So, what does Week 9 of the college football season have in store? Just a pivotal division matchup in the ACC, some tricky road tests for possible College Football Playoff contenders, and one big cocktail party down in Florida.
Let’s take a quick look at all five games, and find out just what’s in-store in each one. Meanwhile, check out our previews of two more top games that just missed the cut for the top five: Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech and West Virginia vs. TCU.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]The Top Five College Football Games to Watch in Week 9
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
When: Thursday, October 29, 7:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (-3) at Pittsburgh Panthers (+3); total 54.5 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
So, who’s coming out of the ACC Coastal to (most likely) face Clemson in the conference title game? The answer to that question will be very much dependent on the outcome of Thursday night’s big game between North Carolina and No. 23 Pittsburgh.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Despite losing stud running back James Conner early in the season, Pitt has gone an impressive 4-0 thus far in conference play under first-year head coach Pat Narduzzi. Not to be outdone, North Carolina has won six in a row – three in ACC play – since dropping its first game of the year to South Carolina.
Both teams still need to face the third unbeaten team in the conference – No. 22 Duke – and they would very much prefer to do so with their perfect conference records still intact.
Writer’s Prediction: Pittsburgh (+3) gets the upset win, 31-27.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville
When: Saturday, October 31, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Georgia Bulldogs at Florida Gators – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
This year’s edition of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party got a lot less grand after Georgia tailback Nick Chubb went down with injury and Florida quarterback Will Grier got popped for PEDs. Nevertheless, this big rivalry is always hotly contested, and will have the not-so-small matter of SEC East supremacy at stake. A Georgia win would pull them even with the Gators atop the division at 4-2.
Florida gave LSU a bit of a scare in Death Valley as Treon Harris stepped up big time with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Bulldogs haven’t fared as well without Chubb, though, as they lost back-to-back games to Alabama and Tennessee before laboring to a very ugly 9-6 win over Mizzou.
Writer’s Prediction: Florida (-3) beats Georgia, 24-17.
Clemson Tigers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh
When: Saturday, October 31, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Clemson Tigers at North Carolina State Wolfpack – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC/ESPN2
If there was ever a doubt whether Clemson was the class of the ACC, then the Tigers’ 58-0 mauling of Miami should have put most of those doubts to bed. However, if there’s a spot where Clemson can unexpectedly slip up, it could very well be on the road to North Carolina State the week before the Tigers host Florida State in a likely Atlantic Division decider.
Clemson has dominated this matchup for over a decade, going 10-1 in the last 11 meetings against North Carolina State. However, the Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in the last five years, including consecutive covers in the last two times the game has been held at Raleigh. That’s enough reason to keep an eye on this game as a possible Clemsoning.
Writer’s Prediction: Clemson (-10.5) continues its strong showing with a 35-17 win.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Temple Owls
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
When: Saturday, October 31, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Temple Owls – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes are still very much alive after they recovered from their 24-22 loss at Clemson with back-to-back home wins over Navy and USC. However, the Irish now have to navigate through two more very tricky road games, starting with No. 21 Temple.
The Owls are still a perfect 7-0 on the season, with Penn State and Cincinnati their two most noteworthy wins. They have the sixth-best run defense in the nation, giving up just 91 yards per game. That front will have to slow down CJ Prosise and a Notre Dame ground game that has been very effective all season long.
Writer’s Prediction: Notre Dame gets the win, but Temple (+10.5) covers in a 28-21 win.
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Stanford Cardinal vs. Washington State Cougars
Where: Martin Stadium, Pullman
When: Saturday, October 31, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Stanford Cardinal at Washington State Cougars – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
No. 8 Stanford has been steamrolling past the Pac-12, winning its first five conference games by 20 points. The Cardinal have now stretched their winning streak to six games, and are looking like the team to beat in the conference.
However, the Stanford secondary will be put to the test on the road against Washington State. Wazzu is the second-most prolific passing attack in the nation, with sophomore quarterback Luke Falk averaging 412 yards per game with 26 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
The Cougars are 3-1 thus far in conference play, and have already conquered both Pac-12 division champions – Oregon and Arizona – on the road. Will #Pac12AfterDark strike again?
Writer’s Prediction: Stanford (-11) stomps on Wazzu, 42-24.
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