WhatIfSports college football Week 9 predictions: Clemson comes out on top in ACC tilt
Each Monday, WhatIfSports.com's college football simulation engine generates predictions for every Division I FBS game for the coming week. Our highly sophisticated algorithms simulate every play of every game to produce each team's likelihood to win. Each matchup is simulated 101 times.
Week 8 in Review
The Game of the Week's continue to produce winners. Last Saturday, we had Alabama as the winner over Texas A&M. They won easily, 33-14. Our Upset of the Week was a winner for the second straight time. Akron was 10-point winner over Ball State.
Nailed It: Boise State 28 - BYU 27
It doesn't get much closer that this in our simulations. We predicted Boise State to win 53.2 percent of the time, by an average score of 28.8-28.1. The Broncos were a one-point winner in Week 8 and remain unbeaten. Sophomore Brett Rypien threw for 442 yards in the victory.
Wide Right: Penn State 24 - Ohio State 21
The segment is called "Wide Right," but it was a blocked field goal that decided this matchup. Grant Haley scooped and scored for the Nittany Lions. We predicted OSU to win 74.3 percent of the time, by an average score of 30.6-22.2.
Track our 2016 performance or view our accuracy last season, when we correctly picked the winner in 80.0 percent of all games involving FBS teams.
Week 9 Top 25 vs. Top 25 Matchups
No. 4 Washington at No. 17 Utah
Be it a favorable schedule, just being a good team, or both, the Huskies are still undefeated after seven games. Sophomore Jake Browning has an impressive 26:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His offense is averaging 48.3 points per game (fourth-most in FBS). It also helps when Washington's defense allows an average of 14.6 ppg, too (sixth-best). As for the Utes, they have gotten a big boost in the past two games with Joe Williams returning from retirement. The senior running back has tallied 511 yards and scored five TDs in the last two weeks. When the dust settles, Washington wins 70.8 percent of the time, according to our computers, by an average score of 28.7-22.4.
No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin
Nebraska is the lone undefeated team from the Big Ten West. However, the team's next two games will be a great litmus test. Nebraska gets the Badgers this week and the Buckeyes next week. The Cornhuskers are led by Tommy Armstrong Jr. at the quarterback position. He's thrown for over 1,600 yards and rushed for 380 yards. Against the tougher opponents, Armstrong has rushed for at least 95 yards. Wisconsin only allows an average of 102.9 rushing yards per contest (tenth-best). The Badgers lost back-to-back games to Michigan and Ohio State before righting the ship last week against Iowa. The goal for Wisconsin is to get senior running back Corey Clement into the end zone. This season, when he plays, the Badgers are 4-0 when he scores and 0-2 when Clement fails to reach pay-dirt. Our simulations suggest Clement will score because Wisconsin wins 68.3 percent of the time, by an average of 28.2-23.9.
No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State
After a week off, the Tigers are back in action as they look to solidify a spot in the ACC Championship, and potentially the FBS playoffs. This is the toughest game left on the docket. The Seminoles own the series, 20-9, but the Tigers won last year (23-13). In their previous meeting, Deshaun Watson threw for 297 yards and ran for 107 yards. Dalvin Cook also had quite the stat line for Florida State. He recorded 194 rushing yards on 21 carries (9.2 yards per rush). The standout receiver in this game for 2015 was Jordan Leggett of Clemson. He caught six passes for 101 yards. However, the Tigers were without Mike Williams last year and he currently leads the team in receptions (39) and yards (578). In a coin-flip split decision, Clemson wins our projections 52.0 percent of the time, by an average score of 30.3-29.6.
Week 9 Upset Pick
Connecticut (+7) over East Carolina
A seven-point margin of victory seems a bit much for an East Carolina team that has lost five consecutive games. Zay Jones is amazing for the Pirates, but he seems to be their only weapon and other teams are picking up on it. Jones only tallied 69 yards last week. UConn wins in our simulations 52.3 percent of the time, by an average score of 27.3-26.3.
