2017 Week 9 Preview

There weren’t too many upsets last weekend. USC did get demolished by Notre Dame. Oklahoma State needed OT to beat Texas 13-10 and Baylor only lost to West Virginia by 2. Penn State had no problems with Michigan. This week’s marquee matchup is 2Penn State at 6Ohio State. There are also three other ranked vs. ranked games, so there is plenty to watch. Should be an interesting week.

How I Fared: 4-2 last week, 35-14 overall

Notable Games
2Penn State at 6Ohio State
It is hard to pick this game. Penn State is clearly a great team, but so is Ohio State. Both teams like to score and both play pretty good defense. Ohio State has been impressive since their loss to Oklahoma and they might be seeking revenge in this game after they lost to Penn State last year. I think Ohio State will win and that this will be a really fun game to watch. This is a huge game in the playoff picture, especially since the first rankings come out on Tuesday.
I am picking Ohio State

4TCU at 25 Iowa State
TCU and Kenny Hill look good. They stomped Kansas 43-0 last week. Iowa State is coming off a huge win over Texas Tech in which they won 31-13. I think Iowa State is a good team, but I don’t think they will have enough in the tank to outscore TCU for 4 quarters. I think this will be an exciting game, but I don’t expect an upset.
I am picking TCU

14NC State at 9Notre Dame
Unfortunately, Notre Dame actually looks good. It will be interesting to see how they look against a scrappy NC State team. The Irish demolished USC last week 49-14. NC State is coming off a bye week. The Wolfpack has won 6 in a row since losing to South Carolina week one. Their defense has been strong and their offense has been pretty impressive. I just don’t think NC State is going to be able to overpower this apparently very good Notre Dame team.
I am picking Notre Dame

11Oklahoma State at 22West Virginia
Oklahoma State is a good team, but their OT 13-10 win over Texas last week is a headscratcher. The West Virginia defense is not as good as Texas’s, but they are ok. I don’t expect defense to be on display in this game. If you like points, watch this game. It should be lots of fun. Both teams have shown stamina in the fourth quarter, so I’m not sure Oklahoma State will be able to pull away late, but I do think the Pokes will win. The Big 12 might not be the best conference, but they are the probably the most competitive top to bottom.
I am picking Oklahoma State

Texas at Baylor
Baylor is probably the best 0-7 team ever. I don’t know any other 0-7 teams, but whatever. The Bears only lost to WVU by 2 last week. Texas’s defense has been very good this season but they haven’t done a great job in close games. I think this will be a close one, but I think Texas will find a way to win. Baylor can score, but I don’t know if they are mentally going to be able to get over the hump in this game. It is a very interesting Big 12 game.
I am picking Texas

Mississippi State at Texas A&M
This could be a shootout. A big time shootout. Mississippi State has only been involved in blowouts this year. In their two losses they have only scored 13 total points. They have scored at least 35 points in their 5 wins. Texas A&M is coming off a bye and before that they got a big 2-point win over Florida at the Swamp. I’m still not sure if Texas A&M is a good team or they are just playing subpar competition. It will be interesting to see how both teams do in this game, but both of State’s losses came in hostile environments, which Kyle Field will be.
I am picking Texas A&M

Arkansas at Ole Miss
Oh man, this is not going to be a pretty game. It’s going to be the exact opposite of that. Ole Miss has lost QB Shae Patterson for the season, Arkansas has lost QB Austin Allen and now preseason all-American OL Frank Ragnow. Neither team plays much defense. I don’t know how Ole Miss’s offense will look without Patterson. It might be a competitive game. This is also a huge game for Arkansas. They have to win to keep their (very slim) bowl hopes alive.

Top 25
1Alabama BYE
2Penn State at 6Ohio State
3Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
4TCU at 25 Iowa State
5Wisconsin at Illinois
Georgia Tech at 7Clemson
8Miami at North Carolina
14NC State at 9Notre Dame
Texas Tech at 10Oklahoma
11Oklahoma State at 22West Virginia
UCLA at 12Washington
Duke at 13Virginia Tech
15Washington State at Arizona
16Michigan State at Northwestern
Houston at 17South Florida
Austin Peay at 18UCF
19Auburn BYE
20Stanford at Oregon State (Thursday)
21USC at Arizona State
23LSU BYE
Tulane at 24Memphis (Friday)

Other Games
Florida State at Boston College (Friday)
Arkansas at Ole Miss
UNLV at Fresno State
Texas at Baylor
Vanderbilt at South Carolina
FAU at Western Kentucky
Utah at Oregon
Minnesota at Iowa
Mississippi State at Texas A&M
Tennessee at Kentucky
Boise State at Utah State