Week 9 Predictions – 2026

Cory Steger:  The new-look offense without Julian Sayin debuts this week, and even though it’s against USC it is still a road game. Luke Fahey caught the coaching staff’s attention with his ability to pick up the playbook, but can he actually make the plays when it matters? I believe Ryan Day and Arthur Smith will keep things very simple for Fahey, similar to how they did in Sayin’s first start against Texas last season. Lots of short passes, multiple looks to the tight ends, and lots of running plays. USC’s defense has not been very good, but a vanilla gameplan could lead to a lower-scoring game.   Ohio State 21, USC 10 

Dave Culver:  Ohio State 28  USC 18 

Gregg Watson:  The story of this game will of course be the play of the quarterback Ohio State starts to replace the injured Julian Sayin. It was clear they were not ready against Indiana when the injury occurred.  Indiana immediately changed their defense to crowd the box and I am sure USC will do the same.  Hopefully they can hit some short passes to open that up a bit otherwise it will be yet another low scoring output for the Buckeyes in LA.  Ohio State has not scored a road TD against the Trojans since 1949.  Yes, that long ago.  I think if they are patient to go to Jeremiah Smith and give the replacement QB time to get comfortable, they can squeak out the win and return to Columbus where 3 of their final four games will be in the ‘Shoe.  Really need to defense to step up, maybe even get a score.  Ohio State 24  USC 14.  

Jason Harris:  #2 Ohio State travels to Los Angeles to face USC in a game that has huge College Football Playoff implications. The 6-1 Buckeyes enter the matchup off a bye following a hard-fought 19-15 victory over #5 Indiana, while the Trojans are 6-2 after a disappointing 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. Ohio State will face a significant challenge with starting QB Julian Sayin sidelined by an elbow injury, leaving true freshman Luke Fahey in line to make his first career start. Fahey will have plenty of talent around him, including Heisman favorite WR Jeremiah Smith so expect a conservative offensive game plan. The Buckeyes’ defense remains their biggest strength, allowing just 13.4 points per game while ranking among the nation’s best in total defense. USC counters with QB Jayden Maiava, who has thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 19 touchdowns, along with WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. However, the Trojans’ rushing attack struggled against Wisconsin, and they’ll need to be much better against an even better defense this week.

The key matchup will be whether Ohio State’s defense can contain Maiava and force USC into predictable passing situations while Fahey adjusts to the speed of Big Ten competition. The Trojans have the passing weapons to test the Buckeyes’ secondary, but their offensive line must improve after allowing consistent pressure against Wisconsin. On the other side, USC’s defense has struggled throughout the season, giving Fahey an opportunity to settle in if Ohio State can establish its running game behind Bo Jackson and get creative to get Smith involved early. Though it will be a home game for USC, expect a large Buckeye contingent nullifying any real home field advantage. In addition, the Buckeyes have been the more complete team on both sides of the ball all season especially as their run game has looked improved in the last couple games. Expect the Trojans to make some plays through the air, but Ohio State’s defensive pressure and superior overall talent should be enough to overcome the uncertainty at QB.   Prediction: Ohio State 27 USC 17

Joe Hylton:  OSU

John Seibert:  Ohio State at USC  The Bucks are looking for their first win in the LA Coliseum since 1979, and that was against UCLA.  They haven’t beaten USC in the Coliseum since the 40’s.  To break that streak on Saturday, Ohio State needs vastly improved play from both the O and D lines.  The O-line needs to have its best run-blocking game of the year to date and protect whoever Ryan Day trots out at QB.  The D line needs to consistently pressure Jayden Maiava so the LB’s don’t have to blitz every down.  The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bucks.  Fun fact, Ryan Day is 9-0 the week after a bye.    Look for OSU to try to keep it simple on offense.  If they can successfully run the ball, Bucks win easy.  If they can’t, well….    Ohio State 28  USC 17

