WhatIfSports college football Week 9 predictions: Temple suffers first defeat
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 winning continues for our simulation machine. Last week, out of the 56 games, the results produced 80.4 percent winners (45-11). With the 20 games involving teams ranked in the AP Top 25, 80 percent of the predictions were correct (16-4).
Week 8 Highlight: Arkansas State 37 - Louisiana-Lafayette 27
The computer simulations suggested a 33.4-28.9 win for the Red Wolves. Vegas listed this game with an over/under of 55.5 total points. The projected results pegged this game with an average total of 62.3 points. The actual game ended with 64 points.
Week 8 Lowlight: Ole Miss 23 - Texas A&M 3
Even with our computers predicting a win for the Aggies, A&M dropped their second straight game. Though the Rebels also have two losses, they remain undefeated at home. However, the machine projected 59.2 points. That was 7.3 points fewer than the O/U (66.5 points).
Track our 2015 performance or view our accuracy last season, when we correctly picked the winner in 77.6 percent of all games involving FBS teams.
Week 9 Top 25 vs. Top 25 Matchup
No. 9 Notre Dame vs. No. 21 Temple
There is only one contest between two Top 25-ranked teams. The Temple Owls are 7-0 and are one of the three undefeated teams in the AAC. They currently reside in the top spot in the AAC East. The Owls defense has been relentless. Temple has allowed the eighth-fewest points per game this season in the entire FBS (14.6 points). The Owls are also sixth in the country in rushing yards allowed per matchup (only 91.9 yards per game). It will be an interesting contrast since ND’s C.J. Prosise is 11th in the nation with 922 rushing yards (7.1 yards per carry). The Irish’s only loss all season has been to No. 3-ranked Clemson (24-22). After 101 simulated games, Notre Dame won 69.3 percent of the time by an average score of 31.4-25.1.
Week 9 Upset Pick
Oregon (+1.5) over Arizona State
The Ducks have yet to string together back-to-back wins. Arizona State has a lose one, win two trend this season. However, the computer believes both streaks will come to an end. When the 101 simulations concluded, Oregon won the day 57.9 percent of the time by an average score of 31.2-28.4.
College Football Week 9 Predictions
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Matchup | Win % | Avg. Score | |
| Syracuse Orange | 29.7 | 21.0 | Box Score |
| @ Florida State Seminoles | 70.3 | 30.2 | |
| Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 39.6 | 27.0 | Box Score |
| @ Duke Blue Devils | 60.4 | 29.0 | |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 51.6 | 30.5 | Box Score |
| @ Pittsburgh Panthers | 48.4 | 30.3 | |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | 52.9 | 24.1 | Box Score |
| @ Boston College Eagles | 47.1 | 23.0 | |
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 60.9 | 26.9 | Box Score |
| @ Virginia Cavaliers | 39.1 | 23.6 | |
| Clemson Tigers | 67.3 | 31.5 | Box Score |
| @ North Carolina State Wolfpack | 32.7 | 24.0 | |
| Louisville Cardinals | 69.3 | 28.5 | Box Score |
| @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 30.7 | 20.9 | |
| Maryland Terrapins | 32.7 | 23.3 | Box Score |
| @ Iowa Hawkeyes | 67.3 | 29.0 | |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 34.7 | 23.0 | Box Score |
| @ Wisconsin Badgers | 65.3 | 28.3 | |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 48.5 | 25.5 | Box Score |
| @ Penn State Nittany Lions | 51.5 | 26.6 | |
| Michigan Wolverines | 56.9 | 26.2 | Box Score |
| @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | 43.1 | 23.4 | |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | 62.9 | 28.9 | Box Score |
| @ Purdue Boilermakers | 37.1 | 24.7 | |
| Massachusetts Minutemen | 45.5 | 30.9 | Box Score |
| @ Ball State Cardinals | 54.5 | 31.1 | |
| Central Michigan Chippewas | 54.3 | 30.1 | Box Score |
| @ Akron Zips | 45.7 | 28.5 | |
| Buffalo Bulls | 61.4 | 34.4 | Box Score |
