College football's Week 9 matchups to keep an eye on
The GIST: The injury bug’s still raging, creating Week 9 quarterback (QB) catastrophes for both Iowa and No. 7 Texas this week, so stay on your toes: Like Portland State walk-on president Ann Cudd, you might need to suit up for your squad tomorrow. We believe in you.
No. 8 Oregon Ducks (6-1) vs. No. 13 Utah Utes (6-1), 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX): Move over, Dos Equis dude — Utah football’s the most interesting now, especially after proving they still have USC’s number last week. That said, Oregon, led by still-hopeful Heisman contender QB Bo Nix, is a whole different animal. The Pac-12’s last dance continues to be a banger.
No. 20 Duke Blue Devils (5-2) vs. No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (6-1), 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN): The Cards fell into a classic trap: Exhaust yourself pulling off a massive upset one week, only to crawl through a terrible loss the next. But the season’s a marathon, not a sprint, and if Duke QB Riley Leonard’s ready to go, Louisville will have to keep hustling.
No. 19 Air Force Falcons (7-0) vs. Colorado State Rams (3-4), 7 p.m. ET (CBS): The Rams are best known for taking Colorado to double-overtime (OT) in Week 2 (and for starting Prime-time drama). But to topple one of the nine undefeated FBS teams — with one of the country’s most efficient offenses — they’ll need more than stubborn scrappiness.
No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (5-2) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (5-2), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN): Kentucky was on the come up in the brutal SEC, but two straight losses halted that momentum. No better way to hop back on the win wagon than by upsetting a humbled Vols squad, though.