Josh Watson:  Ohio State’s open week arrived at the right time. The Buckeyes needed an opportunity to regroup after their physical 19-15 victory over Indiana, but the larger priority was preparing a new starting quarterback. Julian Sayin is expected to miss several weeks with the throwing-arm injury he suffered late against the Hoosiers, placing the offense in the hands of true freshman Luke Fahey. Fahey has completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in limited action. His first meaningful start will come in primetime, on the road and less than an hour from his hometown of Mission Viejo, California. That is a considerable assignment for any freshman, even one surrounded by Jeremiah Smith, Bo Jackson and one of the nation’s deepest collections of offensive talent. The challenge for Ryan Day and Arthur Smith will be simplifying Fahey’s responsibilities without making the offense predictable. Ohio State cannot ask him to immediately reproduce Sayin’s production, but it can use motion, quick throws and a more committed running game to create favorable situations. Smith should remain the focal point, although the Buckeyes must resist placing the entire offense on one receiver and an inexperienced quarterback. USC’s own momentum disappeared in a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin. Jayden Maiava and the Trojans were held to one touchdown, committed two turnovers and allowed five sacks. USC is now 6-2, with both losses coming in Big Ten play, and another defeat would effectively end its conference championship hopes. The Coliseum environment and Fahey’s inexperience should keep this uncomfortable early. Ohio State’s defense remains the most trustworthy unit in the game, however, and USC’s offensive line just struggled against a physical Wisconsin front. The Buckeyes force Maiava into multiple mistakes, protect Fahey with the running game and gradually pull away during the second half.   Ohio State 27, USC 13

Steven Smith:  As we saw last weekend, USC has some talent, but coach Lincoln Riley’s Achilles heel has always been a lack of an outstanding defense.  You have to have balance, and for a championship caliber team, your defense can’t be outside of the top 20.  The Trojans get a gift this week with a wounded Buckeye team coming to town. Even with a backup quarterback, the Bucks probably have more talent across the board than USC. The O-line will need to lead the way. If OSU gets any sort of consistent production from the run game, whatever QB they throw out there should be able to do enough to win the game. If Jeremiah Smith touches the ball 5 times or more, the Bucks win. Given the two week prep time for Fahey and TSC, the Bucks have great shot.   OSU 24-17.

Stefan Armintrout:  It’s hard to pick this game. If Sayin was still the quarterback, I would easily pick the Buckeyes. However, he is out until further notice. So the Buckeye offense is a bit of an unknown. On the other side, the Trojans have not been great. They can move the ball, but their defense is terrible. I will give the edge to the buckeyes. I think they’ll play sound defense and they’ll simplify the offense for whoever is under center. It will be a close one, but I think Ohio State pulls off the victory.   (Ohio State, 17-13)

Final Score:  Ohio State xx   USC xx 

Cory:  Northwestern has been one of the surprises of the Big Ten season, and was moments away from upsetting Indiana and being undefeated. On the other side of this matchup is Oregon, which is having nearly everything go wrong for them this season. The Ducks lost to Illinois last week, fired their offensive coordinator, then announced that star quarterback Dante Moore won’t return this season from his concussion. Oof. I love the way Northwestern runs the ball, and it should be familiar to Buckeye fans as their offensive coordinator is Chip Kelly. Oregon’s offense, regardless of the quarterback, has struggled to the move the football with any consistency this season so I am going with the Wildcats to pick up a big road victory.   Northwestern 21, Oregon 17

Dave:  Northwestern 21  Oregon 17

Gregg:  Oregon has showed me nothing this year In August, I thought the OSU-Oregon game would be a slam-dunk for GameDay to arrive.  I think now we will be lucky to not be radio only. On the other hand, Northwestern has been a pleasant surprise this year.  It will be close, but I think the Wildcats keep their streak alive as they are still playing for a trip to Indy in December.   Northwestern 24  Oregon 17

Jason:  #18 Northwestern travels to Eugene to face Oregon in a pivotal Big Ten matchup between a surging Wildcats team and a reeling Ducks squad looking to get their season back on track. Northwestern enters at 6-1 after dominating Rutgers 42-14, extending its winning streak to four games. The Wildcats have been one of the conference’s biggest surprises, averaging 34.7 points per game behind QB Aidan Chiles, who threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns while adding two rushing scores against Rutgers. RB Caleb Komolafe has also been a major contributor, giving Northwestern a balanced rushing attack that averages more than 200 yards per game. Oregon, meanwhile, sits at 4-3 after a disappointing 21-10 loss to Illinois. The Ducks have struggled with consistency on offense and recently made a change at offensive coordinator, while QB Dante Moore remains out for what possibly will be the remainder of the season. If Dylan Raiola starts again, which is not a certainty, Oregon will need a more efficient passing performance at home to have a chance to get a big win.

