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College Football Week 9: 5 teams on upset alert

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 22, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Gary Jennings (12) catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Gary Jennings (12) catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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These five teams are on upset alert heading into Week 9 of the college football season against pesky opponents.

It’s tough to even fathom the idea of the college football season coming to an end, but we are less than a month and a half from the conclusion of the 2016 regular season.

National title contenders are rising to prominence, but the final weeks of the season are when underdogs rise up and crush the hopes of top teams. Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington have been the most consistent teams in the country this season and all are undefeated from different conferences. Will they be able to hold on this week and keep playoff hopes alive?

Last week was a big one for top-four shakeups as No. 2 Ohio State traveled to Happy Valley to take on Penn State and lost, 24-21. The Buckeyes had been one of the most impressive teams in the country to that point, but they couldn’t hold a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead over unranked Penn State.

Who will be on upset alert in Week 9? Here are five teams that should be weary of inferior opponents.

Oct 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Although Jerod Evans has been one of the best JUCO transfers in the country this year, he might have trouble in hostile territory. Sure, he’s beaten North Carolina on the road, but a week later, his Hokies fell flat against hapless Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

Pitt is no cupcake. The Panthers are 5-2 and have lost to North Carolina on the road by one point and Oklahoma State away from home by eight. They have yet to lose at home this season and are, in fact, nine points away from being 7-0 and potentially ranked in the top-15.

Pat Narduzzi has turned this program around after taking over in 2015 and after those two losses earlier in the season, the Panthers have reeled off three straight.

Virginia Tech might have trouble on the road in Pittsburgh just like they did against Syracuse.

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