Our staff predicts the winners for the top games of the week
Big 12
West Virginia Mountaineers at Oklahoma State Cowboys – Sat. Oct. 5, 3:00 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: Pokes are 0-2 in league play, but against two of the toughest opponents. WVU remains dangerous, but OK State picks up its first Big 12 win.
- Austin: Oklahoma State gets back on track with a win over West Virginia.
- Drew: I don’t have a lot of faith in West Virginia to win on the road. Give me the Cowboys.
- Russ: Cowboys bounce back from a tough loss against Kansas State.
- Wyatt: There is no way Oklahoma State starts conference play 0-3. For this reason, I am rolling with the Pokes.
- CFB 25: OSU creates 423 yards of offense and shuts out WVU in the 2nd half to win 23-13
Baylor Bears at Iowa State Cyclones – Sat. Oct. 5, 6:30 PM, FOX
- Anthony: Not going to use the Q Word with the Bears because they did show some fight in the comeback attempt vs. BYU, but a trip to Ames ahead of the Bye week sure looks to set up as the opportunity to relieve Dave Aranda of his duties after an ugly loss to the Cyclones.
- Austin: The Cyclones continue to strut a dominant defense with a lopsided victory over Baylor at home.
- Drew: Iowa State by a comfortable margin. Baylor looks dead in the water right now.
- Russ: Cyclones remain unbeaten with a win over the Bears.
- Wyatt: Baylor showed something against BYU in the second half. They would be in a better position if they could figure out how to start games off strong. However, with this game being in Ames, I do not think Baylor gets the start to this game that they need. Iowa State prevails at home.
- CFB 25: Baylor goes into Ames and gets the win 24-20 despite rushing for 2.2 yards per carry
UCF Knights at Florida Gators – Sat. Oct. 5, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
- Anthony: Think Knights got caught looking ahead to this game and Travis Hunter made them pay for it; the kind of loss TCU fans know can send a season into a spiral. Give me the Gators to chomp UCF in the Swamp
- Austin: I’ll go against the grain here and side with Florida. Although UCF is favored, Billy Napier is coaching for his job and this game surprisingly holds a lot of weight.
- Drew: This will be a very tough test for a UCF team coming off of a blowout loss. I still think they get it done on the road. Give me the Knights.
- Russ: A fun matchup for the Knights, who I think squeeze out a win here.
- Wyatt: This game is a toss-up. It is win or die for Billy Napier, and UCF is coming off a horrible loss against Colorado at home. I think Florida defeats the Knights coming off a bye week.
- CFB 25: Florida sacks KJ Jefferson on 4th down in the final seconds to take the 23-17 win
Kansas Jayhawks at Arizona State Sun Devils – Sat. Oct. 5, 7:00 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: Lance Leipold took to blaming the officials for his team’s inability to put away the Frogs in KC last week and it’s appearing his offensive wizardry was perhaps better credited to former OC Andy Kotelnicki. Expect the Jayhwaks to be in another one-score contest and again fail to emerge with the win. Forks up!
- Austin: The Jayhawks can’t seem to finish games. Despite the poor record, Kansas could easily be 5-0 behind better quarterback play from former Heisman candidate Jalon Daniels. I’m rolling with Rock Chalk finally getting a win over a better-than-anticipated Arizona State squad.
- Drew: Jalon Daniels has not looked good this season and Arizona State has been surprisingly very fun. I’ll take Arizona State at home.
- Russ: It’s pretty wild that Kansas is the underdog here, but it’s been a brutal start to the season for the Jayhawks. However, I think Kansas finally gets one here.
- Wyatt: I think the Sun Devils used the Bye week efficiently and get a win against the Jayhawks at home.
- CFB 25: KU devours the Devils, keeping ASU off the board until garbage time.
Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arizona Wildcats – Sat. Oct. 5, 10:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: This should be an awesome Big 12 After Dark game, expect a wild one in the desert. The Red Raiders have found ways to win its first two league games, but leaving Lubbock for the first time in conference play, TTU falls to the Wildcats.
- Austin: I’ve been holding off on Texas Tech winning games for quite some time now and it’s come back to bite me. However, I’ll stick with my guns and pick Arizona to win a close one at home.
- Drew: I think this will be a very high scoring game and Texas Tech has looked much better in their last two games. That said, I do not think they will be able to slow down Tet McMillan and Arizona’s win at Utah last week was very impressive. I’ll take the Wildcats.
