole Miss quarterbacks have a 53.3% completion percentage in SEC road games – and Oklahoma is another tough venue with a nasty defense that limited opposing QBs to a 57.9% completion percentage. The Sooners are 18-2 S/U as a home favorite under Brent Venables, so this is the moment for Lane Kiffin.
Pick: Ole Miss wins 27-24 in an UPSET.
No. 16 Virginia (-9.5) at North Carolina (12 p.m., ACC Network)
The Cavaliers have won three straight one-score games. North Carolina has limited its last two opponents to an average of 84.5 rushing yards per game, but the offense averages 14 points per game in ACC play. The Tar Heels beat Virginia 41-14 last season. Chandler Morris has one TD in his last two games.
Pick: Virginia wins 28-18 and COVERS the spread.
No. 4 Alabama (-13.5) at South Carolina (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Alabama's schedule grind continues at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 1-4 in SEC play in what has been a disappointing season, especially on the offensive side. There always is an opportunity to rally around a season-making moment, but the Crimson Tide have been too good around Ty Simpson, who averages 238 passing yards, a 68.1% completion percentage with five TDs and no interceptions in SEC road games.
Pick: Alabama wins 26-14 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt (-3) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
This battle of surprise 6-1 teams with College Football Playoff hopes could be the best game of the day. How will Missouri slow down Diego Pavia – who averaged 179 passing yards and 72 rushing yards against Alabama and LSU? Beau Pribula had two interceptions each of the last two weeks against Alabama and Auburn. That can't happen here. Vanderbilt is 3-0 S/U in games with single-digit spreads. Missouri has won the last five meetings in the series.
Pick: Vanderbilt wins 28-24 and COVERS the spread.
BREAKING DOWN CFP HOPES: Vanderbilt | Ole Miss | Miami | LSU
No. 11 BYU at Iowa State (-2.5) (3:30 p.m. Fox)
BYU is an underdog for the second straight week. Iowa State had a bye week to prepare, and the Cyclones are unbeaten at home this season. Iowa State allowed 31 points per game in losses to Cincinnati and Colorado — and those teams averaged 200 rushing yards per game. That's not a recipe for success against Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin – who leads the Big 12 with 774 rushing yards.
Pick: BYU wins 29–26 in an UPSET.
No. 23 Illinois at Washington (-5) (3:30 p.m., BTN)
It's Illinois' turn to do the cross-country trip to Washington in a battle of Big Ten teams trying to keep their CFP hopes alive. Each team has committed just six turnovers this season. It's an even matchup with comparable offenses, so it might be best to stick with the home team here. The Huskies are 8-0 S/U and 6-2 ATS as a home favorite under Jedd Fisch.
Pick: Washington wins 31-22 and COVERS the spread.
Baylor at No. 21 Cincinnati (-5.5) (4 p.m., ESPN2)
The Bearcats continue to work up the Big 12 standings, and quarterbacks Brendan Sorsby and Sawyer Robertson are two of the top quarterbacks in the conference. Robertson has a Big 12-best 21 TD passes. The Bears are 2-1 S/U on the road with wild finishes at SMU and TCU. The Bears won 32-29 at Nippert Stadium in 2023.
Pick: Cincinnati wins 37-30 and COVERS the spread.
Oklahoma State at No. 14 Texas Tech (-38.5) (4 p.m., Fox)
Oklahoma State is 1-3 ATS as an underdog of 28 points or more, but this is the largest spread they have faced all season. Behren Morton should return from a leg injury for the Red Raiders, and they'll bounce back from the loss to Arizona State. Oklahoma State beat Texas Tech 66-6 in 2011, so don't expect the Red Raiders to let up.
Pick: Texas Tech wins 51-14 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
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No. 22 Texas (-7) at Mississippi State (4:15 p.m., SEC Network)
Texas remains alive in the SEC mix, and this is a better Mississippi State team than the one Arch Manning faced last season. The Bulldogs are 3-0 ATS as an underdog of 10 points or less. The Longhorns beat Mississippi State 35-13 last season.
Pick: Texas wins 28-20 and COVERS the spread.
Wisconsin at No. 6 Oregon (-34) (7 p.m., FS1)
Iowa and Ohio State outscored Wisconsin 71-0 the last two weeks. The Badgers' defense has managed to limit opponents to 3.1 yards per carry despite those offensive struggles. If Wisconsin can't stop the run against Oregon, then it's going to get ugly fast. This is the largest spread for the Ducks this season, and we're not that afraid of it.
Pick: Oregon wins 42-7 and COVERS the spread.
Stanford at No. 9 Miami (-30) (7 p.m., ESPN)
Stanford is coming into Miami with momentum from knocking off Florida State. The Cardinal, however, are 0-4 S/U on the road and have lost those games by an average of 20.8 points per game. The line still seems high despite the Hurricanes' bounce-back appeal. Stanford has just one interception this season, so look for Carson Beck to have a huge game.
Pick: Miami wins 42-14 and FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Boston College at No. 19 Louisville (-24) (7:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Boston College is on a six-game losing streak, and they have allowed 30 points or more in five of those games. It's still a huge spread against Louisville, whose largest margin of victory against a FBS team is 23 points this season. The Eagles have allowed 487.3 yards per game the last three weeks.
Pick: Louisville wins 37-14 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 25 Michigan (-14) at Michigan State (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Michigan State gives up 416.5 yards per game in a four-game losing streak. The Wolverines have allowed 28.3 points per game on the road this season. Nebraska, Wisconsin and Washington averaged 52.7 rushing yards per game against the Wolverines. If the Spartans can't run the ball, that will be trouble. Michigan earns a fourth straight win in the series.
Pick: Michigan wins 30-17 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 3 Texas A&M (-2.5) at No. 20 LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC)
This is a huge game for Brian Kelly. The Tigers are 19-1 S/U in night home games under Brian Kelly, with the lone loss against Alabama last season. Are the Aggies that kind of team? The home team has won the last eight meetings in this series. We're going to trust the home team to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Pick: LSU wins 26-23 in an UPSET.
No. 17 Tennessee (-9) at Kentucky (7:45 p.m., SEC Network)
Which team gets up first after a tough loss? Kentucky averages 18.3 points per game in SEC play, and that won't be enough against the Tennessee offense. Joey Aguilar was sacked four times in the loss to Alabama last week. Will the Wildcats apply that kind of pressure? The Vols have won the last three meetings at Kentucky by an average of 4.3 points per game.
Pick: Tennessee wins 31-20 and COVERS the spread.
Houston at No. 24 Arizona State (-8.5) (8 p.m., ESPN2)
The Sun Devils have no margin for error in the Big 12 race, and Sam Leavitt's return boosted the offense in the upset against Texas Tech. Arizona State has three victories in Big 12 play by four points or less. Houston is 3-0 on the road this season, but this is a tougher test.
Pick: Arizona State wins 27-17 and COVERS the spread.