This weekend will not present as stacked a slate as the past couple of weeks have, as several key teams take a mid-season break to prepare for the season’s stretch run. There are still some key “watch out” games for leading teams in each conference, as the battle for CFP berths starts to get serious.
| Last Week: | 8-2 | (.800) |
| Season: | 54- 26 | (.675) |
2014 Week 9 CFB Game Picks
Ohio State @ Penn State (Saturday, October 18th, 8:00 p.m., ABC)
The Buckeyes continue their season-long personal growth tour with a visit to Happy Valley to face the Nittany Lions. James Franklin’s team has been a bit disappointing of late, and just does not (yet) have the horses to run with OSU when Urban Meyer has his team clicking, which he does, at present. Expect another huge evening from young QB J.T. Barrett.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Penn State 24
Mississippi @ LSU (Saturday, October 25th, 7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Preseason, this looked like a “put ourselves on the map” kind of game for the Rebels. Now, it looks like the nation’s third-ranked team visiting a difficult venue to face an opponent that hasn’t been quite as good as expected. The Tigers will put up a fight for a half or longer, but Ole Miss’ defense is too good to lose this game.
Pick: Mississippi 24, LSU 14
USC @ Utah (Saturday, October 25th, 10:00 p.m., FOXS1)
This is a massive game in the PAC-12 South race, and might just be the game of the week west of the Mississippi in Week 9. Each team is capable of winning the division. That said, SLC is at altitude and USC still does not have a full complement of scholarship athletes. That spells a win for the Utes at home, courtesy of their physical, nationally underappreciated defense.
Pick: Utah 21, USC 17
Arizona State @ Washington (Saturday, October 25th, 10:45 p.m., ESPN)
Arizona State looks to be legit in 2014, following a huge home win over two-time defending conference champion Stanford. Last Saturday’s game was as one-sided as the conference championship game was 10 months ago on the same field, but in favor of the home team this time. UDub is good enough to win this game at home, but ASU has superior QB play, no matter which of its signal callers gets the nod. I like the Forks on the road.
Pick: Arizona State 24, Washington 13
South Carolina @ Auburn (Saturday, October 25th, 7:30 p.m. SECN)
Auburn looks to get back on its feet in the SECW race with a home date against the Ol’ Ball Coach’s enigmatic South Carolina Gamecocks. The problem for Spurrier’s team this week is that Auburn is just the better team. And, they’ll still be mad for dropping that game at Ole Miss a couple of weeks ago.
Pick: Auburn 31, South Carolina 21
Alabama @ Tennessee (Saturday, October 25th, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
The Tide was rolling last week (please excuse the pun), and hopes to do so again on Saturday evening. Tennessee is going to get someone on its home field this year, but I don’t think it’ll be Blake Sims and Bama. Expect a tight game, but another win for the team that may have played better than any team in the nation in Week 8.
Pick: Alabama 31, Tennessee 17
Syracuse @ Clemson (Saturday, October 25th, 7:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Clemson has been quietly taking care of business following its two early-season losses to Georgia and FSU. Despite the back-and-forth at QB due to ineffectiveness and/or injury, Clemson’s defense may be the best in the nation that no one is talking about. Consider it talked about, and expect that unit to be the key to a home win for the Tigers.
Pick: Clemson 28, Syracuse 10
Texas Tech @ TCU (Saturday, October 25th, 3:30 p.m. FOX)
The Horned Frogs are still in the hunt in the Big-12, and should be thinking “Why not us?” Why not indeed? Patterson’s guys should be able to get it done at home against a very inconsistent Texas Tech squad.
Pick: TCU 38, Texas Tech 21
Maryland @ Wisconsin (Saturday, October 25th, 12:00 p.m., BTN)
Bucky’s loss at Northwestern a couple of weeks ago has to really hurt for a team that was (is?) expected to compete for the B1G West title. Wisconsin still controls its fate, though, and figures to ride Melvin Gordon to a win over a better-than-expected Terrapin team at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Pick: Wisconsin 31, Maryland 24
Texas @ Kansas State (Saturday, October 25th, 12:00 p.m., ESPN)
Texas has proved not to be an easy out with that stingy defense, but still figures to be a year away offensively, behind a still-improving Tyrone Swoopes at QB. KState may well be the class of the Big-12 this season, and should be able to hold serve at home in the Little Apple this week.
Pick: Kansas State 31, Texas 14
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