Top-25 College Football Week 9: Predictions, Odds, and Key Matchups

Week 9 of the 2025 college football season is here—finally. The buzz is real after Week 8, which delivered some wild finishes and a major upset nobody saw coming.

Now, with Week 9 on deck, fans are hoping for more drama. The slate looks a little lighter, sure, but if you’ve watched college football for more than five minutes, you know the unexpected is always lurking.

Let’s get into the matchups, predictions, and odds for the weekend. Here’s what you might want to keep an eye on.

Key Matchups and Predictions

There are a few games this week that could shake up the College Football Playoff picture. Some ranked teams are set to collide, and the stakes are high.

Here are the top matchups:

No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Oklahoma

No. 8 Ole Miss is coming off a tough loss to Georgia. They’ll need to regroup fast as they travel to Norman to face No. 11 Oklahoma.

The Rebels have to shore up their defense and find some cracks in Oklahoma’s game. The Sooners, meanwhile, will be counting on the home crowd to help them notch a big win.

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5

No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 19 LSU

Texas A&M hasn’t started this hot since 1994. They’re heading to Baton Rouge to face No. 19 LSU, who are desperate to avoid a third loss.

This one feels like it could get gritty. LSU’s playoff hopes are on the line, so expect a battle.

Spread: Texas A&M -2.5

No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 14 Missouri

Vanderbilt just pulled off a historic win over LSU. Now, No. 14 Missouri is coming to Nashville, and both teams want to boost their resumes.

This SEC matchup has “must-watch” written all over it.

Spread: Vanderbilt -2.5

Other Notable Games

It’s not just about the ranked showdowns. A few other games could get interesting, even if the spreads look lopsided right now.

• Indiana vs. Unranked Opponent – Indiana’s a huge favorite at -24.5, so don’t expect much suspense here.
• Alabama vs. South Carolina – Alabama’s got a -13.5 spread and should roll, but you never know.
• Oregon vs. Unranked Opponent – Oregon at -34.5? That’s a blowout waiting to happen, at least on paper.
• Georgia Tech vs. Unranked Opponent – Georgia Tech is favored by -17.5, so it’s their game to lose.
• Miami vs. Unranked Opponent – Miami’s expected to cruise with a -30.5 spread.

Games with Potential Upsets

Here’s where things could get weird—because college football always does that, right?

• Iowa State vs. Unranked Opponent – Iowa State’s only a -2.5 favorite. That’s not much breathing room.
• Texas vs. Mississippi State – Texas sits at -6.5, but Mississippi State could absolutely make this messy.
• Michigan vs. Michigan State – Michigan is favored by -14, but rivalry games? They’re never as simple as the numbers say.

Betting Insights

If you’re putting money down this week, here are a few things to consider:

• Indiana – Favored by -24.5, so the expectation is a rout.
• Texas A&M – Only a -2.5 favorite, meaning oddsmakers see this one going down to the wire.
• Oregon – At -34.5, anything but a blowout would be shocking.

Conclusion

Week 9 of the 2025 college football season looks like it’ll bring plenty of excitement. Even with a lighter schedule, there’s just something about those unexpected twists that makes this week stand out.

There are matchups between ranked teams and some betting lines that might raise your eyebrows. If you want to dive deeper, you can read the full article on USA Today.