Week 9 College Football Recap: Major Upsets, Poll Movers, and Key Betting Tips

Week 9 of the college football season put the nail in the coffin for a few expected contenders and reminded us that games often play much closer on the field than they do on paper.

Ole Miss and Texas A&M picked up key in-conference wins to help solidify the SEC landscape. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt pulled out another ranked win to confirm its contender status, while several others fell out of the Top 25 entirely. Let’s take a look at the biggest games, the ranking shakeups, and what it all means from a betting standpoint.

Biggest Games and Upsets of the Week

Ole Miss 34, Oklahoma 26

Ole Miss needed a big win after falling to Georgia in Week 8, while Oklahoma was fighting to move back up after dropping from number six in the polls. After three quarters, the Sooners held a one-point lead, but the Rebels shut things down in the fourth, scoring 10 unanswered while locking up John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense. Ole Miss stays in the Top 10, while Oklahoma continues to slide.

Vanderbilt 17, Missouri 10

The Commodores were left for dead after a Week 6 loss to Alabama, but they have completely flipped the narrative. Following a ranked win over LSU, they took down 15th-ranked Missouri in a defensive slugfest. Quarterback Diego Pavia was not at his best, but the defense delivered when it mattered most. The injury to Missouri’s Beau Pribula could prove costly for the Tigers, though backup Matt Zollers held his own. Vanderbilt remains in the Top 10 for another week.

Virginia 17, North Carolina 16

This should have been a comfortable win for Virginia, but the Cavaliers nearly got caught in a trap. After a scoreless second half, Virginia took a seven-point lead in overtime, only to see UNC score on its next possession. The Tar Heels went for two and the win, but J’Mari Taylor was stopped a half yard short of the goal line, keeping Virginia’s win streak alive.

AP Top 25 Risers and Fallers

Risers

• #17 Cincinnati (up 4): The Bearcats continue to climb with a 7-1 record and real playoff aspirations.
  
• #21 Michigan (up 4): The Wolverines move up from 25 and will need to run the table to make the CFP.
  
• #14 Tennessee (up 3): The Volunteers stay alive in the SEC picture after a dominant win at Kentucky.
  

Fallers

• LSU (unranked): The 10th-ranked team just two weeks ago is now 5-3 and without a head coach.
  
• USF (unranked): A three-point loss to a conference rival drops them from the rankings.
  
• Illinois (unranked): The Illini fall to 5-3 and out of playoff contention.
  
• #18 Oklahoma (down 5): Once 5-0 and ranked sixth, the Sooners now sit at 6-2 and are struggling to stay in the SEC race.
  

Betting Strategy: Adjusting After Week 9

Avoid Spread Bets on Virginia

Virginia continues to win but rarely covers. Their tight finishes make them a dangerous team to back on large spreads. They grind, they survive, but they rarely dominate.

Don’t Overreact to Undefeated Navy

The Midshipmen are unbeaten but untested. Their schedule has been soft, and the next month (North Texas, Notre Dame, USF, Memphis) could bring them back to earth. Proceed with caution before backing the 7-0 record.

Lean Vanderbilt Against Texas

Vanderbilt has been one of the most pleasant surprises in college football, while Texas remains wildly inconsistent from week to week. If the line stays short, the Commodores are worth a look.

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