NCAA Football Predictions: Week 9 Opening Line Report and Picks

by Joey House - 10/20/2025

College football Week 9 opening line report Nick Minicucci

Traditional powers are fading. Preseason favorites have collapsed. Programs once buried in obscurity now dominate the national conversation. Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Georgia Tech, long dismissed as irrelevant, are winning consistently and not only are factors in the playoff race, but they are legitimate contenders for the national championship.

Indiana has won more games in the past 1.5 seasons than they have in the previous four combined. The Hoosiers aren't chasing bowl eligibility anymore. They're beating ranked teams and contending for a conference title with a disciplined, physical style that reflects a total program overhaul.

Vanderbilt's rise is even more improbable. Once the SEC's academic outlier and football doormat, the Commodores are now in playoff contention. They've built a balanced offense, a fast and aggressive defense, and a roster that plays with confidence and purpose. Vanderbilt isn't surviving. It's dictating terms.

Georgia Tech has cracked the Top 10 for the first time in over a decade. The Yellow Jackets have shed their triple-option identity for a modern, pro-style attack. Recruiting has surged, especially in Atlanta. The defense is fast, disruptive, and opportunistic. Georgia Tech is no longer clinging to past glory. It's a present-day threat.

Much of this shift stems from the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness. When NIL legislation was passed, most assumed the rich would get richer. Powerhouse programs with deep-pocketed boosters and national brands were expected to dominate. Instead, NIL has redistributed opportunity. Players are no longer bound to legacy prestige. They're choosing programs that offer exposure, support, and a clear path forward. Schools once considered irrelevant now have the tools to compete. NIL is the engine driving this transformation.

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

The College Coach Executioner struck again. Colorado State fired Jay Norvell midway through his fourth season in Fort Collins. After going 33-26 in five years at Nevada, Norvell made a puzzling jump to CSU. The 2024 Rams looked promising at 8-5, earning just the 18th bowl bid in school history, but they lost 43-17 to Miami (OH). This year, they opened 1-4, with the lone win against an NAIA team. A 31-19 home loss to Hawaii sealed Norvell's fate.

Florida's Billy Napier, the longest-tenured coach on "Death Row," was finally let go, ironically after a win. The Gators edged Mississippi State 23-21, but the decision came swiftly. James Franklin's firing at Penn State triggered the domino effect, and Napier was next. He never replicated the success he had in Louisiana. Now, like Penn State, Florida is a magnet for coaching speculation, with Franklin himself among the rumored candidates.

ICU and Life Support

If Franklin's firing was the season's biggest shock, then Luke Fickell surviving at Wisconsin might be the biggest surprise. The Badgers suffered back-to-back home shutout losses in conference play, something that hadn't happened in Madison in nearly 50 years. Fickell's continued employment feels miraculous.

Auburn's Hugh Freeze also dodged the axe, for now. Known for coaching Michael Oher, the inspiration behind The Blind Side, Freeze rose quickly with a 10-3 season at Arkansas State. He spent five years at Ole Miss before being dismissed after his first losing campaign. After a successful stint at Liberty, he took over at Auburn in 2023. Now in his third season, Freeze has yet to reach .500. Coaching is easier when you have a fortress like Oher. Auburn has no such luxury.

We went a solid 2-1 in Week 7 with Oregon covering -17 with ease at Rutgers. Kentucky (+17) took No. 21 Texas to overtime before falling 16-13. Iowa was the only blemish on the card, rallying from an 11-point second-half deficit to win 25-24 over a toothless Penn State squad.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders @ Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (-10/55) Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, 7:30 p.m. Peacock ESPN2

Delaware, favored by 10, hosts a struggling Middle Tennessee squad that's 1-5 with its only win against an FCS opponent. The Blue Hens sit at 3-3, powered by a top-20 passing attack led by Nick Minicucci, who has thrown for 1,801 yards with nine touchdowns and just three picks. Delaware averages 28 points per game and complements its air game with a balanced rushing attack, while Middle Tennessee scores just 17 and averages 83 rushing yards. The Blue Raiders have a minus-5 turnover margin, convert only 32 percent on third downs away from home, and allow nearly 380 yards and 29.5 points per game. Delaware's defense holds opponents under 150 rushing yards and excels in time of possession and red-zone efficiency, converting 85 percent of trips into points.

PICK: Delaware -10

No. 15 Missouri Tigers @ No. 10 Vanderbilt (-3/52.5) Saturday, Oct. 25th, 3:30 p.m. ESPN

Missouri visits Vanderbilt as a 3-point underdog in a top-15 SEC clash, with both teams sitting at 6-1 and 2-1 in conference play. The Tigers average 41.7 points behind a balanced offense led by Beau Pribula and Ahmad Hardy, while Vanderbilt counters with 38 points and a strong ground game. Missouri converts 55 percent on third down and allows just 16.7 points and 243 yards defensively, posing a challenge for dual-threat QB Diego Pavia. Vanderbilt allows only 92 rushing yards per game, but has shown protection issues in recent tight finishes. Missouri's red-zone efficiency (90 percent) and third-down defense (25 percent allowed) give them a strong chance to cover.

PICK: Missouri +3

No. Illinois Fighting Illini @ Washington (-5/55.5) Saturday, Oct. 25th, 3:30 p.m. BTN

Washington enters as a 4.5-point favorite against Illinois in a Big Ten matchup between teams with contrasting strengths. The Huskies average 24 points behind quarterback Will Rogers and a passing attack over 260 yards per game, while Illinois scores 28 and gains 5.8 yards per play with a balanced offense. Washington's defense allows just 18 points and 320 yards per game, ranking in the top 30 against the pass and holding a +4 turnover margin. Illinois defends the run well at 92 yards allowed, but has struggled on the road, with recent losses exposing protection issues and red-zone breakdowns.

PICK: Washington -5.5

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Start:	October 21, 2025 @ 11:00 PM
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NCAA Football Predictions: Week 9 Opening Line Report and Picks

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