College Football Playoff (CFP) Odds: Top Two

Texas A&M is leading the pack in terms of CFP Odds. The Aggies came into the 2025-26 season with the #21 preseason ranking but have climbed up to #3 heading into Week 9. Their undefeated with a 7-0 overall record and four wins against SEC opponents.

Alabama has completely turned it around after being left out of last year’s CFP. They started the season ranked #4 and have since risen to #4. They have the season opener loss to Florida State as a blemish but their spot in the CFP is all but locked with a 6-1 overall record and 4-0 record against SEC competition.

College Football Playoff (CFP) Odds: Bottom Two

Tennessee and LSU are in the AP’s Top 25 going into Week 9 but their odds of making the CFP are weak. The teams share a 5-2 overall record as well as a 2-2 record against SEC opponents. LSU’ preseason ranking was #9 but they’ve tumbled down to #20. Tennessee’s preseason ranking was #18 and they’ve actually improved to #17 going into Week 9.

Best Scoring Teams

The most prolific scorers have been Tennessee and Texas Tech.

The Volunteers have put up 309 points so far and are averaging 44.1 points per game. They hit a season high in their 72-17 rout of East Tennessee State and their lowest point total was 20 in their Week 8 loss to Alabama.

Texas Tech isn’t far behind with 307 points scored and an average of 43.9 points per game. The Red Raiders hit season highs of 67 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 62 against Kent State. Similar to Tennessee, they hit a floor last week in their 22-26 loss to Arizona State.

Worst Scoring Teams

LSU and Texas have struggled heavily with scoring in 2025-26.

LSU has tallied up a total of 179 points and is averaging 25.6 points per game. They hit lows of 17 points in the Clemson loss and 19 points in the Ole Miss Loss

Texas’ point total through Week 9 is 187 and the Longhorns are averaging 26.7 points per game. Their floor was seven points scored in the season opener loss to Ohio State but outside of that they haven’t scored less than 16 points in a game.

Best Defenses

The region’s two best defenses, among those in the AP Top 25, are Oklahoma and Texas.

Through eight weeks of play, the Oklahoma Sooners’ opponents have scored a collective 66 points, with an average of 9.4 yards per game. They shutout Kent State 44-0 and held Illinois State and Temple to single field goals. Texas fared the best of their opponents so far and dealt them their first loss with a final score of 6-23.

Texas has held opponents to a collective 79 points and an average of 26.7 points per game.

Defense – Impact Plays

Defense: Tackles for Loss

Best: Oklahoma – 75

Worst: Ole Miss – 28

Defense: Sacks

Best: Oklahoma – 28

Worst: Ole Miss – 10

Defense: Interceptions

Best: Louisville – 10

Worst: Texas A&M - 2

Most Accurate Passing Team

Alabama stands out as a team in the passing category. Overall, their accuracy rate is 70.3%. Ty Simpson is having a standout season. Through Week 9 he’s got a 70.2% completion rate on 218 attempts. That’s translated into 1,931 yards, 18 touchdowns and only one interception thrown.

Tennessee isn’t far off from Alabama. Their quarterback, Joey Aguilar, has recorded 1,948 yards through the air, with a 64.6 completion rate on 226 attempts. He’s produced 15 touchdowns but also thrown six interceptions (tied for 1st among the Southern teams in the top 25). Oklahoma’s John Mateer joins him with six interceptions thrown.

Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia has thrown for 1,569 yards with a 70.5% completion rate on 183 attempts. He’s recorded 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Least Accurate Passing Team

And then there’s the Texas situation. They sit at the bottom of the group with a 60.7% completion rate. Arch Manning is still trying to find his was with a 60.3 completion rate on 189 attempts. He’s managed to turn that into 1,449 yards for 12 touchdowns but has unfortunately balanced that out with five interceptions.

Top Four Receivers

Mario Craven (Texas A&M): 36 catches, 674 yards, 4 touchdowns
Chris Bell (Louisville): 44 catches (#1), 638 yards, 6 touchdowns
Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee): 39 catches, 602 yards, 7 touchdowns
Braylon Staley (Tennessee): 41 catches, 523 yards, 3 touchdowns

Top Three Tight Ends

Dae'Quan Wright (Ole Miss): 19 catches, 393 yards, 3 touchdowns
Jaren Kanak (Oklahoma): 24 catches, 364 yards, zero touchdowns
Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt): 28 catches, 355 yards, 2 touchdowns

Best Rushing Team

Texas Tech is on top when it comes to rushing. The Red Raiders have recorded 1,506 yards on the ground through Week 8.

Worst Rushing Team

Louisville has had a very poor go of it with only 694 total rushing yards heading into Week 9.

Most Efficient Rushing Team

Louisville has proven to be the most efficient rushing team with an average of 6.7 yards per carry and a total of 1,491 yards on the ground.

Least Efficient Rushing Teams

Alabama and Oklahoma are both sorely lacking in the rushing efficiency area. Both are averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Oklahoma is in slightly better shape with 905 total rushing yards while Alabama has 879 yards.

Most Utilized Rusher:

Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy is currently the region’s most utilized rusher. Through Week 8, the sophomore has 138 attempts, 618 yards on the ground and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry. At a higher level, Lacy is averaging 88.3 rushing yards per game. His season high was 142 rushing yards in Ole Miss’ 24-21 win over Washington State.

Highest Producing Rusher

Texas Tech’s Cameron Dickey is currently the region’s highest producing rusher. He has 631 yards on 100 rush attempts and is averaging 6.3 yards per carry. At a higher level, Dickey is averaging 90.1 yards per game on the ground. He hit a monstrous season high of 263 rushing yards in the Red Raiders’ 42-17 win over Kansas.

Best Catching Running Backs

J’Koby Williams (Texas Tech): 16 catches, 235 yards, 1 touchdown

Sedrick Alexander (Vanderbilt): 10 catches, 105 yards, 4 touchdowns

CFB South: Week 9 Preview