Our staff predicts the winners for the top games of the week.
Big 12
BYU Cougars at SMU Mustangs – Fri. Sept. 6, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: Ponies by at least two TDs
- Austin: As much as I want to pull for the Cougars in this week two affair, I can’t, it’s the Mustangs’ game to lose. I’m siding with SMU.
- Drew: I think SMU wins pretty easily at home.
- Russ: SMU should win at home.
- Wyatt: SMU takes care of business at Gerald Ford Stadium.
- CFB 25: SMU wins 31-24 after trailing by a TD with 2 minutes to play.
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Arkansas Razorbacks – Sat. Sept. 7, 11:00 AM, ABC
- Anthony: Taylen Green and the Hogs impressed in the opener, but will get walloped in Boone Pickens. Pokes by 10+
- Austin: There’s no denying Arkansas looked good last Saturday (yes, they played Arkansas Pine-Bluff, but that’s beside the point). I’m sticking with the Razorbacks.
- Drew: I think this game will be very close but I do not see Arkansas slowing down Ollie Gordon. Give me the Cowboys.
- Russ: Oklahoma State is a Big 12 contender. I’ll take the Cowboys.
- Wyatt: I think Arkansas surprises people and they defeat the Cowboys. Ollie Gordon has an amazing game.
- CFB 25: Hogs leave Stillwater with a 29-14 win.
Kansas State Wildcats at Tulane Green Wave – Sat. Sept. 7, 11:00 AM, ESPN
- Anthony: This is not Tyjae Spears, Michael Pratt, Willie Fritz Tulane. EMAW rolls with ease in NOLA.
- Austin: Kansas State wins, but Tulane doesn’t go down without a fight.
- Drew: Kansas State wins comfortably on the road.
- Russ: Kansas State takes this one.
- Wyatt: Kansas State avenges their loss to Tulane from 2022.
- CFB 25: Chris Tennant made 5 FGs and KSU escapes with the win 28-24 win.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Pitt Panthers – Sat. Sept. 7, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
- Anthony: Big opportunity for Scott Satterfield. I believe the Bearcats are much improved in 2024 and the Nippert home field plus the potential return of DT Dontay Corleone tips the scales for Cinci.
- Austin: Cincinnati, all day.
- Drew: Cincinnati letting up 20 points to Towson in week one did not inspire much confidence. I’ll take Pitt in this one.
- Russ: I’ll take Pitt in a minor upset.
- Wyatt: Pitt and the ACC get the win against Cincinnati and the Big 12.
- CFB 25: Pitt’s Rodney Hammond rushes 175 yards and 2 TDs as the Panthers romp to victory
Baylor Bears at Utah Utes – Sat. Sept. 7, 2:30 PM, FOX
- Anthony: Can they both lose? Both squads looked great in FCS tune-ups, but this “non-conference” game between Big 12 members goes to the Utes.
- Austin: The first Big 12 game of the season sees the Utes win handily.
- Drew: Utah by a comfortable margin.
- Russ: Utah with the easy win.
- Wyatt: Utah wins by 2 scores in Salt Lake.
- CFB 25: Utes score 18 in the 4th quarter, with a Micah Bernard touchdown run as time expires to win.
Iowa State Cyclones at Iowa Hawkeyes – Sat. Sept. 7, 2:30 PM, CBS
- Anthony: Did Iowa finally find an offense? Probably not, but either way the B1G squad takes the CyHawk Trophy.
- Austin: It’ll be a close one (like most Iowa games), but the Hawkeyes prevail.
- Drew: I think Iowa State has a chance to be very good this year and pick up a big win over the Hawkeyes on the road.
- Russ: Iowa wins a rock fight at home.
- Wyatt: Last week, we saw Iowa uncharacteristically put up 40 points against Illinois State. I don’t think last week’s offense translates to a tougher opponent in Iowa State. However, I believe the Hawkeyes get the win, in a low-scoring game.
- CFB 25: Rocco Becht throws 4 TDs and ISU stomps to a 31-13 win
UCF Knights vs. Sam Houston Bearkats – Sat. Sept. 7, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
- Anthony: Knights cruise to an easy W ahead of the conference opener in Fort Worth next week.
- Austin: The Golden Knights take this one.
- Drew: UCF by a bunch.
- Russ: UCF in a blowout.
- Wyatt: UCF.
- CFB 25: Over in a hurry, Knights win 37-21 as KJ Jefferson attempts just 5 passes.
Kansas Jayhawks at Illinois Illini – Sat. Sept. 7, 6:00 PM, FS1
- Anthony: Leipold is lightyears better than Bielema and the Daniels-Neal combo is killer, but for some reason I’ envisioning a close game that the Illini pull out at home.
- Austin: Kansas—full steam ahead.
- Drew: I think Kansas wins by double digits.
- Russ: I think Kansas takes this one fairly easily.
- Wyatt: Kansas.
- CFB 25: 101 yards from Devin Neal & KU wins 30-20
Colorado Buffaloes at Nebraska Cornhuskers – Sat. Sept. 7, 6:30 PM, NBC
- Anthony: Maybe my social media algorithms are just feeding me specific content, but I’m seeing a ton of big talk from Big Red and very little of the braggadocio from the Buffs. I’m choosing to consider this a quiet confidence from Coach Prime, although the quiet part would certainly be a first. Give me Colorado to calm the “Raiola = Mahomes” talk.
