College football enters Week 9 with unprecedented parity after three top-two teams lost to unranked opponents over the past three weeks, a scenario last seen in the 2007 season. Texas, Georgia, and BYU all fell, leaving only three unbeaten teams — No. 1 Miami, No. 7 UCLA, and No. 6 Utah — the fewest this early in a season since 1977.
Miami at North Carolina
Top-ranked Miami travels to North Carolina, where the Hurricanes hold a 30-0 all-time record against unranked opponents as the AP No. 1 team. The Tar Heels are 0-11 all-time against the nation's No. 1 team. Coach Mario Cristobal emphasized focus: "If not, you're putting a win at risk." CBS Sports experts project the total to stay under 52.5 points, with most picking Miami to win straight up.
Ohio State at USC
No. 2 Ohio State faces a quarterback uncertainty with Julian Sayin out indefinitely. Luke Fahey and former five-star Tavian St. Clair competed for the starting role during the bye week. The Buckeyes are favored by 7 points, but experts lean toward the under 51.5 total, citing potential offensive struggles for both sides.
Georgia vs. Florida in Atlanta
No. 3 Georgia meets No. 17 Florida at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the first neutral-site game in the rivalry's history. The Bulldogs, coming off a bye after a home loss to Auburn, aim to avoid becoming the second No. 1 team this month to lose back-to-back games (Texas being the first). Georgia is favored by 12.5 points, with the majority of experts backing the Bulldogs to cover.
Other key matchups
Minnesota, holding all three rivalry trophies for the first time since 1978, visits No. 4 Indiana, which has not scored 21 points in three straight games. The total is set at 41.5, with experts favoring the under and Indiana to cover the 19.5-point spread. Utah travels to Cincinnati, which recently upset Texas Tech and could become the first unranked team since 1938 St. Mary's to beat ranked teams at 6-0 or better in consecutive weeks. Texas Tech hosts Arizona as a 3-point favorite, though experts are split with some taking Arizona +3.5.
SportsLine's computer model, on a 68-59 run on top-rated college football picks this season, has simulated every Week 9 game 10,000 times.
