Drew's Desk: the whole Week 9 board, Florida over Georgia in Atlanta and a second straight upset in Cincinnati

Thursday, October 29th, the first game. We have FAU traveling to North Texas. North Texas, a 14 point favorite at home. But we like FAU, that offense is all systems go. If you like offense, you're gonna love this game. Give me FAU on the road.

We have Troy traveling to James Madison, who were upset in overtime last week against App State. James Madison takes this game at home.

Moving forward to Friday, first game, Tulane at Charlotte. And ladies and gentlemen, Charlotte is one of the worst teams in FBS. They're 1 and 6, baby. They got their one win against Temple, but they're not winning this week against Tulane. Give me Tulane on the road.

We have Baylor at UCF. Baylor letting go of Dave Aranda after the loss last week. UCF coming off the big win against BYU at home. And guess what, UCF is at home again, coming off the biggest win in program history. Give me UCF and Scott Frost.

Next we have Kent State at Sacramento State. And I don't wanna be mean, but does anyone really care about either of these teams? I know we don't here at Drew's Desk, but give us Kent State on the road.

Moving forward to Saturday. We start the day off with Notre Dame at Navy. Give us Notre Dame.

We have Arizona, ranked 22, traveling to No. 13 Texas Tech, who got upset last week. The battle of the ranked Big 12 teams. Texas Tech knows if they lose this game, they can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. It's going to be a barn burner down in Lubbock, but we like Texas Tech at home.

We have No. 19 SMU traveling to Syracuse. Syracuse coming off a win last week against Bill Belichick and UNC. But guess what? They ain't winning this week. We like SMU on the road.

Next we have No. 25 Wisconsin traveling to Iowa, who are coming off an upset loss to Minnesota. Wisconsin ranked for the first time in forever under Luke Fickell. Will they continue to make progress, or will they take a step back? Well folks, this one's in Iowa City. Give us Iowa at home.

We have Cal traveling to NC State. NC State firing Dave Doeren after 14 years, the winningest coach in program history. NC State, what are you doing? I like Cal on the road against an NC State program that has no idea what they're doing. Who really wants to move to Raleigh to coach NC State? They had a winner, and guess what? Sometimes you don't know what you had until it's gone. Give us Cal on the road.

Next, it's gonna be a tricky game. A rejuvenated Boston College program facing Duke. Duke needs a win to become bowl eligible, and guess what, folks? Duke will become bowl eligible this season. But you know what? Boston College has looked great in recent weeks. Bill O'Brien has us believing that this is possibly a bowl team. But looking forward to their schedule, they have Florida State next week, followed by Notre Dame, Syracuse and Miami. If Boston College wants to go bowling, they need to win this game, and ladies and gentlemen, Boston College will win this game on the road.

Next we have Illinois traveling to Maryland, a Maryland team that fired their head coach, Mike Locksley, last week. Maryland, what are you doing, baby? Give us Illinois on the road, coming off an upset of Oregon. Bret Bielema making some noise again at Illinois.

We have UAB traveling to Bryan Hartline and the USF Bulls. Give us USF at home.

We have Bowling Green, struggling under Eddie George, traveling to Western Michigan. We like Western Michigan at home.

We have Michigan traveling to Rutgers. Rutgers has looked terrible this season, ladies and gentlemen. Rutgers has looked horrendous. They are 2 and 5, and guess what? They're gonna end the season 2 and 8. They do not have a win in their future: next week at Wisconsin, followed by Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan State. Sorry, Greg Schiano, this is gonna be your last year out there in Jersey. Give us Michigan on the road.

Next is going to be a barn burner in Oxford as Auburn travels to Ole Miss. Auburn is a rebuilding program, but guess what, they already upset No. 1 Georgia. Ole Miss coming off a heartbreaking loss. What's gonna happen in Oxford, ladies and gentlemen? Well, to be honest with you, we see it playing out a whole lot like it did last week at Texas. Ole Miss will take it down to the wire, but Auburn will find a way to win. Give us Auburn on the road with the upset.

We have Marshall traveling to Old Dominion. This one, no one's probably gonna watch, but you know what, give us Old Dominion at home, baby.

We have Kansas State and the Fighting Avery Johnsons traveling to Colorado, a Colorado team that is in disarray, ladies and gentlemen. This might be the end of Prime Time, and we have been big on Colorado all year, and you know what, we're probably not gonna stop now. Colorado will finish with a losing record, but this week they are facing a 4-3 Kansas State team that has not looked good in Big 12 play, only 1-3 in the Big 12. Colorado doesn't have any wins in the Big 12, but you know what? At home, I like Colorado, baby. Give us the Buffaloes.

Next we have Coastal Carolina traveling to Georgia State. Give us the Georgia State Panthers, baby.