The key matchup will be Northwestern’s balanced offense against an Oregon defense that has been struggled with consistency all year. Chiles’ mobility and decision-making have helped the Wildcats sustain drives, while Komolafe’s ability to generate yards on the ground could put pressure on the Ducks to commit extra defenders to the box. Oregon will need to establish its rushing attack and avoid turnovers, an area where Northwestern has excelled with a plus nine turnover margin. The Ducks have plenty of talent and should benefit from playing at home, but their offensive uncertainty makes this a difficult matchup against a confident Northwestern team. Expect a four quarter game with the Wildcats to controlling possession and capitalizing on mistakes and with an Oregon team seemingly in turmoil behind the scenes, the Wildcats escape Autzen with their biggest win to date.   Prediction: Northwestern 27 Oregon 24

Joe-S-U:  Northwestern

John:  Be honest, back in August if I told you this would be a battle of one 6-1 team against one 4-3 team, you would not have been surprised.  Except it is Northwestern that is 6-1, not the mighty Nike Swooshes.  To be fair, Northwestern’s six wins aren’t exactly against the cream of CFB.  The only team they have beaten to date that has a winning record is S. Dakita St., not exactly the same as beating Georgia, now is it?  The only other game against a team with a winning record was a 6 pt loss at Indiana.  Now they jump two time zones to play a wounded Oregon team that needs to win out and get a lot of help to even sniff the playoffs.  Until the ‘Cats beat a team with a pulse, color me skeptical.   Oregon 31  Northwestern 20

Josh:  The rankings and betting line tell two very different stories. Northwestern is 6-1, ranked inside the top 20 and riding a four-game winning streak, yet Oregon enters as the favorite despite falling to 4-3. Northwestern continued its impressive season by beating Rutgers 42-14. The Wildcats average 34.7 points and 435.6 yards per game, with Aidan Chiles completing more than 71 percent of his passes for 1,617 yards, 12 touchdowns and only one interception. Caleb Komolafe gives the offense balance on the ground, while Griffin Wilde has emerged as Chiles’ leading receiver. Oregon is attempting to recover from a 21-10 loss at Illinois. The Ducks have now dropped three of their last five games, and the absence of injured quarterback Dante Moore has limited an offense that entered the season with championship expectations. Oregon managed only 10 points against Illinois despite scoring on its opening possession, while its defense surrendered 225 rushing yards. Autzen Stadium remains a difficult place to win, which helps explain why Oregon is favored. Northwestern has been more consistent in almost every meaningful area, however, and its offense is better equipped to create balance than the current version of the Ducks. Chiles avoids the turnovers Oregon needs to change the game, and Northwestern adds another notable road victory to its résumé.   Northwestern 27, Oregon 23

Steven:  Oregon is a mess and doubt is creeping in. There have been rumors of Duck players checking out. I’m not sure coach Dan Lanning can fix things this year. It will need to be an off-season retool. Northwestern may be the second-best team in the Big Ten. Despite Eugene being a traditionally tough place to play, I like the Wildcats. Northwestern wins, but the Ducks bounce back and keep it close. NU 24-17.

Trout:  I’ll give this one to the Wildcats. Oregon is in a bit of a freefall since Dante Moore got injured. And things weren’t the greatest with him in either. Northwestern on the other hand, is having a pretty good season. The jury is still out if they’ll make some noise in the playoff, but this has been a good season so far for them. I think the game is close up until the end, where Dylan Raiola will try to do something heroic for Oregon, but end up turning the ball over, leading to a Northwesten victory.   (Northwestern, 24-22)

Final Score:  Northwestern xx   Oregon xx 

Cory:  Arizona is a one-loss team but out of all their wins the only quality win was over Cincinnati. The Wildcats have not faced a defense like Texas Tech’s, and they will have to do it on the road against a Red Raiders team that’s going to be playing angry after getting upset last week. Arizona is probably a little better than I am giving them credit for, but it’s hard to see them toppling Texas Tech in this one.   Texas Tech 24, Arizona 20

Dave:  Texas Tech 21  Arizona 18

Gregg:  I still think Utah is the team to beat in the Big 12 but both of these teams are playing for their post season position.  Arizona is strong but the Red Raiders will take this one in a close score.   Texas Tech 24  Arizona 21

