College football’s biggest teams continue their 2022 seasons during Saturday's Week 9 action. Here's a rundown of the day.Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (Jacksonville, Fla.)TV: CBSBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreFollow every game: Live NCAA College Football ScoresWhat to know: Georgia is last in the SEC and 124th nationally with an average of one sack per game. Florida is giving up the fewest sacks per game in the SEC at 0.71, which ranks fifth nationally. Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith said opposing teams that take more deep shots will give Georgia’s pass rushers more time to get to them. Head coach Kirby Smart said his staff did a game-by-game breakdown that showed quarterbacks are getting the ball out faster than it ever has against his defenses at this point of the season. — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-HeraldTHROW IT OUT THERE:Danger ahead for Tennessee, Ole Miss? College football Week 9 bold predictionsGAMES TO WATCH:What to know about Week 9's biggest matchups and why they might disappointWEEK 9 PICKS:Our college football experts make their picks this week's best gamesBriefly: J.T. Tuimoloau had a strip sack to set up Ohio State for a separation-score in the fourth quarter and then a pick-6 to cap a spectacular performance by the defensive end as the Buckeyes erased a fourth-quarter deficit to beat Penn State.One highlight to watch: Henderson breaks free for the go-ahead score.Kickoff: 7 p.m.TV: ESPNBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Tennessee boasts the nation's No. 1 offense in yards per game (571.7) and points per game (50.1). It also has the No. 2 passing offense with 368.9 yards per game. Kentucky's defense is allowing 16.4 points per game, tied for ninth nationally. It's ranked No. 14 overall, allowing 295.4 yards per game. It's also No. 14 in passing yards allowed per game with 178.3. — Mike Wilson, Knoxville News SentinelKickoff: 7:30 p.m.TV: ABCBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Michigan has leaned on the ground game and ranks eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game (241.1). Blake Corum, firmly on the Heisman watch list, has 901 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. Michigan ranks sixth in points per game (42.7). The passing offense hasn’t been stellar, but hasn’t needed to be. J.J. McCarthy has flashed his elite skill set while showing he is willing to remain poised and take what the defense gives him. Expect the Spartans to continue to play more 4-3 against the run-dominant Wolverines. MSU remains among the nation’s worst in total defense (422.3, 104th), pass defense (269, 111th), third-down defense (43%, 105th) and yards per play (5.94, 102nd). — Chris Solari and Tony Garcia, Detroit Free PressBriefly: Max Duggan threw three touchdown passes, Kendre Miller ran for 120 yards and a score and TCU used big plays on offense to beat West Virginia to remain unbeaten.What to know: TCU takes lead on Emani Bailey touchdown run. Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.TV: FS1Betting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: During the Ducks’ six-game winning streak the offense is averaging 49.0 points — second-most in the nation during that stretch behind only Ohio State’s 54.3 average —with six straight 40-point games for the first time since 2014. Overall, Oregon is No. 5 nationally in total yards per game (517.1), No. 7 in points per game (42.4), and leads the Pac-12 in both categories. The Ducks are also second in the nation with 28.0 first downs per game, and ninth with 196 first downs. The Bears are allowing just an average of 22.6 points per game and last week held Washington, which averages 40.4 points per game, scoreless in the first half. — Chris Hansen, The Register-GuardKickoff: 3:30 p.m.TV: FoxBetting info: Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: The Wildcats have two dynamic run threats in Deuce Vaughn and quarterback Adrian Martinez, who left the loss at TCU with an early injury. If both are healthy, the depleted Cowboys run defense will be pushed to the max. Oklahoma State has the type of offense — even with some injuries — that can score in bunches. The Cowboys are tied atop the Big 12 with 44.7 points per game, while Kansas State is ninth with 28.6 points. If Oklahoma State’s defense can slow down the run and adjust quickly to the Wildcats’ scheme, it has a good chance to pull off another road victory. — Jacob Unruh, OklahomanKickoff: 3:30 p.m.TV: ACC NetworkBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman is ranked sixth nationally in passing efficiency (173.43), tied for fifth in passing TDs (21), 14th in passing yards per game and 15th in passing yards per completion (14.2). He’ll be the biggest challenge to Louisville’s pass defense, which has struggled at times. It is ranked 51st among FBS programs, though, in passing yards allowed with 217.6 per game. The biggest