Top 25 College Football Predictions and Odds for Week 9
Week 9 of the 2025 college football season is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, especially for SEC fans. With three ranked matchups on the slate, every game feels like it could tip the scales for the league and maybe even the national picture.
Let’s take a closer look at the key games and what the experts are saying for this wild weekend.
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Missouri vs. Vanderbilt: A Clash of SEC Titans
No. 15 Missouri is hitting the road to take on No. 10 Vanderbilt. The Commodores, under coach Clark Lea, are hungry to snap their losing streak against the Tigers—a skid that stretches back to 2019.
Vanderbilt’s already shown they’re no pushovers this year. Beating Missouri would really put them in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation.
Game Preview and Key Players
Both teams have quarterbacks who can make big plays when it counts. Missouri brings a high-powered offense, but Vanderbilt’s defense is quietly one of the SEC’s better units.
Playing at FirstBank Stadium, which has seen some upgrades, could give the Commodores just enough of an edge in what looks like a close one.
- Expert Pick: Vanderbilt -2.5 (-118) — Will Backus
Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss: A Crucial Test for the Sooners
No. 13 Oklahoma is staring down a brutal stretch, starting with a home game against No. 8 Ole Miss. It’s the first of five ranked matchups for the Sooners, who are still in the hunt for the Playoff.
Quarterback John Mateer is almost back to 100%, and that could make Oklahoma a much tougher out.
Defensive Prowess and Offensive Firepower
Oklahoma’s defense might be the best Ole Miss has faced all season. With Mateer, who came over from Washington State, the Sooners have a bit more juice on offense too.
He’s got the skills and the supporting cast to take advantage of the holes Ole Miss showed on defense against Georgia not too long ago.
- Expert Pick: Oklahoma -5.5 — David Cobb
Texas A&M vs. LSU: The Battle in Baton Rouge
No. 3 Texas A&M heads to Baton Rouge for a showdown with No. 20 LSU. The Aggies are trying to keep their perfect record and get closer to locking up a spot in the SEC title game.
It’s Texas A&M’s tough defense up against LSU’s high-powered offense, so expect a hard-fought, maybe even low-scoring, contest.
Key Matchups and Defensive Strategies
The Aggies will lean on defenders like Mario Craver and KC Concepcion to bottle up LSU’s running game and force some errors. If Texas A&M can keep the Tigers’ offense in check, that might be enough to pull out a win in this huge game.
- Expert Pick: Texas A&M -2.5 — Shehan Jeyarajah
Big Ten Rivalries: Iowa vs. Minnesota and Michigan State vs. Michigan
The SEC might get most of the attention, but the Big Ten’s got some good stuff lined up for Week 9 too. Iowa and Minnesota are meeting for the 119th time, while Michigan State is hosting their in-state rival, No. 25 Michigan.
These games might not shake up the national picture, but for the teams and their fans, they’re massive.
Iowa’s Defensive Edge
Iowa’s defense has been rock solid, giving up just 2.8 yards per carry and around 92 yards on the ground each game. That’ll matter against a Minnesota squad that finally got their running game going against Nebraska.
Even with the Gophers’ recent spark, Iowa’s been reliable against the spread, so they’re a pretty comfortable pick here.
- Expert Pick: Iowa -8.5 — Cody Negal
Michigan’s Road Struggles
Michigan’s had a tough time playing away from home lately. Heading into their matchup with Michigan State, it’s hard not to wonder if this could be a sneaky tough spot for them.
Even though the Wolverines are the favorites, there’s a decent argument for betting the under. Michigan has a habit of slowing things down once they’re ahead, which can drag the score lower than folks expect.
- Expert Pick: Under 48.5 — CBS Sports Experts
If you’re curious about more expert picks and predictions for Week 9, check out CBS Sports. Their computer model has run every game 10,000 times, which is kind of wild, and it’s packed with insights for fans and bettors.
