Our staff predicts the winners for the top games of the week
Big 12
Houston Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats – Sat. Sept. 21, 11:00 AM, FS1
- Anthony: Xs & Os or Jims & Joes? This is a coaching mis-match in favor of the Cougars, but think the on-field talent edge, plus the Nippert home field advantage tips it to the Bearcats for me.
- Austin: Both these squads have been difficult to gauge thus far. Even though Houston has looked better in recent weeks, I’ll side with the Bearcats who should be sitting at 3-0.
- Drew: I’ll take the Bearcats in a close one.
- Russ: Cincinnati wins this one at home.
- Wyatt: This is a tough matchup to predict. Give me the Bearcats in a close one.
- CFB 25: Houston wins 20-17 behind a Donovan Smith TD pass in the final seconds
Kansas Jayhawks at West Virginia Mountaineers – Sat. Sept. 21, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
- Anthony: For some reason I just can’t quit on Garrett Greene and the ‘Eers. Neal Brown fends off the hot seat for the 106th time and WVU takes the win at home.
- Austin: The Jayhawks have lost their luster after beginning the season ranked in the AP Poll. Following back-to-back heartbreaking defeats, I’m picking Kansas to come out on top.
- Drew: Both teams have fallen short of preseason expectations this season and even with the game being played in Morgantown, I have the Jayhawks taking the win.
- Russ: Kansas has not been nearly as sharp as I thought it would be this season. West Virginia takes it at home.
- Wyatt: Morgan Town is a difficult place to play. Despite early season struggles, I think West Virginia wins at home.
- CFB 25: WVU wins 29-21 behind 114 yards from Jaheim White
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves – Sat. Sept. 21, 1:00 PM, ESPN+
- Anthony: ISU wins with ease. Coming off the early bye, the Cyclones should be heavy favorites to remain undefeated until a mid-October showdown with UCF.
- Austin: This game may be closer than the 20-plus point spread suggests. However, the Cyclones are the better team and it’ll show.
- Drew: Iowa State by a bunch.
- Russ: Iowa State rolls over the Red Wolves here.
- Wyatt: Iowa State will win. I think it will be close at the beginning, but the Cyclones will run away with the game in the second half.
- CFB 25: Red Wolves led at half, but ISU emerges with a 30-20 win.
Arizona State Sun Devils at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Sat. Sept. 21, 2:30 PM, FS1
- Anthony: ASU has certainly surprised to open the season undefeated while TTU had surprised in its poor performance before last week’s explosion of offense vs. the Mean Green. I’m holding on to my priors and think the Red Raiders are the better team and hold serve in Lubbock.
- Austin: Whoa, the Red Raiders looked really good a week ago against an upstart UNT squad. Despite the demolition, I’m still going with the undefeated Sun Devils on the road.
- Drew: As good as Arizona State has looked to start the year and even with the Red Raiders stumbling out of the gate, I think Texas Tech is the better team and wins this one at home.
- Russ: Arizona State has collected a pair of good wins in recent weeks. The Sun Devils have been more consistent than the Red Raiders, so I’ll take Arizona State in Lubbock.
- Wyatt: I think the Red Raiders take care of business at home. Last season, Tech had a shaky start, losing to Wyoming, and finished with a winning record. I think they will improve throughout this season, and it starts with their first conference win against the Sun Devils.
- CFB 25: ASU with the comeback win, scoring 14 4Q points and Cam Skattebo rushes for 232 yards and 2 TDs
Utah Utes at Oklahoma State Cowboys – Sat. Sept. 21, 3:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: A Big 12 banger! Perhaps a preview of the conference title game, the winner of this one becomes the favorite to win the league. Even if Rising returns, the Boone Pickens crowd rattles the Utes and OK State wins a close one.
- Austin: With Cam Rising back in action, it’s difficult to go against the Utes. I have Utah winning a hard-fought, low-scoring affair.
- Drew: I am very excited for this one. I think Oklahoma State is a very good team but I think Utah does what Arkansas did to OSU and forces Alan Bowman to beat them by stacking the box. I do not think Bowman can outduel Rising even in Stillwater. Give me the Utes.
- Russ: Despite the recent injury, I think Cam Rising is the superior quarterback to Alan Bowman and Utah will fend off the Cowboys in a raucous environment.
- Wyatt: Wow. This will be a good one. Gundy and the Cowboys will be Utah’s first true Big 12 test, especially because the game is in Stillwater. I think the Utes pull it out on the road in a close game.
- CFB 25: Utah rolls 27-17 behind 105 yards from Micah Bernard.
Baylor Bears at Colorado Buffaloes – Sat. Sept. 21, 7:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: An absolute toss up. Last week Sawyer Robertson looked legit, the Baylor running game smashed, and the defense had Air Force bottled up all game. Perhaps that’ll prove a poor reference, but I see the Bears leaving Boulder with the win.
- Austin: The Bears have been especially stout on defense against the pass thus far, which does not bode well for the pass-happy Buffaloes. (Sure, playing a game against Air Force helps the average, but the Bears’ defense appears to be much improved from a season ago). I’m picking Baylor to defeat Colorado.
- Drew: Baylor looked solid against Air Force last week but I do not see them getting the win on the road. I’ll take Colorado behind a big game from Shedeur.
- Russ: Colorado is as one dimensional as one dimensional gets. I’ll take Baylor on the road.
- Wyatt: I think the Bears win in Boulder. The Baylor defense will cause problems for the Buff’s offensive line, and Shedeur will have a long day.
- CFB 25: Buffs survive 17-14 even as Shedeur Sanders throws for only 79 yards
Kansas State Wildcats at BYU Cougars – Sat. Sept. 21, 9:30 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: The opening line favoring KSU by under a touchdown has my upset senses tingling. Provo can be tricky and things could get wonky with the late start, but I’m not going to over think this, K-State has better players and better coaching and will roll with a big win.