Jason:  #22 Arizona travels to Lubbock to take on #13 Texas Tech in a massive game between two 6-1 teams with conference championship aspirations. The Wildcats enter after an impressive 39-3 victory over Iowa State, while the Red Raiders are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a 37-24 upset loss at Cincinnati. Arizona QB Noah Fifita has been outstanding, throwing for 2,064 yards and 18 touchdowns with just four interceptions. His accuracy and ability to push the ball downfield have helped the Wildcats average more than 36 points per game, with WR Isaiah Mizell emerging as a dangerous target. Texas Tech counters with QB Will Hammond and a productive rushing attack led by J’Koby Williams, who has rushed for 619 yards and five touchdowns. The Red Raiders offense will be looking to bounce back after struggling at times in their loss to Cincinnati but will have their hands full against an Arizona defense that has allowed just 16.7 points per game.

The key matchup will be Fifita against a Texas Tech secondary that has struggled to defend the pass but has shown an ability to create turnovers. If Fifita maintains his efficiency and avoids mistakes, Arizona should have opportunities to exploit the Red Raiders downfield. Texas Tech will need a more consistent performance from Hammond while relying on Williams to establish the run and keep the Wildcats’ defense honest. Playing at home in Lubbock should help the Red Raiders rebound, but Arizona enters with greater momentum and a more reliable passing game. Expect a competitive, high-scoring contest, with the Wildcats making enough plays through the air to pull off a road victory.

Prediction: Arizona  31 Texas Tech 28

Joe-S-U:  Texas Tech

John:  I’ve seen neither of these two play this year, so really don’t have much to offer here.  Texas Tech  24  Arizona  20

Josh:  This matchup could have a direct influence on the Big 12 Championship Game. Arizona and Texas Tech are both 6-1 and among four teams sitting one game behind undefeated Utah in the conference standings. Arizona enters with considerably more momentum. The Wildcats dominated Iowa State 39-3 and have won three consecutive games by an average of 28 points. Their schedule becomes significantly more difficult from here, but Saturday gives Arizona an opportunity to prove its recent surge is more than the product of favorable opponents. Texas Tech suffered its first loss in a 37-24 defeat at Cincinnati. The Red Raiders committed three turnovers, and quarterback Will Hammond’s six interceptions now match his six touchdown passes. Those mistakes have become increasingly concerning for a team that entered the season with legitimate playoff expectations. Lubbock gives Texas Tech an important advantage. The Red Raiders have won 12 consecutive games at home, while Arizona has won only once in 15 trips to Lubbock. This version of the Wildcats is playing with more confidence than those historical numbers suggest, though, and Texas Tech has not consistently protected the football. Arizona produces the upset of the week. The Wildcats force two turnovers, survive a late Texas Tech drive and take an important step toward the Big 12 title game.   Arizona 27, Texas Tech 24

Steven:  Both the Red Raiders and Wildcats are sitting at 6-1, with losses to BYU and Cincinnati respectively. Both have stout offenses, but I like Arizona’s defense just a little bit better. It will be close in Lubbock, but Arizona pulls the slight upset. 

Trout:  Both teams have been pretty good, but I’ll give the edge to the Red Raiders. I think it’ll be a very close game for a while, and then Texas Tech starts to pull away late in the fourth and wins by a couple scores.   (Texas Tech, 31-17) 

Final Score:  Texas Tech 34   Arizona 26  

Cory:  Ole Miss lost a tough game to Texas last week, and ultimately the Rebels were done in by Trinidad Chambliss’ three interceptions. Auburn is not a good team and their offense is so one dimensional it could be a Nintendo game. Quarterback Byrum Brown is also the team’s leading rusher, and the team’s second-leading rusher only has 320 yards and two touchdown this season. Slow down Brown, and the Rebels will get back on the winning side of things this week.   Ole Miss 35, Auburn 24

Dave:  Ole Miss 21  Auburn 18

Gregg:  Auburn already have their huge updet of the season, I don’t think they have a second one in them.  Plus, the SEC cannot afford Ole Miss to get another loss.  The SEC could play themselves out of a couple playoff spots before this is over.   Mississippi 37  Auburn 24

