WhatIfSports 2014 College Football Week 9 Predictions

By foxsports
Published

Each Monday, WhatIfSports.com's NCAA college football simulation engine provides game predictions for every D-1 FBS game that upcoming week. The college football simulation engine generates detailed information for each game including each team's chances of winning (Win%) and the average points scored for both teams. 

Check out our 2014 College Football Season-to-Date page to follow our accuracy and for Upsets of the Week.

The statistical inputs to the thousands of college football simulations are based on rigorous analysis of each team's roster, depth charts and statistically based player rankings. Roster modifications are made in cases of injury or suspension and those players are removed from their team's game simulation for that week.

Game of the Week: Ole Miss at LSU

This goal line Vine of Notre Dame's last-second touchdown against Florida State provides a great view of Irish wide receiver C.J. Prosise engaging with the defensive back and providing the ref enough evidence to throw the flag and call the pick play. The cloudy-gray area on pick plays in football remains, but this view makes the controversial call tough(er) to argue.

With the win, Florida State remained one of four undefeated squads, and the only team outside the SEC West currently ranked inside the top five. Mississippi State, Mississippi, Alabama and Auburn are in, but a familiar brand in LSU has fallen on "tough times" and currently sits at No. 24 in the latest poll. The Tigers host the third-ranked Rebels in our WhatIfSports.com Game of the Week.

LSU is very young on offense. Statistically speaking, they are led by sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings, freshman Leonard Fournette and sophomore Travin Dural. Jennings is only completing 50 percent of his passes for just over 1,000 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. The offense ranks 28th on the ground (220 RYPG), but 98th in pass offense at less than 200 yards per contest.

The good news for Les Miles is a week after his Tigers escaped with a last-second win over an overly-flawed Florida team, LSU dominated Kentucky on both sides of the ball, holding the Wildcats to 2.6 yards per rush, while racking up 303 rush yards with three scores on offense.

The Tigers rank eighth in scoring defense (17.0 PAPG), 14th in total defense, fourth against the pass (156 yards allowed per game) and 69th against the rush although the run game isn't Ole Miss' main approach on offense.

The Rebels are now on the right side bookend of nationally ranked back-to-back contests. Ole Miss' climb up the charts began with their upset win over Alabama followed by a convincing win over Texas A&M in which the Rebels defense held the up-tempo offense to just 20 points. Their rush defense held Tennessee to zero rushing yards in Week 8 and have allowed only six touchdowns all season. That's six touchdowns allowed heading into Week 9. Young Fournette will face the toughest defense of his young career.

On offense, Bo Wallace is closing in on 2,000 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, although he hasn't tossed a pick in three games. Wallace continues to spread the wealth; Laquon Treadwell, Vince Sanders and Cody Core each have four touchdowns with a combined 1,227 receiving yards.

We simulated the Rebels and Tigers 101 times and the computers like Ole Miss to win 69.3-percent of the time by an average score of 25-19.

For additional statistics, view our weekly college football predictions.