advantage the Cardinals have is its ability to get to the quarterback, totaling 25 sacks on the year, which is tied for fifth nationally. The group also ranked 10th in the country in tackles for loss with 52 for a total of minus-239 yards, eighth-most in the nation. — Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier JournalKickoff: 7 p.m.TV: Pac-12 NetworkBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams could move back ahead of Bo Nix among Pac-12 quarterbacks with strong games against some of the weakest pass defenses in the Power Five. Arizona has allowed 14 touchdowns against two interceptions and ranks fourth from the bottom among Power Five in giving up 8.3 yards per pass attempt. After that, Colorado ranks 102nd nationally in giving up 15 passing scores despite facing just 200 attempts, more than just eight teams in the Power Five. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAYKickoff: 7:30 p.m.TV: SEC NetworkBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Other than Mississippi State, no opponent has really thrown the ball with much success against Texas A&M. A number of teams have rushed well against the Aggies, which plays into Ole Miss' strength as the Power 5 team averaging the most rushing yards per game. But with running backs Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley IV limited by injuries, there are questions about how sustainable the Rebels' ground attack can be, especially if the Aggies stack the box and dare Ole Miss to throw into their vaunted secondary. Ole Miss has the statistical advantage in this one, given the way the Aggies have played over the last month. But Texas A&M at its best does a lot of things well that could derail Ole Miss' attack. — Nick Suss, Mississippi Clarion LedgerKickoff: 10:30 p.m.TV: ESPNBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreBriefly: Brandon Joseph returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game, tailback Audric Estimé rushed for 123 yards and scored twice in the fourth quarter to thwart a Syracuse rally, and Notre Dame defeated the Orange. The Fighting Irish have won five of six since opening the season with two losses and has 26 consecutive regular-season wins against ACC opponents. One highlight to watch: Brandon Joseph gets Notre Dame out front early with interception return for touchdown.Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.TV: ABCBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: One of the biggest success stories in the Power Five, Illinois has maximized a friendly schedule to start 6-1 in coach Bret Bielema's second year. Winning out would require beating Michigan on Nov. 19 and then the winner of the Big Ten East — likely Ohio State, since losing to Illinois wouldn't paint a rosy picture of the Wolverines' chances against the Buckeyes a week later. Possible? Yes. Even borderline probable? Nope. But the Illini have given themselves a chance. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAYNo. 19 Cincinnati at Central FloridaKickoff: 3:30 p.m.TV: ESPNBetting info: Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee has the dual-threat ability to take over a game. In addition to throwing for more than 1,800 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, the 6-foot, 200-pound senior also leads the Knights in rushing (101 carries for 506 yards and seven scores). East Carolina defeated UCF last week largely because the Pirates capitalized on Plumlee's miscues, sacking him four times and forcing him into throwing three interceptions. Cincinnati needs to make Plumlee uncomfortable and keep him from getting into a groove in his home stadium. — Keith Jenkins, Cincinnati EnquirerKickoff: 8 p.m.TV: ACC NetworkBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: North Carolina might be an absolute sieve defensively and even lucky to be 6-1, given those close wins against Appalachian State and Duke. But the Tar Heels can begin to climb up the Top 25 with wins in November against Wake Forest and North Carolina State and then be in position to make a huge leap in the playoff rankings with a win against Clemson in the ACC championship game. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAYKickoff: 4 p.m.TV: SEC NetworkBetting info:Odds, moneyline and moreWhat to know: Missouri is the No. 2 third-down defense in the SEC behind only Alabama and No. 9 in the country, allowing 30 conversions on 103 attempts this season. That's not a good matchup for the Gamecocks, who are converting on 40% of third-down attempts. They had their best third-down performance of the year against the Aggies, going 8-for-16 (50%). Putting together long drives has been a challenge for South Carolina all season. Missouri is feisty — it has yet to lose an SEC game by more than a touchdown — so another poor performance on third down could create an opening for the Tigers to exploit. — Emily Adams, Greenville News Source link
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