Jason:  #12 Ole Miss returns to Oxford to host Auburn in an important SEC matchup as both teams look to bounce back from disappointing losses. The Rebels enter at 5-2 and their CFP hopes on life support after falling 34-27 to Texas, while the Tigers are 4-3 following a 38-17 defeat against LSU. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss has thrown for 1,926 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading an offense averaging 36 points per game. However, the Rebels will be without leading RB Kewan Lacy, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury, putting additional pressure on Chambliss and the team’s other rushing options. Auburn QB Byrum Brown has contributed both through the air and on the ground, but turnovers and inconsistent offensive production have been concerns. The Tigers will need a much stronger performance from Brown and their offensive line to keep pace with an Ole Miss offense that has consistently demonstrated the ability to generate explosive plays.

The key matchup will be Auburn’s defense against Chambliss and an Ole Miss passing attack that can exploit defensive breakdowns. Although Lacy’s absence could make the Rebels more predictable offensively, Chambliss’ mobility and ability to extend plays give Ole Miss multiple ways to move the ball. Auburn must also protect Brown and avoid turnovers after struggling to sustain drives against LSU. The Tigers have shown they can compete with elite opponents, including their road victory over Georgia, but their inconsistency remains a major concern. Playing at home gives Ole Miss an advantage, and the Rebels should have enough offensive firepower to overcome Lacy’s absence. Expect Auburn to stay competitive early before Chambliss leads Ole Miss to a second-half separation.   Prediction: Ole Miss 38 Auburn 17

Joe-S-U:  Ole Miss

John:  Pity the poor SEC.  Now that everyone can legally pay their players, and now that the SEC plays a nine-game conference scheudle guaranteeing half the conference an extra loss a year,  the whining has been turned up to 11.  “We deserve five teams in the playoffs because we have it soooo hard and we are the SEEEEEEEC!” Boo friken hoo.  Auburn shocked LSU last week, but this one is in Oxford.   Ole Miss  38  Auburn 13

Josh:  Auburn’s season has produced two dramatically different performances in consecutive weeks. The Tigers stunned then-No. 1 Georgia 27-24 before returning home and losing 38-17 to LSU. Auburn is now 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, leaving little room for another uneven performance. Ole Miss is also trying to recover from a loss. The Rebels fell behind Texas by 21 points before rallying in the second half, but their comeback ended in a 34-27 defeat. Ole Miss dropped to 5-2 and likely needs to win out to maintain a realistic path into the College Football Playoff. Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense should find opportunities against an Auburn defense that struggled to contain LSU’s passing game. The Rebels can also create balance with Kewan Lacy and Makhi Frazier, preventing Auburn from dedicating all of its attention to the passing attack. Auburn’s best path is to control the game on the ground and prevent Ole Miss from building an early lead. If the Tigers are forced to chase points, the matchup quickly becomes unfavorable. The Rebels respond to their loss with a fast start and remain comfortably ahead throughout the second half.  Ole Miss 34, Auburn 17  Against the spread: Ole Miss -12.5

Steven:  If any of you have ever had Google’s AI suggest verbiage you’ll love this… today it spewed out a line about Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss offense for this very pick. I should have kept it for giggles. Having just gotten manhandled by Lane Kiffin’s actual team (LSU), can Auburn harness the magic that led them to a victory over #1 Georgia two weeks ago? No. Too inconsistent. Ole Miss continues the pain for Auburn. Rebels 33-19.

Trout:  Auburn beating Georgia a few weeks ago was a nice moment, but I don’t think they’ll be able to repeat that. Although I don’t think Ole Miss is great, but they are the better team. I can see the game being very close initially, and over time the Rebels will wear down the Tigers and pull away. Ole Miss wins by double digits.   (Ole Miss, 34-14)

Final Score:  Mississippi xx   Auburn xx 

Cory:  Florida reversed its two-game losing streak with a surprising win over Texas in Austin two weeks ago, and now they face another tough road test with a visit to Georgia. The world’s largest outdoor cocktail party (yes, I’m still calling it that) will be played in the Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (home of the Falcons) so it’s technically a neutral site, but Bulldogs fans will outnumber Gator fans there. As for on the field, Georgia holds the advantage in this match-up but they’ve got to focus on Florida running back Jadan Baugh. Baugh, an Atlanta native, has 763 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. Florida’s offense can certainly move the ball, but questions at the quarterback position have me leaning towards Georgia in this matchup.   Georgia 23, Florida 20

