The 2024 college football season rolls on with a loaded Week 9 slate that features several impactful matchups at both the conference and national levels. There are a whopping five games featuring two ranked teams, and three programs in the top four of the latest AP Top 25 poll are in action.
Quite a few games will have major College Football Playoff implications down the line. No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 24 Navy get things started at noon ET with a neutral-site contest at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Fighting Irish are trying to close strong, while the Midshipmen have a chance to establish themselves as a legitimate contender.
No. 1 Oregon takes the field again against a surging No. 20 Illinois, which is fresh off a blowout win against Michigan. Then, No. 15 Alabama is looking to bounce back after last week’s loss to Tennessee, while No. 21 Missouri could re-emerge in the national conversation with a win against the Crimson Tide.
Staying in the SEC, No. 5 Texas could get a serious challenge when it travels to No. 25 Vanderbilt, and No. 8 LSU and No. 14 Texas A&M meet in a game that’s crucial for either’s postseason hopes.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games in Week 9 with cited picks from best sports betting apps available.
All times Eastern
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy
Noon | ABC, fubo (Try for free) — Notre Dame has been dominant lately, so it makes a little sense that the line would be inflated. But Navy might just be Notre Dame’s biggest non-MAC test since Week 1’s road game against Texas A&M. The Midshipmen are for real. The offense steals a lot of the headlines, but their defense has also held each of their last three opponents under 10 points. Despite all the injuries, things seem to be coming together for Notre Dame on both sides of the ball. The betting-favorite Irish are a smart pick to win, but this one’s going to be a lot closer than Vegas seems to think. Pick: Navy +12.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook — Will Backus
No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon
3:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with Showtime, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Illinois comes into this matchup with confidence after picking up three victories against ranked teams in its first seven games. Traveling to face Oregon marks an upgrade in difficulty for the Fighting Illini, but they are equipped to keep their margin of defeat within this spread. The Ducks have covered a number this large just twice this season, and they’ve surpassed 40 points in a game just once. Illinois has enough offensive juice with Luke Altmyer at quarterback to find the end zone at least once and keep the outcome within the betting line available on FanDuel. Pick: Illinois +21.5 via FanDuel Sportsbook — David Cobb
No. 21 Missouri at No. 15 Alabama
3:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try for free) — Missouri has teetered on the edge of the top 25 with its performances all season. The Tigers had to rally to beat Vanderbilt and Auburn at home, and they were exposed in a blowout at Texas A&M. If anything, a 13.5-point spread is low for Alabama. If the Tide have a pulse, they’re red with anger after the loss to Tennessee, and returning home against Mizzou is the perfect “ranked” team to unleash their frustration. Cook and/or Noel missing the game only increases the chances of this being a blowout similar to the one in College Station. Mizzou is 0-2 against the spread against ranked teams. Pick: Alabama -13.5 via BetMGM — Brandon Marcello
No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt
4:15 p.m. | SEC Network, fubo (Try for free) — This game comes down to how the Commodores manage the clock. If they can produce long drives and confuse Texas’ speedy front seven with misdirection, this game will be close. If there are a couple of three-and-outs by Vanderbilt, it could get out of control quick as the Commodores’ pass defense has struggled this year. But give me Vanderbilt to at least cover the betting line. They’ve stepped up in every big moment this season. Why would that stop Saturday? Pick: Vanderbilt +18.5 via Caesars — Chris Hummer
No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M
7:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try for free) — This should be one of the best matchups of the weekend and offers an air of true unpredictability. LSU’s pass defense has been gettable, but Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman has struggled to find consistency at receiver. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is playing at a high level and can find creases. When betting, take any points available in a true 50-50 matchup. Pick: LSU +2.5 via FanDuel Sportsbook — Shehan Jeyarajah
SportsLine’s proven computer model is calling for five outright upsets in Week 9 of college football. Visit SportsLine now to see them all, plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.
