College Football Best Bets & Predictions 2025: Week 9 Picks For G5 Teams

No matter if it’s MACtion or weekday CUSA, Group of Five football is fun to watch. After all, there’s a ton of great G5 programs this year.

Here’s my predictions for upcoming G5 games this week.

Ohio vs. Eastern Michigan Betting Prediction

I predict Ohio will win but Eastern Michigan will cover the 11.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 58.5 total points.

Ohio has yet to win a game on the road this season. Granted, two of the Bobcats’ games thus far away from home have been against Power Four teams. But I don’t think that bodes well for this matchup, so I expect this to be a game decided by 10 points or less.

I also think EMU is capable of keeping up with Ohio offensively. The Bobcats are second in the MAC with 29.4 points per game scored, but EMU isn’t far behind in fifth with 24.5 PPG. Ohio is also second in total offense (427.3 yards per game) while the Eagles are fourth (366.3 YPG).

Meanwhile, both teams are outside of the top five in both scoring defense and total defense. Still, the Bobcats have been better on that side of the ball than EMU in both categories. Ohio has also been solid defensively recently, not allowing its last three opponents to score more than 21 points.

Despite its inconsistencies, I still believe in quarterback Parker Navarro and this Ohio offense. Navarro has thrown for 1,471 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 65% of his passes and rushing for 441 yards and four TDs. Sieh Bangura leads Ohio with 628 yards and seven TDs rushing. Chase Hendricks has paced the Bobcats through the air, catching 47 passes for 693 yards and four scores.

I expect this will be a fun game to watch but that Ohio will ultimately find a way to win.

Toledo vs. Washington State Betting Prediction

I predict Washington State will win and cover the 1.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 45.5 total points.

I expect this to be a defensive battle. Toledo is one of the best teams in the country on that side of the ball. The Rockets have given up the eighth-fewest points per game in the country (14.29) and the third-fewest yards per game (224.1).

The Cougars aren’t quite up to that level, but they’ve been solid on defense aside from their back-to-back losses to North Texas and Washington where Wazzu allowed 59 points in each contest.

For the season, the Cougars are in the top 50 in the country in total defense with 341.6 YPG allowed. They’ve given up 27.4 PPG. 

And considering how they’ve played in their last two clashes with Ole Miss and Virginia, two top-notch programs right now, I think Wazzu continues to play at that high level at home after being on the road for its last three matchups.

Led by linebackers Parker McKenna, Caleb Francl, and Anthony Palano, Washington State has given up just 44 points in its last three games. So I think the Cougars play inspired at that side of the ball at home and give Toledo’s offense a ton of problems en route to a win.

App State vs. Old Dominion Betting Prediction

I predict Old Dominion will win but App State will cover the 13.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 61.5 total points.

These two teams have some of the best scoring defenses in the Sun Belt, a league that features JMU which has one of the best defenses in the country. ODU is fourth in the conference with 26.3 points per game given up, while App State is right behind at fifth with 28.1 PPG allowed.

The Mountaineers (fourth) and Monarchs (fifth) are also top five in the Sun Belt in total defense, as they have given up 363.3 yards per game and 377.1 YPG, respectively. 

So I expect this to be a lower-scoring game than some may believe. And that’s also why I think it could be decided by less than two touchdowns.

But I also anticipate Old Dominion will ultimately prove to be the better team, especially at home.

I think the Monarchs haven’t played like themselves in their last two games and that returning home will help them get back on track. 

At quarterback for ODU, Colton Joseph has thrown for 1,690 yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 63% completion rate while leading the team with 487 yards and six touchdowns rushing. Tre’ Brown III (22 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns), Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (30 catches for 413 yards and five TDs), and Ja’Cory Thomas (22 catches for 397 yards and three TDs) have been ODU’s leading receivers.

With so much talent on both sides of the ball, I expect ODU’s defense will be dominant and the Monarchs’ offense will do enough to help them break their two-game losing skid.

FAU vs. Navy Betting Prediction

I predict Navy wins and covers the 14-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 62.5 total points.

I believe FAU is a solid squad that could earn bowl-eligibility by the end of the season. But I don’t believe the Owls will manage to keep this one close.

For one, Navy is too talented in my opinion. The Midshipmen are in the top four in the American in scoring offense (36.5 points per game), scoring defense (21.5 PPG allowed), and total offense (472.7 yards per game) while ranking seventh in total defense (361 YPG allowed). 

FAU, meanwhile, is in the bottom half of the conference in all of those categories except total offense. The Owls have been solid offensively, putting up 424.1 yards per game, but I think Navy’s defense will give them fits.

I also think this is a bad matchup for FAU. Navy has the best rushing attack in the country, averaging 305 yards per game on the ground. Meanwhile, FAU is 109th out of 134 FBS teams in rushing defense. The Owls have given up 177.3 rushing yards per contest.

I anticipate Blake Horvath is going to have another standout performance. He’s thrown for 980 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions on a 64% completion rate and leads the team with 640 yards and eight TDs rushing. 

But I also could see Navy’s other stars like Eli Heidenreich, who’s rushed for 266 yards and three TDs and leads the team with 485 yards and four touchdowns on 23 catches, stepping up as well.

And on defense, I expect Landon Robinson will set the tone up front for Navy as he has all year and that the Midshipmen will end up winning by three touchdowns.