- Austin: Sorry, Kansas State, I went with the underdog Arizona a week ago. I might have to roll with the Wildcats for the rest of the season—this is a complete team.
- Drew: Going on the road to Provo for a night game is not fun and I do not have a lot of faith in the Kansas State passing attack, but I think K-State is the better team and finds a way to win on the road.
- Russ: Kansas State might be the best team in the conference right now. I’ll take the Wildcats over the Cougars in Provo.
- Wyatt: Kansas State. The Wildcats struggled in New Orleans, when they beat Tulane on the road. I think Kansas State has early struggles, but they ultimately pull it out against the Cougars.
- CFB 25: BYU with the huge upset, winning 13-9
Top National Games
Illinois Illini at Nebraska Cornhuskers – Fri. Sept. 20, 7:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: So, it turns out Raiola may really be that dude. Big Red rolls.
- Austin: Nebraska is worthy of the early season hype. Matt Rhule has once again proved to be an elite program builder. Of course, having a five-star quarterback helps, but that’s also what sets Nebraska apart. Go, Cornhuskers.
- Drew: Nebraska keeps up the momentum with a solid win over Illinois.
- Russ: Despite Illinois’ recent win over Kansas, I think Nebraska is too strong here.
- Wyatt: Mini Patrick Mahomes, Dylan Raiola, does just enough for the Cornhuskers to defeat Illinois at home.
- CFB 25: Illini take it 27-23.
USC Trojans at Michigan Wolverines – Sat. Sept. 21, 2:30 PM, CBS
- Anthony: Will playing a Lincoln Riley defense be the cure to what ails the Michigan offense? With Alex Orji now confirmed to be Michigan’s starting QB, he does enough to keep the offense moving while that Wolverines defense puts Trojan QB Miller Moss in a torture chamber. Michigan gets the big win in the Big House.
- Austin: USC. The Wolverines have shown nothing to warrant a victory against a ranked opponent, even in Ann Arbor.
- Drew: This is a huge test for Lincoln Riley and USC. They have looked more physical and improved on defense, but going on the road to play one of the most physical programs in the country is a big challenge. I think USC is up to the test and picks up a huge win on the road.
- Russ: I haven’t been impressed with Michigan’s quarterback play one bit. Miller Moss looks like a stud and I think USC wins at the Big House.
- Wyatt: I am conflicted on this one. USC looks good and Michigan does not. However, I am not sure Michigan drops two early games in the Big House. Ultimately, Michigan has not shown me enough to pick them over USC. I think the Trojans win in Ann Arbor.
- CFB 25: A Denis Lynch walk off winner in the Big House to earn a 23-20 win for USC.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Louisville Cardinals – Sat. Sept. 21, 2:30 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: That Week Zero win over FSU is looking less impressive by the day, but I enjoy the Haynes King-led offense with all those dynamic weapons and think Georgia Tech catches the Cardinals sleepy off the Bye and looking ahead to Notre Dame next week. Bees in a big upset!
- Austin: An odd matchup here for the fact that Georgia Tech has already played four games while the Cardinals have played just two (against FCS foes). Although Georgia Tech is tested, I’m picking Louisville to win a close one.
- Drew: I think this game will be very close thanks to a very fun Georgia Tech offense but I have Louisville winning at home.
- Russ: Georgia Tech will hang around in this one, but Louisville holds on for the win.
- Wyatt: Tyler Shough does just enough for Louisville to win. I think this game will be close.
- CFB 25: Cardinals dominate 36-7 behind 172 yards and 2 TDs from WR Caullin Lacy
Tennessee Volunteers at Oklahoma Sooners – Sat. Sept. 21, 6:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: Let’s keep the upsets rolling. In a battle of the two most annoying fight songs, it’ll be Boomer Sooner we hear the most on Saturday. OU’s lack of success in the run game concerns me, but Damonic Williams & the Venables defense locks down Nico and the Vols, spoiling Josh Heupel’s revenge tour return to Norman and leaving Tennessee fans asking for a refund on the “talent fee.”
- Austin: Tennessee. Like Michigan (to a lesser extent), the Sooners haven’t looked as good as advertised while the Volunteers appear to be heavyweights.
- Drew: Oklahoma has not looked great on offense to start the year and I do not think they have the firepower to keep up with an electric Tennessee offense. Give me the Vols.
- Russ: Such a great matchup between Tennessee’s high-powered offense and the Brent Venables-led Oklahoma defense and former TCU stud Damonic Williams. I’m tempted to take the Sooners, but since Tennessee has won me money already this year, I’ll go Vols.
- Wyatt: Tennessee looks very good. I think they will win by 2 scores in Norman
- CFB 25: The Vols take it 21-16 despite a monster game from Jackson Arnold & Gavin Sawchuk
Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers – Sat. Sept. 21, 6:30 PM, NBC
- Anthony: Row the boat! Iowa QB Cade McNamara throws multiple interceptions and Minnesota WR Daniel Jackson has multiple TDs.
- Austin: Iowa is near the top half of the Big 10 in points per game! Who would’ve thought? Behind an awesome ground game, led by Kaleb Johnson, I have Iowa narrowly defeating Minnesota.
- Drew: Give me the Hawkeyes on the road.
- Russ: Hawkeyes go on the road and bring a win home from Minnesota.
- Wyatt: Hawkeyes win in Minnesota.
- CFB 25: Iowa wins 16-14 as Minnesota fails in 4th down rather than attempt a go-ahead 61 yard FG in the final minute.
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Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Austin: 74%
- Russ: 71%
- Drew: 69%
- Wyatt: 64%
- Anthony: 62%
- CFB25: 50%