- Austin: These programs feel eerily similar, but Nebraska’s feel is a tad more legitimate. The Cornhuskers win in a high-scoring affair.
- Drew: With how all over the place Colorado looked at home last week, I can’t imagine they will be put together on the road. I think Nebraska wins this one in a shootout.
- Russ: Dylan Raiola wins the battle against Shedeur Sanders. Nebraska.
- Wyatt: Colorado will look disorganized, which will allow Nebraska to pull this one out and defeat the Buffaloes.
- CFB 25: Lol, this game loves the Buffs. Colorado wins 37-0. Raiola throws 3 picks, with Travis Hunter returning one for a TD.
Houston Cougars at Oklahoma Sooners – Sat. Sept. 7, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
- Anthony: Poor Donovan Smith. UH looked awful week one and its QBs are going to get mauled in Norman while Jackson Arnold throws for 500 yards a 5 TDs. Sooners by a billion
- Austin: Sorry Cougs, the Sooners win by multiple scores.
- Drew: Oklahoma rolls in this one.
- Russ: Oklahoma in a rout.
- Wyatt: Sooners by 30+
- CFB 25: A defensive battle goes to OU 17-14.
Texas Tech Red Raiders at Washington State Cougars – Sat. Sept. 7, 9:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: While I’d love to root against the Red Raiders in this Mike Leach Bowl, I think TTU bounces back from the FCS scare with a monster performance in Pullman
- Austin: Almost losing to Abilene Christian in week one is not a good look for the Red Raiders. Washington State wins at home.
- Drew: I’m still taking the Red Raiders despite their poor showing against ACU in week 1. They have the more talented roster and pick up a win on the road.
- Russ: Wazzu wins after Texas Tech nearly fell to ACU.
- Wyatt: The Red Raiders bounce back after a frustrating OT thriller against ACU.
- CFB 25: Blow out alert. Red Raiders win 41-7
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs – Sat. Sept. 7, 9:30 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: Has the love gone too far for the Sun Devils? One impressive win over Wyoming and now they are favored by a TD vs. an SEC squad? Miss State is not great and I’m a believer in Dillingham and those offensive weapons, but think ASU takes a tumble back to earth
- Austin: Yet another interesting inter-conference battle for the Sun Devils. Like a week ago, I’m projecting Arizona State to end up in the victory column.
- Drew: I have little faith in Blake Shapen who is now the starting quarterback for Mississippi State. I’ll take ASU after a fairly impressive week one blowout of Wyoming.
- Russ: I don’t know much about either squad so I’ll take Arizona State again. Big 12!
- Wyatt: ASU surprised me last week. I think they continue to play well, and beat Mississippi State.
- CFB 25: ASU wins 24-17 with a Troy Omeire 4th quarter TD catch
Top National Games
Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines – Sat. Sept. 7, 11:00 AM, FOX
- Anthony: Texas has a top-4 roster in the country and is going to devour whomever Michigan trots out at QB. ‘Horns by a big number in the Big House
- Austin: The Longhorns were one game away from facing the Wolverines in the National Championship a season ago. Now, with a shot to take down the reigning champs, Texas squeaks by.
- Drew: I do not think Michigan has the weapons to keep up with the Texas offense. Give me the Longhorns.
- Russ: I hate Michigan’s energy right now. Texas wins on the road.
- Wyatt: Texas beat the Wolverines in the Big House
- CFB 25: The duel of cover athletes goes to Donovan Edwards with 166 yards for a 30-24 Michigan win
Tennessee Volunteers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack – Sat. Sept. 7, 6:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: It’ll be closer than Vols fans would like following the dominant FCS win, but Nico appears to have the juice and will lead UT to the win in Charlotte.
- Austin: What happened to NC State a week ago? That uneasiness won’t ago away soon, the Vols come out on top.
- Drew: Tennessee looked dominant week one while NC State struggled with Western Carolina. Tennessee wins on the road.
- Russ: Tennessee wins this SEC-ACC matchup.
- Wyatt: Tennessee dominates NC State on the road.
- CFB 25: Vols cruise and Nico smashes in 31-13 win.
Boise State Broncos at Oregon Ducks – Sat. Sept. 7, 9:00 PM, Peacock
- Anthony: Ducks have an easier time with this Gem State foe than it did the Vandals last week. Oregon by a bunch. Shoutout LaGarrette Blount
- Austin: Oregon is one of the best teams in the nation and they’ll continue to dominate.
- Drew: Oregon will win but I think this will be a closer game than expected.
- Russ: Oregon bounces back from an oddly lackluster showing against Idaho.
- Wyatt: Oregon will show why they were a preseason favorite.
- CFB 25: Broncos pull the stunner in Eugene. 27-23
Frogs O’ War Pick ‘Em Leaderboard
Our own Austin McGee with a near perfect week on ESPN, if not for those pesky Commodores defeating Virginia Tech in Nashville.
Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Austin: 75%
- Russ: 67%
- Drew: 58%
- Wyatt: 50%
- Anthony: 50%
- CFB25: 33%