CFB: Week 9 Predictions

Week 8 saw some unexpected upsets to go along with a trio of ranked vs. ranked matchups like; No. 1 Alabama winning their third consecutive game against an AP Top 25 opponent vs. No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 2 Ohio State falling on the road for the first time since 2011 at Penn State, No. 12 Houston getting smacked around by SMU, No. 22 Auburn obliterating No. 17 Arkansas, and Leonard Fournette and No. 25 LSU running all over No. 23 Ole Miss.

Week 9 is one of those middle-of-the-road weeks, where there are a lot of "just okay" games, but also two big time matchups on deck; No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State and No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin. Blake Stoll and I will formed a Top 25 of our own, followed by five burning questions, and I produced my own Week 9 predictions and Heisman trophy standings.

Composite Rankings:

1. Alabama (8-0)

2. Clemson (7-0)

3. Michigan (7-0)

4. Washington (7-0)

5. Louisville (6-1)

6. Ohio State (6-1)

7. Nebraska (7-0)

8. Baylor (6-0)

9. Texas A&M (6-1)

10. West Virginia (6-0)

11. Wisconsin (5-2)

12. Florida State (5-2)

13. Boise State (7-0)

14. Florida (5-1)

15. Auburn (5-2)

16. Oklahoma (5-2)

17. Utah (7-1)

18. LSU (5-2)

19. Tennessee (5-2)

20. North Carolina (6-2)

21. Western Michigan (8-0)

22. Colorado (6-2)

23. Penn State (5-2)

24. Houston (6-2)

25. Virginia Tech (5-2)

Just Missed the Cut:

26. Washington State (5-2)

27. Arkansas (5-3)

28. Oklahoma State (5-2)

29. Maryland (5-2)

30. Wake Forest (5-2)

Does West Virginia stay undefeated after their first road test, at Oklahoma State?

Post: I don't think so. No. 10 West Virginia has been great so far this season, but Oklahoma State is a tough place to play. Skyler Howard (1,821 yards, 12 touchdowns) has looked like a legitimate passing threat, but Mason Rudolph (2,259 yards, 14 touchdowns) will have the home crowd behind him. Oklahoma State (41.1 points and 336.4 passing yards per game) will be able to press the right buttons and take down West Virginia (33.0 points and 303.5 passing yards per game). ESPN Football Power Index gives Oklahoma State a 55.7 percent chance of upsetting the Mountaineers. I will take those numbers.

Stoll: No. 10 West Virginia visits a 5-2 Oklahoma state team, with one of those losses coming to No. 16 Baylor. Although the Cowboys may be slightly better than their record states, they will only be able to handle the Mountaineers for about half a game. West Virginia is better on offense and defense and the final score will show that, but Oklahoma state will keep them on their toes during the first half.

Can Michigan redeem itself from last year, at Michigan State?

Post: I am slightly afraid to watch this game, as should Michigan State fans be. No. 2 Michigan already has enough to play for; given this is one of the most heated rivalries in the Big Ten, they are playing to remain in the College Football Playoff picture, and to keep their spot amongst the top of the Big Ten East. Add on to that the fact that the Wolverines lost in such a heartbreaking way last season. The dynamic duo of Wilton Speight (1,447 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Amara Darboh (499 yards, 5 touchdowns) are going to be impossible to stop for a depleted Spartans defense. It doesn't help that Michigan State's quarterback, Tyler O'Connor (1,257 yards, 11 touchdowns), is a turnover-waiting-to-happen. Michigan (+38.7 point differential) is going to take down Michigan State (-6.6 point differential), no way around it.

Stoll: Yes. No. 2 Michigan will make up for last year's mistake of muffing the snap on a punt late in the fourth quarter. I don’t think Michigan will have to punt, let alone have any sort of pressure in the fourth quarter this time around. Behind four running backs (three without Chris Evans) that would start nearly anywhere in the country and Heisman conversation worthy Jabrill Peppers, Michigan State is going to broken down and they will have no answer against the best defense in the land.

Does Utah have enough to upset Washington?

Post: I am having a little trouble picking this one. No. 4 Washington has (finally) proven to me that they are legitimate contenders after defeating Stanford and Oregon, the top-tier of the Pac-12 over the last nine seasons. However, No. 17 Utah has been extremely good at home since joining the conference, and will pull out all of the stops in attempt to upset the Huskies. Jake Browning (1,709 yards, 26 touchdowns), still underrated, is a serious Heisman candidate, but Joe Williams (586 yards, 5 touchdowns) is on a tear. Those statistics right there for Williams are from the last two(!) games, after unretiring from football a couple of weeks ago. Washington (allows 14.6 points and 318.6 yards per game) has a great defense but Utah's defense (allows 21.6 points and 363.0 yards per game) is not too shabby, either. I just think the Huskies' offense (48.3 points and 486.6 yards per game) won't be completely contained; Utah puts up a fight, but Washington prevails.

