College Football Week 9 Bold Predictions

1. Double, double toil and trouble; Mountaineers win and burst Frogs' bubble

West Virginia is winless in conference play so far, after dropping three straight contests.  But recent games between these two programs have been close, with the road team getting the win every time since both joined the Big 12 in 2012 (they only played once before then).  TCU's defense has been nonexistent at times this year, and I think it finally bites them.  Things get spooky for the Horned Frogs as the Mountaineers leave Fort Worth with the big upset win, 40 - 37.

2. Something wicked this way comes; Georgia knocks and Florida drops

This is another series where strange things have happened as of late.  The stats, odds, and eye-test all favor the Gators, but in this rivalry game things don't always go as expected.  The Bulldogs will be eager to avenge last year's loss to Florida and I think they play loose and that gives them an edge.  Georgia knocks the Gators out of the playoff conversation with a 28 - 20 win.

3. Once upon a midnight dreary, Wolverines lose, all weak and weary

Ohio State is on bye this week, so the #3 spot which is usually occupied by my Buckeye bold prediction will instead feature every OSU fan's second favorite team: whoever is playing that team up north, which in this case is Minnesota.  Jerry Kill stepped down as the Gophers' head coach this week, due to health concerns, so focus may be an issue for the players.  Or, they may play their hearts out and give it all they've got for their former coach.  Meanwhile, Michigan has had two weeks to ponder what went wrong against Michigan State.  Whoever is more motivated will win this game.  My money is on Minnesota to give coach Kill a final parting gift, as they beat Michigan by an eerily similar score of 27 - 23.

4. Undefeated for all season, Cowboys boast the better score.  Quoth the Raiders, “Nevermore.”

Oklahoma State has looked susceptible in road games this year.  Scratch that - they've looked susceptible anywhere when playing Power 5 teams not named "Kansas".    Things even looked a little dicey against Central Michigan in week 1.  Texas Tech has already lost a few, but they have shown that they are good for an upset at home every once in a while.  Things get weird and wild in Lubbock, as the Red Raiders hand Oklahoma State their first loss, 45 - 38.

5. The CFP Committee does the mash, they do the rankings mash

Last year, the committee's inaugural rankings differed quite a bit from the AP poll from the same week.  Only six of the top 25 matched exactly between the two.  I think the committee mixes it up even more this year, with five or less coinciding with the AP.  Scary!