Week 9 of the 2025 college football season is upon us, and we have some intriguing matchups taking place this week throughout the SEC. With the College Football Playoff picture beginning to populate, we’re running into some must-win games for teams across the conference.
Here are my picks for this week:
No. 4 Alabama at South Carolina: Oct. 25, 2:30 p.m. CT
I feel obligated to share with full transparency that despite Alabama being a 13.5-point favorite, I nearly took the Gamecocks in this game.
There is a part of me that thinks this is a massive letdown spot for the Crimson Tide. It’s important to mention that head coach Kalen DeBoer has lost these games in the past (Oklahoma and Vanderbilt last season).
Also worth noting is that South Carolina has a solid quarterback in LaNorris Sellers. The preseason Heisman Trophy hopeful hasn’t had the 2025 that most thought he would; however, he can still be dangerous and has a skillset that has burned Alabama in the past.
“Let me just remind you of something. Alabama on the road as a double-digit favorite has been terrible,” college football analyst Josh Pate said. “You’re going to play in Columbia, they [South Carolina] need to save their season, let’s just be careful.”
Unfortunately for Sellers and the Gamecocks, their receiving corps has been pedestrian at best, and their offensive line has been a mess all season.
South Carolina could also struggle on the defensive side of the ball. The Gamecocks rank 41st in total team defense, while the Crimson Tide sports the No. 11 passing offense in the country.
Ultimately, I just don’t see South Carolina scoring enough points to keep up with this Alabama offense’s production, so I will reluctantly pick the Crimson Tide in what feels like a trap.
Prediction: Alabama 31, South Carolina 20
Where to watch: ABC
No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma: Oct. 25, 11 a.m. CT
Ole Miss and Oklahoma will duke it out in a battle of one-loss SEC teams, looking to stay alive in the SEC title race.
The Rebels will need to reset and play their best ball after taking No. 5 Georgia to the brink last week. The key for the Sooners will be opening up its offense with a healthy John Mateer back at QB, while slowing down the opposing offense, which ranks No. 8 in total offense.
This game has the potential to be incredibly high scoring. While the Sooners are taking on an Ole Miss team that has played lights out offensively, the defense they will face has not been very good this season as it ranks 66th nationally.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables seemed to disagree (as he probably should), and said he’s tasked with taking on “a really good defense” and that it’s “peppered with lots of really good players that they’ve recruited.”
The vibe that I get from Oklahoma is that this is a team that is very prepared for the moment and should be able to go toe to toe with the Rebels, ultimately finding a way to defeat them by a slim margin.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Ole Miss 35
Where to watch: ABC
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU: Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. CT
No. 20 LSU, with a pair of conference losses, is now on the brink of elimination from the College Football Playoff. The Tigers are in true wounded animal mode in Death Valley this week against a red-hot Aggie squad that has started the season 7-0.
On paper, Texas A&M should be able to win and cover with ease this week. However, I think the desperation LSU will be playing with will show up in a big way.
The Tigers already sport the No. 26 defense in the country. This is plenty good enough to keep them in this game, despite facing the No. 17 offense. What must change in order to keep LSU in the football game is the offense.
Head coach Brian Kelly’s unit was slated to be one of the very best in college football before the start of the season, but a suspected injury to quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and a rushing offense that ranks 116th in the country have had the Tigers looking like a four-wheeler stuck in the mud.
What gives me confidence about LSU this week is that the run game appears to have improved last week versus Vanderbilt, despite the loss. Running backs Caden Durham and Harlem Berry rushed for 8.4 and 5 yards per carry, respectively, while combining for 114 yards on the ground.
If Nussmeier and his receivers can trend in the right direction and the run game shows up, the atmosphere in Death Valley could come alive and propel LSU to a much-needed victory against an Aggie team that doesn’t necessarily need to win.
“We have a great opportunity this weekend in Tiger Stadium,” Kelly said. “To play the No. 3 team in the country, that’s exciting. We believe the way we’re moving, if we continue to get better on both sides of the ball, we’re prepared to win the game.”
Prediction: LSU 27, Texas A&M 24
Where to watch: ABC
