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SALT LAKE CITY — Week 9 already? That's right, nine weeks of college football have come and gone, and another week of Pick'em is here.
Need some feedback before you make your picks? The Week 9 preview has you covered.
Get your get your picks in here before the first game on Friday night.
Boise State at UNLV
Friday, Oct. 25 (8:30 p.m. MDT, CBSSN)
In what could be a Mountain West Championship preview, the Ashton Jeanty-led Broncos will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Rebels who have had a solid year themselves.
Why Boise State will win:
Boise State has Jeanty. And any time you have a potential Heisman candidate in your backfield, you have a chance to win any game. Jeanty has rushed for over 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns in six games this season.
The Broncos will put up points, especially since UNLV gives up a lot of points on defense.
Why UNLV will win:
Like Boise State, the Rebels like to put up points of their own. UNLV averages nearly 44 points per contest, which ranks fifth in the FBS behind Boise State at 46.8. But, the Rebels have more than just one rushing option. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams leads the team in rushing with 390 yards, with running back Ja'Den Thomas right behind him at 356.
Line: Boise State -3.5
Over/Under: 64.5
BYU at UCF
Saturday, Oct. 26 (1:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN)
UCF narrowly lost to No. 10 Iowa State on a last-second touchdown, while the Cougars narrowly defeated Oklahoma State on a last-second touchdown of their own. The Cougars head to Orlando for the first meetup between these two teams as Big 12 opponents.
Why BYU will win:
The Cougars continue to find ways to win. Even when giving up nearly 300 rushing yards to Oklahoma State, BYU found a way to get it done thanks to a Darrius Lassiter shake-and-bake to find the end zone.
UCF can run the ball, but that is about it. BYU will be more prepared with this run game than they were against Oklahoma State.
Why UCF will win:
The Cougars have only had three road games this year and barely escaped two of them. Last week, it was apparent that BYU struggled to defend the run, and RJ Harvey is coming off a nearly 200-yard game. He's also ranked fifth in the country this season in total rushing yards.
Whether its KJ Jefferson or Jacurri Brown at quarterback, the Knights could run all over BYU.
Line: UCF -2
Over/Under: 55.5
Utah State at Wyoming
Saturday, Oct. 26 (5 p.m. MDT, CBSSN)
The two teams at the bottom of the Mountain West face off for one of the last times as Mountain West foes. The Aggies and Cowboys have had a rough year, but only one can come out with a win.
Why Utah State will win:
The offense is there; it has been the whole season despite turnover numbers. Not counting their shutout to USC, the Aggies are averaging a respectable 32.5 points per game, and are also top 15 in yards per game in the FBS. It's up to the defense to keep a below-average Wyoming offense off the scoreboard.
Why Wyoming will win:
Vice-versa. If Wyoming can limit the Aggies offense, the home team will win. Utah State's defense is a big reason they are 1-6 and will likely be a main reason they could lose future games. A stout offensive effort will give the Cowboys what they need to defeat the Pac-12 bound Aggies.
Line: USU -1
Over/Under: 55.5
Utah at Houston
Saturday, Oct. 26 (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN+)
If you would have said Utah and Houston would be 1-3 in Big 12 play up to this point, we would call you crazy. Alas, here we are. The Utes and Cougars kickoff for the first time since 1978, with the Utes looking for their first win ever over Houston.
Why Utah will win:
The Cougars are averaging just 17 points per contest and Utah has one of the best defenses in the conference, if not the country. While the offense has struggled, given the recent departure from offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, the Utes have a chip on their shoulder and have plenty to prove. If Utah can get the ball moving, the win will come.
Why Houston will win:
The Cougars beat TCU by 11 points, while the Horned Frogs beat Utah by 6 last week. Houston's defense has turned into an offense at many points this season — as it did during the TCU game. If they are able to limit a struggling Utah offense, they will give themselves a chance to upset the Utes at home.
Line: Utah -3.5
Over/Under: 36.5
LSU at Texas A&M
Saturday, Oct. 26 (5:30 p.m. MDT, ABC)
It is one of the best games of the week in college football as the Tigers head to the home of the 12th man, Texas A&M. Both teams are 6-1, and the winner of this matchup will put themselves in prime position for an SEC championship visit.
Why LSU will win:
The Tigers offense is real. They have put up 29 or more points in their last six games and have continued the legacy of great offenses at LSU. The Tigers are backed by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier who has thrown for over 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns this season that can cause issues for an Aggie defense that has inconsistencies defending the deep ball.
Why Texas A&M will win:
It's home of the 12th man for a reason. The Aggies have one of the best home field advantages in sports and are using their top ranked recruiting classes to use. Texas A&M has showcased great rushing ability on offense and defending the run on defense. If the offense can find its groove, they could take down the No. 9 Tigers and move up in the SEC standings.