Next we have 4-3 UConn traveling to 5-2 Air Force. Air Force overperforming, UConn performing at expectations. This one's at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, baby. UConn, will the altitude affect them? 100 percent. Give us Air Force.

Next we have Temple, coming off a terrible loss to Charlotte, at East Carolina. We like East Carolina at home, baby.

Next we have Louisiana Tech traveling to South Alabama. Major Applewhite and South Alabama coming off a heartbreaking loss to Marshall. Who do we like in this contest? Well, we like the home team. Give us South Alabama, baby.

Next we have Stanford coming off a win at NC State, and we have Louisville coming off the dreaded bye week. Who do we have? Give us Louisville at home. They've struggled this season going 4-3, but you know what, they've lost some heartbreakers. I have them winning at home.

Next we have No. 17 Florida at No. 3 Georgia. This one is going to be a slobberknocker, usually played out in Jacksonville, but this year they're going to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Georgia has home field advantage. So you know what? We're going to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing, and we're picking Florida with the upset, baby. Jon Sumrall knows he needs this win. Florida has momentum on their side. They also have the offense to make the upset happen. You heard it first here on maiden.bet: Florida with the massive upset.

Next we have Minnesota traveling to Indiana. Minnesota has pulled off some miracles this year, but will they pull off a miracle against Mr. Google Me himself, Curt Cignetti, in Indiana? Not happening. Indiana at home.

Next we have Arizona State traveling to BYU, who are coming off a heartbreaking loss to UCF. What were the refs doing in the last minute of that game? But let's be real, BYU gave that game up. But they're not giving this game up in Provo, baby. Give me BYU at home.

Next we have No. 20 Northwestern traveling to Oregon, who came out this week to say Dante Moore will not be returning this season. You know what that means, baby. They have to start the Patrick Mahomes doppelganger himself, Dylan Raiola. But he has looked horrendous. He has looked like an NAIA backup quarterback. You could look like Patrick Mahomes, but that doesn't mean you'll play like him. Give us Northwestern on the road as Dan Lanning's seat starts to get piping hot, baby. He wanted to talk about clicks and likes. Well, Dan, time to show up, but it ain't gonna be this week.

Next we have Kansas traveling to TCU. Kansas coming off a win last week at Baylor that ended the career of Dave Aranda. Will Kansas be able to keep that momentum going at TCU? I think so. Give us Kansas on the road.

We have Colorado State traveling to Utah State. Colorado State coming off a surprising win against San Diego State. We said it last week: they fired their defensive coordinator in-game a few weeks ago, they were not gonna have a defense, and they didn't. They gave up 49 points. But Jim Mora's offense showed up: 56 points. Believe it or not, Colorado State is one of the highest-scoring offenses in college football, but their defense is a bottom-five defense in college football. That spells disaster, but guess what, it also spells exciting football. Give us Colorado State on the road.

Next we have UTEP against North Dakota State. UTEP, the University of Texas at El Paso, will get molly-whopped, baby. Give us North Dakota State at home.

Next we have the Golden Panthers of FIU traveling to Liberty. Liberty, two-touchdown favorites, and as much as I love FIU, they're going to Lynchburg, Virginia, baby. Liberty will take this game at home.

Next we have Southern Miss heading over to ULM, who are coming off a huge upset last week. Last week they were winless, and somehow they found a way to beat Troy, baby. Will ULM make it two straight? Not happening. Give us Southern Miss on the road.

Next we have No. 6 Utah heading over to Cincinnati. Which version of Utah will show up? They are a second-half team, baby. But Cincinnati, Cincinnati has surprisingly looked good the last few weeks. Are they for real? Well, they're 5 and 2, and they're coming off a big win last week against Texas Tech. Can they make it two straight upsets? I think so. Give us Cincinnati at home with an earth-shaking victory against Utah that will shake up the FBS rankings.

Next we have Virginia traveling to No. 14 Wake Forest. Wake Forest, No. 14, is this really happening? Absolutely, baby. Gio Lopez has that offense humming, and he'll keep it humming this week, baby. Give us Wake Forest at home.

We have New Mexico traveling to San Jose State. New Mexico, one of the favorite teams to make the college football playoff as the Group of Five team. Are they for real? Absolutely. We've said it here since the beginning of the season: Jason Eck is working miracles at New Mexico. New Mexico will win this game, and you know what? New Mexico might actually make the college football playoff, baby. You heard it here first on Drew's Desk.

Keeping it moving, we have Nevada traveling to No. 7 UCLA. Are you for real? Give us UCLA! Bob Chesney working miracles in the Big Ten. But let's be real, UCLA has a pretty easy schedule. All they have left after Nevada is Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and USC. We might actually see UCLA play for a Big Ten championship. It's 2026, baby, anything can happen. But we see UCLA going undefeated.

