College football score predictions for Week 9, 2026: Model backs Oregon (-3.5) against Northwestern — SkimNews
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- SportsLine projects Oregon (-3.5) to beat Northwestern 30-21, with a 62% hit rate for Oregon covering the spread and a 58% hit rate for the Over 47.5; CBS Sports’ other Week 9 computer coverage also likes Oregon.
- Oregon enters the matchup with three losses and has fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after a 21-10 defeat to Illinois.
- Northwestern brings a four-game winning streak against Ball State, Michigan State, Rutgers and Penn State; its three Big Ten opponents in that run combined for one win, while 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 Utah a 6.5-point road favorite and one of only three undefeated teams left in FBS.
- SportsLine’s model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and enters Week 9 on a 68-59 run across its top-rated picks, with nearly $400 returned at betting sites.
- Georgia is a 12.5-point favorite over No. 17 Florida in Week 9.
- USC is a 6.5-point underdog against No. 2 Ohio State in the teams’ first Big Ten matchup, with the Trojans leading the all-time series 13-10-1.
Why it matters: Backers of Oregon have a 62% model-estimated cover rate at -3.5, but that edge comes with three Ducks losses and a coordinator firing; backers of Northwestern can still point to a four-game winning streak, though three of those opponents combined for one Big Ten win.
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