College Football: 25 Bold Predictions for Top 25 in Week 9

AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Matthew Eaton #23 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of play against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Longhorns won 17-7 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Matthew Eaton #23 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of play against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Longhorns won 17-7 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
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Penn State and Ohio State headline another week of big games. Here’s one bold prediction for every top 25 team in college football in Week 9.

See Also: How did the Week 8 bold predictions turn out?

We were all over both of the big games of Week 8, but perhaps a bit too far. Notre Dame over USC was our pick of the week, and while that did come to pass, a Sam Darnold pick six and 300 all-purpose yards for Saquon Barkley were not in the cards.

Among the worst calls of the week were a four touchdown day from Jarrett Stidham (he had just one) and an LSU upset by Ole Miss (the Tigers won by 24). Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon didn’t have a career day, he managed just 18 yards rushing. Michigan State wide receiver Felton Davis crashed and burned as well, falling 84 yards short of the projected 100 receiving yards we pegged him for.

As for home runs, UCF producing their lowest point total of the season, but still winning was in our predictions last week. That came to pass as did a performance by TCU quarterback Kenny Hill so good dominant that the beginnings of Heisman hype started to surface.

When we miss, we miss big, but when we hit we strike gold. Here’s one bold prediction for every Top 25 team in Week 9. And right at the top, we’re going as bold as we can.

Bold prediction: Iowa State stuns TCU in Ames. Beating the Frogs at home would vault the Iowa State Cyclones into first place in the Big 12. If that doesn’t scream bold, then what does? It’s going to be another shootout, but if the Cyclones can hang with Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma, why not TCU?

Bold prediction: Memphis jumps inside the top 20. The Tigers lone loss came to a UCF team that has hung four or more touchdowns (usually more) on everyone they’ve played this season. The Tigers have already beaten Josh Rosen and UCLA. A blowout of Tulane, plus some friendly upsets to teams above them, will put help them continue to climb the polls