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Week 9 college football expert picks, including Michigan-Michigan State, Penn State-Ohio State & Georgia-Florida

By Sean Watterson

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen greet prior to a game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen greet prior to a game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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College football expert picks for every Week 9 Top 25 game, including Michigan vs. Michigan State and Florida vs. Georgia.

It seems fitting that on the eve of Halloween — All Hallows’ Eve eve, if you will (and you shouldn’t) — we get the ghosts of what should have been top-flight games. From Iowa-Wisconsin to Georgia-Florida, all the way to UNC Notre-Dame, this week is littered with matchups between preseason Top 25 teams.

But it’s also a loaded Week 9 schedule featuring two great Big Ten games, including a matchup of unbeaten teams in a rivalry game.

Michigan is at Michigan State with the winner getting the edge on their in-state rival and staying in first place in the Big Ten East. Elsewhere in the East sees Penn State traveling to Columbus to take on an Ohio State team that’s been on fire since losing to Oregon in Week 2.

And then there’s the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party between No. 1 Georgia and Florida that’s fallen out of the Top 25 after a rough first half to the season for Dan Mullen’s team.

College football expert picks for Week 9 Top 25 games

  • No. 2 Cincinnati at Tulane — 12 p.m. ET — ESPN2
  • No. 6 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State — 12 p.m. ET — FOX
  • No. 9 Iowa at Wisconsin — 12 p.m. ET —  ESPN
  • Texas at No. 16 Baylor — 12 p.m. ET — ABC
  • Miami at No. 17 Pittsburgh — 12 p.m. ET — ACCN
  • No. 22 Iowa State at West Virginia — 2 p.m. ET — BIG12/ESPN+
  • No. 1 Georgia at Florida — 3:30 p.m. ET — CBS
  • Texas Tech at No. 4 Oklahoma — 3:30 p.m. ET — ABC
  • Colorado at No. 7 Oregon — 3:30 p.m. ET — FOX
  • Duke at No. 13 Wake Forest — 4 p.m. ET — ACCN
  • No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 18 Auburn — 7 p.m. ET — ESPN
  • No. 12 Kentucky at Mississippi State — 7 p.m. ET — SECN
  • Kansas at No. 15 Oklahoma State — 7 p.m. ET — FS1
  • No. 19 SMU at Houston — 7 p.m. ET — ESPN2
  • No. 20 Penn State at No. 5 Ohio State — 7:30 p.m. ET — ABC
  • UNC at No. 11 Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m. ET — NBC
  • UVA at No. 25 BYU — 10:15 p.m. ET — ESPN2
  • Fresno State at No. 21 San Diego State — 10:30 p.m. ET — CBSSN

There are a few upset picks here. First is Wisconsin over Iowa. Neither team has many impressive wins in hindsight, but Wisconsin beat the team that beat Iowa at home. And it’s really hard to get behind Iowa’s offense, especially when they’re at No. 9.

The upset of the day, and with no statistical justification whatsoever, will be Florida over Georgia. There is no reason for this to happen, but we’re going to speak it into existence. Like Candyman. All together now.

Floridaman.

Floridaman.

Floridaman.

Watch out now, Bulldogs.

Next. College football power rankings: Top 30 programs of all-time. dark

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