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Dan Wolken, of USA TODAY Sports, said that after the defeat against Purdue in the state of Ohio, it is clear that Michigan is the best shot of the Big Ten in the playoffs.
USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State Justice Hill's running backside runs to Texas linebacker Anthony Wheeler for a touchdown in his 2016 game.(Photo: Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)

Unpredictable events are often the norm during the college football season, especially as the playoff pursuit warms in recent weeks and the stakes are growing.

United States TODAY HUI Sports college football staff – Jace Evans, Paul Myerberg, George Schroeder, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus – are making bold predictions for the 9th week games.

Jace Evans

No. 7, Texas is the team of the top 10 most likely to get excited this weekend. No, we have not forgotten the number 6 Georgia, which faces number 11 Florida. The Bulldogs stumbled against LSU the last time we saw them in action, and now they find themselves with, for the most part, their season in play against the Gators at the cocktail party. They lose and they can forget about their return to Play-off College Football. But with two weeks to prepare for a Florida team that is not really powerful, Georgia should be able to do enough to win.

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Texas, meanwhile, has climbed into the top 10, but deserves to be there? The last three wins of the Longhorns have all been played in one-game games and their recent performances have not been particularly impressive. The Oklahoma State is certainly worse this season than we expected in the Mason Rudolph-James Washington era, but the Boone Pickens Stadium remains difficult. Mike Gundy is a coach good enough for his team to be able to get angry even after a cruel defeat against Kansas State.

Paul Myerberg

Iowa will beat Penn State and make the Hawkeye players aware of the table and enter in December with just one loss. That may not have much to do with the pursuit of College Football Playoff: Wisconsin has the tiebreaker in the Big Ten West division, so the Iowa would need to win and to lose the Badgers (perhaps to Purdue) in order to reach the title game of the conference. But with just a little help, the Hawkeyes could use a win at Penn State as a springboard to meet one of the states of Michigan or the state of Ohio in early December with a place among the top four.

George Schroeder

We know that predicting a win against Vanderbilt should not be considered a bold prediction. But have you seen the first half of the Arkansas season? After defeating East Illinois in the first game, the Razorback lost five straight times. In addition to the expected rout in Alabama, there was a flop coming out of the Colorado State and a home defeat by North Texas. The beginning of Chad Morris' term was very difficult.

Last week, Arkansas ruled out Tulsa. Yes, it was Tulsa. But it was something. This week again in Fayetteville, they will win their second consecutive victory by defeating Vandy. There is no turning back during the first half of the season; the Hogs are still headed for a losing record. But they show signs of life and this will translate into another victory.

Erick Smith

A weekend where half of the top 10 is resting at home, one would think that there is not much chance for the drama. The attention of the nation will focus primarily on the confrontation between Georgia and Florida, but that does not mean that the situation will be quiet elsewhere.

Some dangerous trips on classified teams may be under the radar. Kentucky has a chance to win the SEC East, but the Wildcats will face a major Missouri challenge. Do they have enough offensive to keep pace with explosive tigers? This seems unlikely, which means that the Georgia-Florida game really concerns all the balls in the division.

Undefeated, South Florida is ready for a fall and Houston is the perfect team to do it.

And also watch Texas A & M during its trip to the state of Mississippi. The Aggies have lost only against Clemson and Alabama, but they will be tested on the road in Starkville with the Bulldogs.

Eddie Timanus

The ranks of the unbeaten will be further reduced on Saturday. No, Clemson will not lose to Florida State, although he may be a little closer than we expected in early September.

Instead, it will be South Florida that will get its first "L." OK, this prediction may not be as bold. The Bulls have had enough close calls to be considered the most unobtrusive undefeated teams without much debate. Their luck will go to Houston. The Cougars are 6-1, and their only loss was a crazy encounter with Texas Tech (63-49). USF has made the necessary games all year, but this time, the Bulls will not be able to follow.

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