College Football Week 9 Schedule & Watch Guide Today: What to Watch, TV Info & Best Bets

Though the college football Week 9 schedule isn't quite as loaded as the last two weeks, the first three windows of Saturday each feature a top 25 SEC showdown that you won't want to miss, and we have college football picks for all three matchups.

Beyond those three games, there are 13 other matchups featured in my watch guide this week, including a can't-miss FCS rivalry and 10 games involving ranked programs. We break down all the action in our college football predictions for Week 9.

🏈 College football Week 9 schedule & best bets

College football odds subject to change; best college football matchups bolded.

💡 College football expert picks: Week 9

• College football picks against the spread Week 9
• College football player props Week 9: Weekday best bets
• College football anytime touchdown scorer predictions Week 9: Weekday best bets
• College football predictions for every top 25 game in Week 9
• College football player props Week 9
• College football upsets picks Week 9
• College football moneyline picks Week 9
• Heisman power rankings
• College football anytime touchdown scorer predictions Week 9
• College football best bets Week 9

📺 What to watch in Week 9: Best games in every time slot

Track the latest college football scores for line movement and matchup info.

🆚 No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Oklahoma (noon ET, ABC)

With both of these teams already carrying a loss in SEC play, and both still having a gauntlet of a schedule left, a loss could mean elimination from College Football Playoff contention. That makes the stakes about as high as they can possibly be in a game that features two coaches who should give us a heck of a schematic showdown.

Can Brent Venables' defense slow Lane Kiffin's offense enough to win at home? Will Sooners QB John Mateer be healthy enough to carry OU past a Rebels team that's dealing with rumors about Kiffin heading to Florida? This is going to be a juicy matchup.

Our Phil Wood projects a close game in his Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma prediction.

Best bet: John Mateer anytime TD (-115 via FanDuel)

🆚 No. 15 Missouri vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

College GameDay is in Nashville for the first time in over a decade for a top 15 SEC matchup between Missouri and Vanderbilt. Nobody would have believed you if you said that a few years ago. Instead, we get to see Heisman hopeful Diego Pavia go toe-to-toe with a Missouri defense led by Zion Young. And don't forget, the Tigers have one of the best running backs in the country in Ahmad Hardy, so get your popcorn ready.

The winner of this one should be in good shape to make a College Football Playoff run, too. And, both head coaches - Vanderbilt's Clark Lea and Missouri's Eliah Drinkwitz - are potential Florida head coaching candidates.

Best bet: Missouri +3 (-110 via Caesars)

🆚 No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 20 LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Winning on a Saturday night in Death Valley is about as tough as it gets, so this will be a litmus test for how good Texas A&M can be this season. Mike Elko leads an Aggies team that's in the driver's seat to make the CFP against an LSU program that's all but eliminated, but could be playing for Brian Kelly's job at this point. If the Aggies go big game hunting and bring home a Tiger carcass, Kelly's seat will be scorching.

A strong showing from Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed could jumpstart his Heisman campaign, too; however, LSU's defense is the best it's been in years and has several NFL talents.

Our Mike Spector projects the Aggies winning in Death Valley in his Texas A&M vs. LSU prediction.

Best bet: Texas A&M -2.5 (-110 via Caesars)

🆚 No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 2 South Dakota State (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

No, this isn't an FBS game, but when North Dakota State and South Dakota State play for the Dakota Marker, you can't miss it. This is one of the best rivalries in college football, and of course, both programs are ranked in the top two after accounting for 12 of the last 14 FCS championship titles.

After SDSU had seemingly ended NDSU's dynasty by winning back-to-back FCS titles and five straight matchups against the Bison, the Jackrabbits lost twice to North Dakota State last year as NDSU won its 10th title since 2011. 

With Cole Payton and Bryce Lance (Trey's younger brother) leading the Bison this year, NDSU should win the Dakota Marker and remain No. 1 in the FCS.

Best bet: North Dakota State -4.5 (-110 via DraftKings)

🆚 Colorado vs. Utah (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

This is the only game on the FBS schedule kicking off after 8 p.m. ET, and it's a little more interesting now than it was a few weeks ago. Deion Sanders' team is coming off an upset win over a ranked Iowa State program while Utah just lost the Holy War to BYU, pretty much ending the Utes shot at a Big 12 Championship. Utah may also be down starting QB Devon Dampier, which would make it a little tougher to cover this near two-touchdown spread.

In the end, the difference should be Utah's trench play with Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu on the O-line and John Henry Daley and Logan Fano on the D-line.

Our Brenden Schaeffer has Wayshawn Parker leading Utah to a decisive victory in his Colorado vs. Utah prediction.

Best bet: Utah -13.5 (-110 via bet365)

📈 College football betting insights

College football betting insights via BetMGM.