PREVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 9 EDITION

Week 9 lands on Halloween with Miami still perfect at No. 1 on the JPWest Media Top 25, Ohio State at No. 2 after its bye, and three undefeated teams still sitting in the top seven. UCLA is 7-0 at No. 6. Utah is 7-0 at No. 7. These are the five games to watch nationally — using the JPWest Media Week 9 Top 25.

JPWEST MEDIA GAME OF THE WEEK

1. No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 4:30 p.m. PT | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA)
Photographer: Jeremy Westerbeck | Reporter: Justin Rosette

Live on: NBC

PREVIEW:
The candles are lit. On All Hallows Eve, No. 2 Ohio State crosses into Trojan territory for a Big Ten showdown at the Coliseum. The Buckeyes may bring tricks, but USC is looking to serve up a Halloween treat for the home crowd. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC with Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen on the call.

Ohio State is 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten after a 19-15 road win at Indiana two weeks ago. The Buckeyes used the bye to prepare for this trip west. Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with a throwing-arm injury suffered in that Indiana game. True freshman Luke Fahey, a Mission Viejo product, is expected to start, though Ryan Day has left open the possibility that both Fahey and Tavien St. Clair see time. Ohio State is averaging 39.3 points and 476.3 yards of total offense per game (323.1 passing, 153.1 rushing) while allowing just 13.4 points and 264.3 total yards. Jeremiah Smith leads the receiving corps with 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. Bo Jackson has 516 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. The Buckeyes have scored on 29 of 33 red-zone possessions.

USC is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten after a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin. Jayden Maiava finished 31-of-50 for 257 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and was sacked five times. The Trojans finished with 241 total yards and negative rushing yards as a team. Trent Mosley caught five passes for 45 yards. Taniela Tupou had six receptions for 45 yards and USC’s only score on a 4-yard touchdown. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Tanook Hines also contributed. Maiava enters the game leading the Big Ten in passing yards (2,303), passing touchdowns (19), yards per game (287.9) and completions per game. He has accounted for 21 total touchdowns through eight games. Mosley has been one of the most electric freshmen in the country, with multiple 100-yard receiving games and an 86-yard punt return for a score earlier in the season.

USC holds a 13-10-1 series edge over Ohio State and has won six of the last 10 meetings. Seven of the 24 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The last meeting came in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, when Ohio State won 24-7 after forcing four USC turnovers and recording eight sacks. Both programs rank among the nation’s traditional powers — USC with 11 national championships and eight Heisman winners, Ohio State with eight titles and seven Heismans.

The Trojans will need better protection and some rushing production after the Wisconsin performance. Ohio State’s defense has been elite, and Fahey will be making his first career start in a hostile primetime environment. The Coliseum crowd, the Halloween setting and USC’s skill-position talent give the Trojans a path if they can stay clean on the offensive line and get Maiava time to throw.

PREDICTION:
This is Luke Fahey’s homecoming. The Mission Viejo product gets the start in a primetime Coliseum game on Halloween with the eyes of the country on him. Ohio State’s defense and overall talent are real, but the combination of a true freshman quarterback in his first start, a hostile environment, and USC’s explosive skill players creates the right conditions for an upset. Maiava has the arm talent to stress the secondary if the line gives him any time. Mosley, Dixon-Wyatt and Tupou can create the explosive plays that flip field position. If USC finds even modest rushing production and limits turnovers, the Trojans have a realistic chance to spoil the night for the Buckeyes.

JP’s Pick: The Coliseum is loud, Fahey sees pressure early, and Maiava finds Mosley for the difference. USC spoils the homecoming. USC 27, Ohio State 24.

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH NATIONALLY
(Using the JPWest Media Week 9 Top 25)

2. No. 19 Florida (5-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (6-1)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 12:30 p.m. PT | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
Live on: ABC

PREVIEW:
Florida and Georgia meet in Atlanta for the annual rivalry game. Georgia is coming off a bye and sits at No. 3. Florida is 5-2 and coming off its own bye, with its earlier win at Texas still the best result on the résumé. Georgia has the more complete team on both sides of the ball. Florida will need to establish the run and force Georgia into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations.