Stoll: No. 17 Utah takes on No. 4 Washington at home this week. The Utes will put up a fight but will not have the solution for slowing down sophomore QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin. Washington wins by 14, and stays undefeated.

Who has the leg up in the Big Ten West; Nebraska or Wisconsin?

Post: No. 11 Wisconsin. Yes, yes, I know, No. 7 Nebraska is undefeated and is looking like a Citrus Bowl or Outback Bowl type of team, but they haven't played anybody. Tommy Armstrong (1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Co. are dynamite on offense, but their best wins are against Oregon (2-5) and Northwestern (4-3). Wisconsin on the other hand, led by Alex Hornibrook (877 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Corey Clement (617 yards, 6 touchdowns) have faced two of the best teams in the country in Michigan and Ohio State. Given that this game is at Wisconsin, I think the Badgers' defense (allows 14.3, 300.6 yards per game) will be able to shut down the 'Huskers. Nebraska's defense (allows 17.7 points and 342.9 yards per game) is definitely worth noting, but isn't in the same category as Wisconsin, even without All-Big Ten linebacker Jack Cichy. (For the record: keep an eye on Northwestern (4-3, 3-1), who has gotten off to a good start in the Big Ten after losing to Western Michigan and Illinois State in Week 1 and 2).

Stoll: No. 7 Nebraska or No. 11 Wisconsin? Right now, Nebraska has the upper hand solely because they find themselves unbeaten but that should change this weekend after their trip to face Wisconsin on the board. If Wisconsin beats the Cornhuskers then they will take over. Their two losses came to No. 4 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State. The Badgers have had their tests and know what they need to do. They will coast into the Big Ten Championship following a win over Nebraska.

Who wins ACC Showdown Pt. III, Clemson or Florida State?

Post: We have been treated to quite a show in the ACC this season, seeing two top-10 matchups already in No. 2 Florida State at No. 10 Louisville and No. 3 Louisville at No. 5 Clemson. Now, it is time for the third installment; No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State. Deshaun Watson (1,950 yards, 20 touchdowns) is arguably the best quarterback in the country, while Florida State's Dalvin Cook (900 yards, 7 touchdowns) is one of the best running backs in the nation. Clemson's top rusher, Wayne Gallman (489 yards, 5 touchdowns) suffered a concussion less than two weeks ago in a win over NC State, but has been cleared to play. If he is at the top of his game, I think the Tigers will remain unbeaten. Clemson (36.6 points and 15.3 points allowed per game) scores more and allows less than Florida State (34.9 points and 28.9 points allowed per game), which is a formula that has not failed me yet this season. Clemson improves to 8-0 by squeaking past a struggling Seminoles defense.

Stoll: Part I and II consisted of a Louisville rout of Florida State and Clemson squeaking past Louisville. This week, we have No. 3 Clemson traveling to No. 12 Florida State. Nobody has had the answer for Deshaun Watson over the past two years. Even in the 2015 National Championship game against Alabama, he found a way to score and keep his team in the game. Heisman candidate, Watson, Wayne Gallman, and the rest of the Tigers will cruise past Dalvin Cook and the Seminoles.

Week 9 Predictions:

Navy 24, South Florida 31.

No. 10 West Virginia 27, Oklahoma State 37.

No. 3 Michigan 48, Michigan State 10.

No. 14 Florida 17, Georgia 20.

No. 4 Washington 49, No. 17 Utah 35.

Northwestern 10, No. 6 Ohio State 30.

No. 13 Boise State 41, Wyoming 28.

No. 7 Nebraska 17, No. 11 Wisconsin 24.

No. 15 Auburn 27, Ole Miss 21.

No. 2 Clemson 24, No. 12 Florida State 20.

Week 8 Record: 8-2.

Overall Record: 61-19.

Read my original article; Predicting the 2017 College Football Playoff Teams.

No. 1 Alabama (8-0, 5-0)

No. 2 Florida State (5-2, 2-2)

No. 3 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1)

No. 4 Clemson (7-0, 4-0)

1. Lamar Jackson (Louisville QB) -- 2,161 Yards & 18 TDs.

2. Deshaun Watson (Clemson QB) -- 1,947 Yards & 20 TDs.

3. Jake Browning (Washington QB) -- 1,709 Yards & 26 TDs.

4. Jabrill Peppers (Michigan LB) -- 37 Tackles & 2.5 Sacks.

5. Jalen Hurts (Alabama QB) -- 1,549 Yards & 11 TDs.

Heisman Update: Alabama's quarterback, Jalen Hurts is a new addition, replacing Ohio State's quarterback J.T. Barrett (1,452 Yards & 17 TDs), after he struggled mightily in the second half against Penn State in a 24-21 defeat. Hurts has been slowly climbing up the Heisman rankings, and after a 164-yard, 2 touchdown, performance against No. 6 Texas A&M, he has done enough to vault himself into the No. 5 spot.

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com.