| @ Miami (OH) RedHawks | 38.6 | 29.9 | |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 78.2 | 34.4 | Box Score |
| @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | 21.8 | 26.0 | |
| Colorado Buffaloes | 29.7 | 27.3 | Box Score |
| @ UCLA Bruins | 70.3 | 33.1 | |
| Oregon State Beavers | 33.7 | 24.3 | Box Score |
| @ Utah Utes | 66.3 | 31.0 | |
| Arizona Wildcats | 45.5 | 27.2 | Box Score |
| @ Washington Huskies | 54.5 | 29.3 | |
| USC Trojans | 50.5 | 32.7 | Box Score |
| @ California Golden Bears | 49.5 | 31.8 | |
| Stanford Cardinal | 56.4 | 34.6 | Box Score |
| @ Washington State Cougars | 43.6 | 30.8 | |
| Oregon Ducks | 57.9 | 31.2 | Box Score |
| @ Arizona State Sun Devils | 42.1 | 28.4 | |
| UT Martin Skyhawks | 5.0 | 9.1 | Box Score |
| @ Arkansas Razorbacks | 95.0 | 48.9 | |
| South Carolina Gamecocks | 34.7 | 27.5 | Box Score |
| @ Texas A&M Aggies | 65.3 | 31.8 | |
| Georgia Bulldogs | 41.6 | 22.7 | Box Score |
| @ Florida Gators | 58.4 | 25.6 | |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 51.4 | 28.9 | Box Score |
| @ Kentucky Wildcats | 48.6 | 28.3 | |
| Ole Miss Rebels | 52.6 | 28.3 | Box Score |
| @ Auburn Tigers | 47.4 | 27.0 | |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 38.6 | 29.2 | Box Score |
| @ TCU Horned Frogs | 61.4 | 33.1 | |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys | 53.5 | 31.5 | Box Score |
| @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | 46.5 | 30.4 | |
| Texas Longhorns | 63.4 | 28.9 | Box Score |
| @ Iowa State Cyclones | 36.6 | 25.6 | |
| Oklahoma Sooners | 74.3 | 28.8 | Box Score |
| @ Kansas Jayhawks | 25.7 | 20.8 | |
| UTEP Miners | 45.4 | 30.0 | Box Score |
| @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 54.6 | 31.1 | |
| FIU Golden Panthers | 51.5 | 28.5 | Box Score |
| @ Florida Atlantic Owls | 48.5 | 28.2 | |
| Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 59.1 | 30.7 | Box Score |
| @ Rice Owls | 40.9 | 27.6 | |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 70.3 | 37.7 | Box Score |
| @ Old Dominion Monarchs | 29.7 | 31.0 | |
| UTSA Roadrunners | 71.8 | 26.7 | Box Score |
| @ North Texas Mean Green | 28.2 | 20.1 | |
| Marshall Thundering Herd | 80.2 | 35.2 | Box Score |
| @ Charlotte 49ers | 19.8 | 26.5 | |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 38.6 | 27.8 | Box Score |
| @ Utah State Aggies | 61.4 | 32.6 | |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 55.4 | 30.8 | Box Score |
| @ Colorado State Rams | 44.6 | 29.6 | |
| Air Force Falcons | 57.9 | 29.1 | Box Score |
| @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 42.1 | 26.6 | |
| Boise State Broncos | 65.8 | 30.5 | Box Score |
| @ UNLV Rebels | 34.2 | 24.9 | |
| Georgia State Panthers | 30.7 | 31.4 | Box Score |
| @ Arkansas State Red Wolves | 69.3 | 35.9 | |
| Texas State Bobcats | 38.1 | 28.0 | Box Score |
| @ Georgia Southern Eagles | 61.9 | 33.0 | |
| Troy Trojans | 39.6 | 26.6 | Box Score |
| @ Appalachian State Mountaineers | 60.4 | 31.4 | |
| Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks | 40.6 | 25.9 | Box Score |
| @ Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns | 59.4 | 29.2 | |
| Idaho Vandals | 50.5 | 30.8 | Box Score |
| @ New Mexico State Aggies | 49.5 | 29.9 | |
| Tulane Green Wave | 29.7 | 22.0 | Box Score |
| @ Memphis Tigers | 70.3 | 29.2 | |
| UCF Knights | 31.2 | 25.1 | Box Score |
| @ Cincinnati Bearcats | 68.8 | 32.1 | |
| South Florida Bulls | 42.1 | 28.0 | Box Score |
| @ Navy Midshipmen | 57.9 | 29.6 | |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | 44.1 | 26.7 | Box Score |
| @ Houston Cougars | 55.9 | 29.0 | |
| Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 53.5 | 30.0 | Box Score |
| @ SMU Mustangs | 46.5 | 29.5 | |
| East Carolina Pirates | 58.9 | 30.5 | Box Score |
| @ Connecticut Huskies | 41.1 | 27.3 | |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 69.3 | 31.4 | Box Score |
| @ Temple Owls | 30.7 | 25.1 |
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.
