CBS Sports Network’s ongoing coverage of the 2024 college football season includes seven games in Week 9, including three midweek games ahead of a quadrupleheader on Saturday.
Friday night sees UNLV facing No. 1 in the Mountain West Conference and in a game with major implications for the College Football Playoff race. The monumental clash opens when they host No. 17 Boise State. Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by a massive Mid-American Conference clash between Ohio and Buffalo and an exciting non-conference nightcap featuring Washington State and San Diego State.
CBS Sports Network will be with you every step of the way as Week 9 action begins. In the meantime, check out information, storylines, betting odds, and more for each matchup.
Always Eastern | Odds via SportsLine Consensus
UNLV’s no. 17 Boise State
date: Friday, October 25 | hour: 10:30 PM
location: Raider Stadium — Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: CBS Sports Network (find a channel)
Live Stream: CBSSports.com | Moving: CBS Sports App (Free)
diffusion: Boise State -3 | Will the Broncos cover? Check out SportsLine’s Week 9 predictions here.
Talk about huge stakes. As things stand, this could be a College Football Playoff elimination game. There’s a good chance these two will meet again in the Mountain West Conference championship game, but it’s hard to imagine a two-loss Group of Five team making the field for either team, especially with teams like Army and Navy making the competition extremely tight. Yes. . Boise State clearly has a Heisman Trophy frontrunner in Ashton Jeanty, but UNLV certainly shouldn’t be discounted. After Matthew Sluka’s public NIL dispute forced him to sit out a redshirt season, new quarterback Hajj Malik-Williams took over and was a revelation for the Rebels. They also have two of the best defenders in the country in linebacker Jackson Woodard and defensive back Jalen Catalon. This is a heavyweight battle and one of the most important games on the Week 9 slate.
Buffalo in Ohio
date: Saturday, October 26 | hour: noon. Eastern Standard Time
location: Peden Stadium — Athens, Ohio
TV: CBS Sports Network (find a channel)
Live Stream: CBSSports.com | Moving: CBS Sports App (Free)
diffusion: Ohio -6.5 | Will the Bobcats cover? Check out SportsLine’s Week 9 predictions here.
The competition for the MAC Championship Game is very competitive right now. Buffalo and Ohio are currently two of six teams with 2-1 records in conference play, so a win in Saturday afternoon’s contest is essential for both teams. Buffalo’s offense ranks poorly among conference opponents, but the Bulls have put a lot of points on the board over the past month. They are averaging 31.3 points per game against MAC opponents, but will have their hands full against Ohio. The Bobcats currently rank second in the MAC in total defense (331.3 yards per game) and fifth in scoring defense (24.3 points per game).
date: Saturday, October 26 | hour: 3:30 PM ET
location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium — East Hartford, Connecticut
TV: CBS Sports Network (find a channel)
Live Stream: CBSSports.com | Moving: CBS Sports App (Free)
diffusion: UConn-6.5 | Will the Huskies cover? Check out SportsLine’s Week 9 predictions here.
UConn is real this year, at least by UConn standards. The Huskies fell just three points short of an epic comeback against Wake Forest in Week 8, falling 23-20 at home. Still, they remain just two wins away from bowl eligibility for the second time in three years under coach Jim Mora. This certainly won’t be an easy break from American Athletic Conference play for Rice. The Owls are just 2-5, but one of those wins was an impressive win over UTSA. They had no trouble slowing down opposing offenses, but their own offense couldn’t keep up. Rice currently ranks 10th in the AAC, averaging just 23.3 points per game.
date: Saturday, October 26 | hour: 7 PM ET
location: War Memorial Stadium — Laramie, Wyoming
TV: CBS Sports Network (find a channel)
Live Stream: CBSSports.com | Moving: CBS Sports App (Free)
diffusion: Wyoming -2.5 | Will the Cowboys cover? Check out SportsLine’s Week 9 predictions here.
Neither team is doing much right. Both teams are trying to keep their heads above water and avoid being left out of the ball conversation for at least another week. Anyway, with a 2-12 record, neither team is really thinking about the postseason at the moment. Each struggled in their own way. Wyoming’s offense averages just 279.6 yards and 17.1 points per game. The Cowboys have scored more than 30 points just once this season. Utah State’s offense wasn’t very effective, but the Aggies couldn’t keep their opponents off the field or out of the end zone. Utah State ranks last in the Mountain West in total defense, allowing 502 yards per game (also second-lowest in the FBS) and has a scoring defense that gives up a whopping 43.9 points per game.
San Diego State, Washington
date: Saturday, October 26 | hour: 10:30 PM ET
location: Snapdragon Stadium — San Diego, California
TV: CBS Sports Network (find a channel)
Live Stream: CBSSports.com | Moving: CBS Sports App (Free)
diffusion: Washington State -14.5 | Will the Cougars cover? Check out SportsLine’s Week 9 predictions here.
Washington State has quietly had a phenomenal season. If the Cougars are included in the Mountain West Conference standings, they will be a contender. Their only loss this year is to a really good Boise State team. Otherwise, they beat teams like Washington 6-1. San Diego State made a splash with the hiring of former Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, but the Aztecs had quite a bit of trouble putting up points. They tied for the most points against an FBS opponent this season with their second straight win, 27-24, but had never scored more than 21 points in a non-FCS game before.