Dave:  Georgia 28  Florida 21 

Gregg:  This could be one of the best games of the weekend.  Florida has had an up and down season and I think Kirby will have the Bulldogs ready after their upset loss that cost them the #1 spot in the polls.   Georgia 27  Florida 20  

Jason:  #3 Georgia faces #17 Florida in the annual Cocktail Party rivalry game, with this year’s edition moving to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta instead of Jacksonville. Both teams are coming off of a bye with the Bulldogs entering at 6-1 after suffering a 27-24 loss to Auburn in their last ballgame, while the Gators sit at 5-2 following an impressive 27-24 road upset over Texas two weeks ago. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton has completed 74.1% of his passes for 1,570 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading an explosive offense averaging 43 points per game. The Bulldogs also have a powerful rushing attack and a defense allowing just 15.9 points per game. Florida counters with QB Aaron Philo and RB Jadan Baugh, who has rushed for 763 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Gators have a solid offense in their own right, averaging nearly 40 points per game, but their defense has struggled, allowing 28.3 points per ballgae. Florida’s QB situation is also worth monitoring, with Tramell Jones Jr. and Philo competing for the starting job ahead of Saturday’s rivalry matchup.

The key matchup will be Georgia’s balanced offense against a Florida defense that has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks. Stockton’s efficiency and ability to distribute the ball should give the Bulldogs opportunities to exploit the Gators’ secondary, while Georgia’s defense will look to limit Baugh and force Florida into obvious passing situations. The Gators have enough offensive talent to make this competitive, particularly if Baugh establishes the run and their QB protects the football. However, Georgia has a significant advantage defensively and in overall consistency. Although the Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing loss to Auburn, their track record under Kirby Smart suggests they will be well prepared to respond. Expect Florida to compete early in a rivalry game, but Georgia’s defensive strength and offensive balance should create separation and lead to a comfortable Bulldog win.   Prediction: Georgia 37 Florida 20

Joe-S-U:  Florida

John:  One of the things that makes CFB so great is neutral-site rivalry games. This week, we get another rendition of “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party” .  Unfortunately, the tailgating might be far superior to the game.  Even coming off a bye, I don’t think the Gators can hang with the ‘Dawgs.   Georgia  42  Florida 21

Josh:  The Florida–Georgia rivalry temporarily moves away from Jacksonville while EverBank Stadium undergoes renovations. Mercedes-Benz Stadium provides a new backdrop, although playing in Atlanta should give Georgia something resembling a home-field advantage. Both teams enter after an open week. Georgia needed the opportunity to regroup after its 27-24 loss at Auburn, a result that ended its undefeated season but did not significantly damage its national standing. The Bulldogs climbed to No. 3 following another weekend of widespread upsets and remain firmly positioned for the playoff if they take care of business. Florida has quietly rebuilt its season after an ugly loss at Missouri. The Gators responded by beating Ole Miss and Texas, improving to 5-2 and climbing to No. 17. The 27-24 victory over Texas demonstrated their resilience, as Florida erased an early 17-3 deficit and capitalized on the Longhorns’ offensive mistakes. Georgia possesses the stronger roster and the more reliable defense, but Florida is playing with renewed confidence. The Gators have enough offensive balance to prevent Georgia from completely controlling the game, and rivalry matchups rarely unfold as cleanly as the point spread suggests. Gunner Stockton rebounds from the turnovers that hurt Georgia at Auburn, and the Bulldogs use their running game to control the fourth quarter. Georgia wins in Atlanta, but Florida does enough to remain within double digits.   Georgia 31, Florida 24

Steven:  On paper this should be a walk in the park for Georgia. They’re the better team, but Florida seems to get up for big games. It will be tough on the road, but the Gators could keep this one close and maybe even got to overtime. Dawgs still come out on top, though. Georgia 36-34.

Trout:  The SEC is weird. One week a team will look unbeatable, and then the next it looks like they forgot how to play football. I would normally say Georgia would win this game with ease. However, the 2026 session has been so weird, I just don’t see that happening. I still believe that the Bulldogs will win, but I think it’s a battle until the end. I can see Georgia winning it on a walk off field goal. Georgia wins by a hair and maintains their control of the SEC.   (Georgia, 27-24)

Final Score:  Georgia xx   Florida xx