College Football: Preweek 9 Pollsand Week 9 Opponents

We turn the midway point of the 2014 season with just four undefeated teams out of the 128 FBS teams remaining and although three of them are at the top of the charts only two of those three have any chance at all of going all the way. (#1 Mississippi State and #3 Ole Miss will play each other on November 28^th.) Currently ranked #23, Marshall is the Rodney Dangerfield of the group. Their (very) weak schedule will probably result in an undefeated season, but little love from the pollsters.

Ranks on the left are those of the AP/Coaches Top 25/CBSSPORTS.COM 128 Polls as reported by CBSSports.com. NR = Not Ranked)

1/1/1 Mississippi State (6-0) The Bulldogs are on the road playing the Wildcats of Kentucky (5-2). Look for the Bulldogs to continue their winning ways in a tough game.

2/2/3 Florida State (7-0) The Seminoles will be idle this week.

3/3/2 Ole Miss (7-0) The Rebels will play on the road against the #24 LSU Tigers (6-2). Ole Miss will handle LSU easily to remain undefeated.

4/4/5 Alabama (6-1) The Tide hits the road to face the Tennessee Volunteers (3-4). The Tide’s too much for the Vols.

5/6/4 Auburn (5-1) The Tigers host the South Carolina Gamecocks (4-3). Tigers will enjoy the company.

6/7/6 Oregon (6-1) The Ducks will go south to face the California Golden Bears (4-3). It is fall so the migration south is welcome to the Ducks. They’ll head north with a win when it’s over.

7/8/7 Notre Dame (6-1) The Irish have this weekend off.

8/5/9 Michigan State (6-1) The Spartans will host their in-state rival, the Wolverines of Michigan (3-4). Big Game” it used to be. Spartans win big.

9/9/8 Georgia (6-1) The Bulldogs will have this weekend off.

10/10/11 TCU (5-1) The Horned Frogs will host the Red Raiders of Texas Tech (3-4). Frogs jump all over the Red Raiders.

11/11/10 Kansas State (5-1) The Wildcats host the Texas Longhorns (3-4). Kansas State should easily win this one.

12/13/13 Baylor (6-1) The Bears will not be playing this week.

13/12/12 Ohio State (5-1) The Buckeyes will play on the road against the Penn State Nittany Lions (4-2). Penn State has been struggling to find and hold on to an identity. Ohio State learned its lesson against Virginia Tech. Ohio State wins this one big.

14/14/18 Arizona State (5-1) The Sun Devils head north to face the Washington Huskies (5-2). This will be a close but high scoring game. I think the Sun Devils will prevail.

15/15/14 Arizona (5-1) The Wildcats head north to play the Washington State Cougars (2-5). Washington State has shown it can score. Problem is it can’t stop anybody. Arizona.

16/16/15 Nebraska (6-1) The Cornhuskers will host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-2). Rutgers has the toughest schedule in the Big Ten. Last week it was Ohio State, this week it’s Nebraska and Wisconsin and Michigan State loom on the horizon. I want the Scarlet Knights to win. I dream of the Scarlet Knights winning. But reality is that they are not quite big enough on the line to go with these teams. Rutgers will beat the current spread (17.5 pts), but the Cornhuskers will win the game.

17/18/16 Oklahoma (5-2) The Sooners are idle this week.

18/17/19 East Carolina (5-1) The Pirates will be hosting the Connecticut Huskies (1-5) on Thursday night. The Pirates will win this one easily.

19/19/21 Utah (5-1) The Utes host the #20 Southern California Trojans (5-2). The Trojans will have to bring their A-game but they should win this in a close contest.

20/21/22 Southern California (5-2) The Trojans are on the road to face the #19 Utah Utes (5-1). Trojans.

21/20/20 Clemson (5-2) The Tigers will play host to the Syracuse Orange (3-4). Clemson’s colors include bright orange. It’s the only thing that will make Syracuse feel good. Tigers win big.

22/24/23 West Virginia (5-2) the Mountaineers head west to face the Cowboys of Oklahoma State (5-2). West Virginia is on the cusp of being an elite team in the Big 12. They may push the envelope in this one. Mountaineers shoot down the Cowboys.

23/22/17 Marshall (7-0) The Thundering Herd play host to the Owls of Florida Atlantic (3-4). Rollin’, rollin’ rollin’. Keep them doggies rollin.! Call it Herd mentality. Marshall in a blowout.

24/23/NR LSU (6-2) The Tigers host the #3 Ole Miss Rebels (7-0). Ole Miss gets a win in Baton Rouge.

25/NR/25 UCLA (5-2) The Bruins hit the road to play the Colorado Buffaloes (2-5). UCLA should win this one handily.

NR/24/NR Minnesota (6-1) The Golden Gophers will be on the road to face the Fighting Illini of Illinois (3-4). Gophers win.

NR/NR/24 Duke (6-1) The Blue Devils will have this weekend off.