College Football Week 9 Predictions
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Matchup | Win % | Avg. Score | |
| Army West Point Black Knights | 29.7 | 22.1 | Box Score |
| @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 70.3 | 27.5 | |
| Boston College Eagles | 41.6 | 21.8 | Box Score |
| @ North Carolina State Wolfpack | 58.4 | 25.4 | |
| Duke Blue Devils | 47.5 | 24.8 | Box Score |
| @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 52.5 | 27.6 | |
| Clemson Tigers | 52.0 | 30.3 | Box Score |
| @ Florida State Seminoles | 48.0 | 29.6 | |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | 55.4 | 25.5 | Box Score |
| @ Pittsburgh Panthers | 44.6 | 25.2 | |
| Louisville Cardinals | 60.4 | 30.9 | Box Score |
| @ Virginia Cavaliers | 39.6 | 27.1 | |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | 31.7 | 23.9 | Box Score |
| @ Wisconsin Badgers | 68.3 | 28.2 | |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 42.6 | 22.4 | Box Score |
| @ Ohio State Buckeyes | 57.4 | 24.2 | |
| Maryland Terrapins | 44.1 | 29.3 | Box Score |
| @ Indiana Hoosiers | 55.9 | 30.1 | |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 59.4 | 28.2 | Box Score |
| @ Illinois Fighting Illini | 40.6 | 25.8 | |
| Michigan Wolverines | 65.3 | 28.5 | Box Score |
| @ Michigan State Spartans | 34.7 | 23.4 | |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 73.3 | 31.5 | Box Score |
| @ Purdue Boilermakers | 26.7 | 24.3 | |
| Kent State Golden Flashes | 34.7 | 25.5 | Box Score |
| @ Central Michigan Chippewas | 65.3 | 29.7 | |
| Ohio Bobcats | 35.6 | 27.8 | Box Score |
| @ Toledo Rockets | 64.4 | 31.7 | |
| Miami (OH) RedHawks | 36.6 | 30.3 | Box Score |
| @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | 63.4 | 32.8 | |
| Akron Zips | 69.3 | 30.2 | Box Score |
| @ Buffalo Bulls | 30.7 | 24.5 | |
| California Golden Bears | 41.6 | 30.5 | Box Score |
| @ USC Trojans | 58.4 | 34.5 | |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | 48.6 | 29.8 | Box Score |
| @ Oregon Ducks | 51.4 | 30.2 | |
| Stanford Cardinal | 50.4 | 30.9 | Box Score |
| @ Arizona Wildcats | 49.6 | 29.3 | |
| Washington State Cougars | 69.3 | 32.3 | Box Score |
| @ Oregon State Beavers | 30.7 | 27.3 | |
| Washington Huskies | 70.8 | 28.7 | Box Score |
| @ Utah Utes | 29.2 | 22.4 | |
| Samford Bulldogs | 5.0 | 7.6 | Box Score |
| @ Mississippi State Bulldogs | 95.0 | 45.9 | |
| New Mexico State Aggies | 24.8 | 26.6 | Box Score |
| @ Texas A&M Aggies | 75.2 | 35.8 | |
| Georgia Bulldogs | 41.6 | 23.3 | Box Score |
| @ Florida Gators | 58.4 | 25.5 | |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 53.0 | 26.6 | Box Score |
| @ Missouri Tigers | 47.0 | 25.9 | |
| Auburn Tigers | 54.2 | 28.4 | Box Score |
| @ Ole Miss Rebels | 45.8 | 27.4 | |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 80.2 | 31.0 | Box Score |
| @ South Carolina Gamecocks | 19.8 | 22.3 | |
| Wagner Seahawks | 5.0 | 8.8 | Box Score |
| @ Massachusetts Minutemen | 95.0 | 41.7 | |
| Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 52.5 | 29.6 | Box Score |
| @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 47.5 | 28.2 | |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 24.8 | 21.4 | Box Score |
| @ Oklahoma Sooners | 75.2 | 29.8 | |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | 46.3 | 30.6 | Box Score |
| @ TCU Horned Frogs | 53.7 | 31.6 | |
| Baylor Bears | 54.5 | 27.6 | Box Score |
| @ Texas Longhorns | 45.5 | 25.6 | |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 56.4 | 28.3 | Box Score |
| @ Oklahoma State Cowboys | 43.6 | 26.6 | |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 61.4 | 28.2 | Box Score |
| @ Iowa State Cyclones | 38.6 | 24.2 | |
| Rice Owls | 37.6 | 29.6 | Box Score |
| @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 62.4 | 33.4 | |
| Marshall Thundering Herd | 44.1 | 30.3 | Box Score |
| @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 55.9 | 31.3 | |
| North Texas Mean Green | 47.5 | 27.3 | Box Score |
| @ UTSA Roadrunners | 52.5 | 27.6 | |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 57.4 | 30.2 | Box Score |
| @ Florida Atlantic Owls | 42.6 | 27.8 | |
| Old Dominion Monarchs | 59.4 | 30.7 | Box Score |
| @ UTEP Miners | 40.6 | 27.8 | |
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 62.4 | 34.3 | Box Score |
| @ FIU Golden Panthers | 37.6 | 29.8 | |
| New Mexico Lobos | 44.3 | 27.7 | Box Score |
| @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 55.7 | 29.3 | |
| Air Force Falcons | 52.5 | 27.5 | Box Score |
| @ Fresno State Bulldogs | 47.5 | 26.0 | |
| UNLV Rebels | 54.0 | 28.4 | Box Score |
| @ San Jose State Spartans | 46.0 | 27.6 | |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 63.4 | 33.3 | Box Score |
| @ Utah State Aggies | 36.6 | 28.6 | |
| Boise State Broncos | 70.3 | 32.4 | Box Score |
| @ Wyoming Cowboys | 29.7 | 25.6 | |
| Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks | 28.7 | 25.1 | Box Score |
| @ Arkansas State Red Wolves | 71.3 | 30.3 | |
| Georgia State Panthers | 43.6 | 29.2 | Box Score |
| @ South Alabama Jaguars | 56.4 | 30.9 | |
| Appalachian State Mountaineers | 53.5 | 31.1 | Box Score |
| @ Georgia Southern Eagles | 46.5 | 29.8 | |
| UCF Knights | 40.5 | 26.7 | Box Score |
| @ Houston Cougars | 59.5 | 29.3 | |
| Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 44.6 | 28.4 | Box Score |
| @ Memphis Tigers | 55.4 | 31.6 | |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 47.1 | 28.4 | Box Score |
| @ Temple Owls | 52.9 | 29.1 | |
| SMU Mustangs | 49.5 | 25.0 | Box Score |
| @ Tulane Green Wave | 50.5 | 26.2 | |
| Connecticut Huskies | 52.3 | 27.3 | Box Score |
| @ East Carolina Pirates | 47.7 | 26.3 | |
| Navy Midshipmen | 52.4 | 28.8 | Box Score |
| @ South Florida Bulls | 47.6 | 27.5 |
In addition, view our Week 9 power rankings or visit our college football archive for predictions from past weeks. For more statistics, view our weekly college football predictions.