Next we have South Carolina traveling to Oklahoma. What not too many people have been talking about: Oklahoma is 4 and 3, and Brent Venables might be on a hot seat with this loss. Looking forward to Oklahoma's schedule, they have Florida, Ole Miss, A&M and Missouri. That is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. If he goes 6 and 6 this season, that hot seat is gonna be turned up on our boy Brent Venables. But guess what, Oklahoma is not gonna win this week. We have South Carolina looking rejuvenated. Kendal Briles' offense, LaNorris Sellers, they are showing up. Give us South Carolina on the road.

Next we have Purdue heading to University Park to face Penn State. Both teams underperforming, Purdue at 3 and 4, Penn State in complete disarray, also at 3 and 4 under first-year head coach Matt Campbell. Guess what, they're gonna win at home, but it's gonna be a close one, and it's gonna have a lot of folks scratching their heads at University Park wondering, should we have kept James Franklin? Absolutely. One of the worst firings of the last 25 years.

Next we have App State traveling to Georgia Southern. We like Georgia Southern at home.

We have No. 24 Oklahoma State traveling to Iowa State. Give us Oklahoma State, baby.

Next we have Clemson traveling to Florida State. Florida State's president coming out this week with a letter saying they do not like the way their football program is performing, and they will hold off on decisions. Well, you know what that means. Mike Norvell is going to be retained until the end of the season, but does that mean he's coming back next year? Doubt it. Give us Clemson on the road. That might put some haste behind Florida State's decision, baby.

We have Washington State traveling to San Diego State. Give us San Diego State.

We have Miami traveling to North Carolina, and a lot of people are sleeping on this game. Bill Belichick, even though they lost last week, even though they have three losses on their record, North Carolina has looked like an improved squad. We have North Carolina giving Miami fits this week, baby. Will Miami be able to avoid a loss like they've had the past few seasons after starting off the season hot? It's gonna be close, but you know who they have next week on the schedule, baby? They have Notre Dame. Look for Miami to win a tight one as we all look forward to the game of the year next week, as Miami travels to Notre Dame. Notre Dame fans are still upset that Notre Dame got left out of the playoff, but guess what, Miami beat Notre Dame in Week 1 last year, and on-the-field results matter. It's Catholics versus Convicts next week, baby, and we can't wait here at Drew's Desk.

We have No. 2 Ohio State traveling to USC. Can this be the game that ends the career of Lincoln Riley at USC? We think so. Give us Ohio State, and look for Lincoln Riley to be fired on the tarmac, baby.

We have Mississippi State traveling to No. 11 Texas. Somebody please tell me how Texas is ranked No. 11. Either way, give us Texas at home. Kamario Taylor, star quarterback of Mississippi State, is out for the season. Do you know what that means? That means Mississippi State might have some trouble becoming bowl eligible, baby. After Texas, they have Vanderbilt, Auburn, Tennessee Tech and Ole Miss. Can they pull off two victories in those four games? They'll get the Tennessee Tech game, but can they realistically pull off Vanderbilt or Auburn without Kamario Taylor? We'll see.

Next we have Georgia Tech traveling to Pitt. Georgia Tech has looked horrendous this year. What is going on in the ATL? Well, one thing's for sure: Alberto Mendoza is not Fernando. So give us Pittsburgh at home, baby.

We have No. 23 Missouri, still with an outside shot to make the playoff, traveling to struggling Arkansas. We like the Missouri Tigers on the road, baby.

Next we have Washington traveling to Nebraska. Give us the Cornhuskers, baby.

We have Army traveling to Memphis, where Charles Huff is working miracles. And if you have been paying attention to Drew's Desk, we've been saying Charles Huff will have Memphis believing, baby. They are 6 and 2 on the season, and Charles Huff is going to be one of the hottest coaching candidates for a Power Four job. Give us Charles Huff and Memphis at home.

We have Texas State traveling to No. 20 Boise State. Ladies and gentlemen, Boise State is currently the highest-ranked Group of Five team in college football. They will win this game, but they have three games coming up that can go either way: Colorado State, Oregon State and San Diego State. Can Boise State avoid a loss? Well, that Oregon State game will determine a lot, so mark that on your calendars, November 14th, baby. Oregon State and Boise State will be a slobberknocker.

We have Northern Illinois traveling to UNLV and the Fighting Dan Mullens. Give us UNLV at home, baby.

And to close out the week, the last game of the week, we have Oregon State at Fresno State. Oregon State, currently undefeated in the revamped Pac-12. Fresno State, 1 and 2 in the revamped Pac-12. You know what that means. We like the team with an undefeated conference record. Give us Oregon State on the road.