College football score predictions for Week 9, 2026: Model backs Oregon (-3.5) against Northwestern — SkimNews
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- SportsLine simulates every FBS game 10,000 times, enters Week 9 on a 68-59 run for all top-rated picks and has returned nearly $400 at betting sites; its Week 9 board also backs multiple underdogs to win outright.
- Oregon is projected to beat Northwestern 30-21 as the -3.5 favorite, with a 62% model probability of covering the spread and a 58% probability for the Over 47.5.
- Oregon entered the matchup with three losses and fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after a 21-10 loss to Illinois.
- Northwestern arrived on a four-game winning streak against Ball State, Michigan State, Rutgers and Penn State; three of those opponents combined for one Big Ten win, and its only true road game against quality competition ended in a one-touchdown loss to Indiana.
- Cincinnati hosts No. 6 Utah after beating Texas Tech, with the Utes listed as 6.5-point road favorites.
- Georgia, the No. 3 team, is a 12.5-point favorite over No. 17 Florida.
- USC is a 6.5-point underdog against No. 2 Ohio State in the teams’ first Big Ten matchup, while the Trojans lead their all-time series 13-10-1.
Why it matters: For Oregon bettors, the -3.5 proposition carries a 62% cover probability even though the Ducks have three losses and fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. Northwestern’s four-game streak is less imposing because three opponents combined for one Big Ten win and its quality road test ended in a one-touchdown loss to Indiana.
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