Rebel forces going to make a statement

If you’re the gambling sort, this is not the weekend to roll with a bunch of college football underdogs in order to, say, catch up with any bills or offset the monthly child support.

There are a lot of too-close-to-call matchups.

But, still, we trudge on with another edition of Upset Alert Special for Week 9 of the 2025 season, replete with a bonus pick on Friday night.

The biggest game of the weekend also happens to be the most intriguing of upset possibilities … but we’re not talking anything of the David slaying Goliath variety.

No. 8 Ole Miss (6-1) is a 5.5-point underdog as it visits No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1) to kick off Saturday’s action with a 12 p.m. start at Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised on ABC and feature two diametrically opposed teams.

The Rebels shine on offense, the Sooners on defense.

Go figure, considering the head coaches.

In Lane Kiffin, not only does Ole Miss have one of the most desired candidates for any of the high-profile openings during the current coaching carousel, it also has arguably the best offensive mind and/or tactician in the sport.

Conversely, Oklahoma may have his match in defensive mastermind Brent Venables, who won a pair of national titles as Clemson’s defensive coordinator after an outstanding run as OU’s DC prior to that.

Back with the Sooners three years now, Venables has the nation’s best defense. OU leads the country in total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, and yards allowed per play, largely behind standout defensive ends R Mason Thomas and Taylor Wein.

OU gives up just a mere 9.4 points per game, too.

Ole Miss averages 37.4 points and almost 500 yards per game.

It also has the wild card in this matchup: quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

A dynamic dual threat, he adds a level of calmness and being under control that typically eludes such a talent. His ability to escape the rush, combined with his smaller frame, could create havoc for Thomas, Wein and Co. in a way the Sooners haven’t experienced against other mobile QBs.

His counterpart for OU, John Mateer, was the Heisman favorite throughout September and still gets plenty of media push in that direction. But he’s been a turnover machine since he has come back from wrist surgery.

Kiffin, a master manipulator, may have a head game or two up his sleeve for Venables and the Sooners, too. He already laid the groundwork earlier in the week, essentially “crediting” Venables and his staff with stealing signs of opposing teams.

Perhaps the game officials took notice.

FRIDAY

California (5-2) at Virginia Tech (2-5) -6.5, 7:30, ESPN. It seems the oddsmakers are overvaluing the Bears having to travel east, play in front of a rabid crowd and face a team that hasn’t quit in a rough season that included the firing of HC Brent Pry after three games. Here’s the rub: Cal is good. Legit good. It has a great talent in freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. It also has beaten a good Minnesota team. The Hokies have nothing to compare.

SATURDAY

UCLA (3-4) at No. 2 Indiana (7-0) -25.5, 12, FOX. The line just seems so high, considering the magical little run the Bruins are on after a 0-4 start. But the final margin between the two may be determined by Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti’s desire to run it up or not.

No. 15 Missouri (6-1) at No. 16 Vanderbilt (6-1) -2.5, 3:30, ESPN. Both come in with losses to current No. 4 Alabama, and both are great stories this season, although Diego Pavia-driven Vandy’s is the only one of the two being told. That may change by Saturday evening.

No. 23 Illinois (5-2) at Washington (5-2) -4.5, 3:30, BTN. How the Huskies haven’t even sniffed a ranking this fall seems crazy, so the Fighting Illini will have their hands full. This will be a true litmus test to see just how legit Bret Bielema’s Illinois program is.

No. 22 Texas (5-2) -6.5 at Mississippi State (4-3), 4:15, SEC Network. The Arch Manning-led Longhorns have a knack for putting themselves in harm’s way with lackluster play almost every week, and the underrated Bulldogs are not a team to mess around with or take lightly.

No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0) -2.5 at LSU (5-2), 7:30, ABC. This may be Brian Kelly’s last stand at Tiger Stadium. Something tells me the Bayou Bengals are gonna be ready to roll, especially since the Aggies could be teetering a bit after last week’s near-loss at Arkansas.