College Football Predictions: Picks for Top games of Week 9

Oklahoma's Dillon Gabriel (8) celebrates scoring a touchdown with Oklahoma’s Troy Everett (52) in the first quarter during an NCAA football game between University of Oklahoma (OU) and Iowa State at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. /

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Aug 31, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham works the sideline during their game against the Florida Gators at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 Oregon (-6.5) at Utah (3:30 PM EST, Fox)

When will people take Kyle Whittingham seriously? The man is one of the best coaches in all of college football and Utah, the two-time defending champion still gets overlooked.

Utah’s defense is ranked 14th in college football in yards allowed and USC is the only team that has scored more than 21 points. Florida, who looks pretty good with Graham Mertz, managed just 11 points, while UCLA got just 14.

Yes, the Utah offense isn’t as good without Cam Rising. But Bryson Barnes was solid last week. Nate Johnson can also add something with his ability to run.

The Utes run for 182 yards per game and that ground game will be key. Oregon, to be fair, has been really good against the run and is allowing just 3.3 yards per carry.

Bo Nix is a stellar quarterback and it feels like he should be the tiebreaker between two teams with great defenses. However, Utah is a different team at home and I’m rolling with Whittingham in a game like this.

Utah 24, Oregon 21

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