JP’s Pick: Georgia’s defense limits the explosive plays and the Bulldogs pull away in the second half. Georgia 34, Florida 17.

3. No. 1 Miami (7-0) at North Carolina (4-3)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 4:30 p.m. PT | Kenan Stadium (Chapel Hill, NC)
Live on: ABC

PREVIEW:
Miami stayed perfect with a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh. Darian Mensah completed 31-of-37 for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Malachi Toney had 16 catches for 194 yards and three scores. The Hurricanes are averaging 49.0 points per game. North Carolina is 4-3 and looking to play spoiler at home. Miami has the better quarterback and the more explosive skill players.

JP’s Pick: Mensah and Toney stay hot and Miami covers the spread on the road. Miami 45, North Carolina 21.

4. No. 24 Arizona (6-1) at No. 15 Texas Tech (6-1)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 9:00 a.m. PT | Galaxy Stadium (Lubbock, TX)
Live on: ESPN

PREVIEW:
This is the ranked Big 12 game that can move both sides of the standings and the poll. Arizona just entered the JPWest Top 25 after a 39-3 win over Iowa State. Noah Fifita has been efficient and the Wildcats are one of the cleaner one-loss teams in the conference. Texas Tech is 6-1 but coming off a 37-24 loss at Cincinnati. The Red Raiders are at home and will need a response after that result. Both teams can score. One of them has to stop the other.

JP’s Pick: Fifita keeps Arizona within a score into the fourth quarter, but Texas Tech’s home environment and balance are the difference. Texas Tech 31, Arizona 27.

5. No. 7 Utah (7-0) at Cincinnati (5-2)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 12:45 p.m. PT | Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
Live on: ESPN

PREVIEW:
Utah is one of three undefeated teams left in the top seven after beating Houston 21-13 last week. Devon Dampier has been efficient and the Utes have won 12 straight dating to last season. Cincinnati is 5-2 and looking to play spoiler at home after its win over Texas Tech. Utah has the better quarterback and the more complete defense. The Bearcats will need to control the line of scrimmage and force Dampier into uncomfortable throws.

JP’s Pick: Dampier stays efficient, the Utes control the clock, and Utah protects the streak. Utah 34, Cincinnati 20.

UPSET WATCH

No. 2 Ohio State at USC
This is the clearest upset candidate on the board. USC is unranked on the JPWest poll after the 24-7 loss at Wisconsin, but the Trojans are at home on Halloween in a primetime window with a quarterback who has already produced multiple 300-yard games this season. Ohio State is without Julian Sayin and will start a true freshman in Luke Fahey. The Coliseum environment and USC’s skill-position talent give the Trojans a realistic path if they can protect Maiava and generate any rushing production. The spread is Ohio State by 6.5. A one-score USC win is live — and it is the pick.

No. 24 Arizona at No. 15 Texas Tech
Arizona is 6-1 and just entered the poll after a 39-3 win over Iowa State. Texas Tech is 6-1 but coming off a 37-24 loss at Cincinnati. The Red Raiders are at home, but Arizona has the more consistent résumé right now and a quarterback in Noah Fifita who can stress a secondary. This is the cleanest ranked-versus-ranked upset path of the early window.

No. 22 Northwestern at Oregon
Northwestern is 6-1 and sitting at No. 22. Oregon is 4-3 and unranked after losses that have piled up. The Wildcats already beat Rutgers 42-14 and have been one of the more physical teams in the Big Ten. A road win in Autzen would be a legitimate statement and would move Northwestern firmly into the top 20 conversation.

No. 8 BYU vs. Arizona State
BYU dropped from No. 2 to No. 8 after the double-overtime loss at UCF. Arizona State is 4-3 and looking for a signature win. BYU’s earlier win over Notre Dame is still the best result on the résumé, but the loss to an unranked team opened the door. Arizona State has enough explosiveness to make this uncomfortable if BYU’s secondary has another uneven day.

Mississippi State at No. 11 Texas
Texas climbed seven spots after beating Ole Miss at home. Mississippi State is 4-3 and will try to keep it close in Austin. The Longhorns have the better talent and the home environment, but a flat performance after the ranked win last week would create an opening. This is more of a “keep it close” watch than a full upset lean.