- Russ: Noah Fifita and Tet McMillan put on a show to beat the Red Raiders.
- Wyatt: Arizona wins in a vintage Big 12 shoot out.
- CFB 25: Former Frog Javeon Wilcox knocks down the Fifita pass at the goal line and Tech steals the win 21-14
Top National Games
Syracuse Orange at UNLV Rebels – Fri. Oct. 4, 8:00 PM, FS1
- Anthony: College football taking over Friday nights this season has been fun and this one should be another thriller. Now with a week of tape on UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams, Syracuse finds a way to take it in Vegas
- Austin: What a season it’s been for UNLV. After the NIL debacle, the Rebels took it to Fresno State. I don’t think ex-quarterback Matthew Sluka made too big of a difference—UNLV extends its perfect start.
- Drew: UNLV’s story has been arguably the most entertaining to follow this season and I have them continuing the positive momentum with a win over Syracuse at home.
- Russ: With quarterback Matthew Sluka sitting out, I think the Orange win here.
- Wyatt: I think UNLV wins it at home.
- CFB 25: Rebels escape with a 14-13 win
Missouri Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies – Sat. Oct. 5, 11:00 AM, ABC
- Anthony: Ranked in the Top 10 purely based on conference affiliation, Mizzou’s current strength of schedule ranks 120th nationally and they needed strokes of good fortune to escape against BC & Vandy. The “He can’t keep getting away with this!” team of 2024 does it again, leaving College Station undefeated.
- Austin: Missouri. Texas A&M is another school I’ve strayed away from, but this time, they’re facing the superior squad in the Tigers.
- Drew: Picking against A&M at home feels dangerous but after they failed to crack 300 yards of offense last week against Arkansas, I do not think they have the weapons to keep up with Missouri. I’ll take the Tigers in this one.
- Russ: This feels like a toss-up, but I like the firepower Missouri has on offense with Theo Wease and Luther Burden. Give me the Tigers.
- Wyatt: I think this game will be surprisingly close. However, I think Mizzou beats the Aggies on the road.
- CFB 25: Weigman throws a TD and runs for a TD as the Aggies win 24-10
SMU Mustangs at Louisville Cardinals – Sat. Oct. 5, 11:00 AM, ESPN
- Anthony: The BYU loss is looking less ugly and the Mustangs have crushed its last two opponents, which had been expected to be its two toughest games on the season. After winning this one, the Ponies will cruise to the ACC Championship game.
- Austin: The Mustangs’ new offensive approach has paid dividends in recent weeks. I have the Ponies upsetting the Cardinals.
- Drew: I think Louisville has the quarterback advantage in this game and that combined with the Cardinals playing at home will be enough to knock off the Ponies.
- Russ: I think Louisville -7 is giving the Cardinals too much credit. However, I think they hang on to beat the Mustangs.
- Wyatt: I think SMU beats Louisville and climbs into the AP Top 25. I’m not sure if I am mentally prepared for SMU to be ranked.
- CFB 25: SMU kicker Collin Rogers misses a 53-yard FG to give Louisville a 35-33 win.
Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio State Buckeyes – Sat. Oct. 5, 2:30 PM, CBS
- Anthony: OSU’s first game against a team with a pulse before the showdown with Oregon in 2 weeks. Buckeyes roll with ease.
- Austin: It’s Ohio State until proven otherwise.
- Drew: Ohio State by a lot.
- Russ: Buckeyes take down the Hawkeyes at home.
- Wyatt: Ohio State. In my opinion, they are leagues ahead of anyone else in the Big 10.
- CFB 25: OSU’s Jayden Fielding makes a 51-yard walk-off field goal to give the Buckeyes a 17-14 win.
Ole Miss Rebels at South Carolina Gamecocks – Sat. Oct. 5, 2:30 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: Lane Kiffin takes a break from making Tik Toks to gameplan for an SEC opponent. Rebels win.
- Austin: South Carolina has a knack for upsets, but they don’t get it done this time around. Ole Miss wins a nail-biter.
- Drew: I think Ole Miss’s loss to Kentucky will serve as a wake up call for the Rebels and they pick up a win on the road over South Carolina.
- Russ: Rebels recover from a stunning loss against Kentucky to beat the Gamecocks.
- Wyatt: Ole Miss bounces back after dropping a game to Kentucky.
- CFB 25: Rebels blast to a 21-7 win
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Nebraska Cornhuskers – Sat. Oct. 5, 3:00 PM, FS1
- Anthony: Think I’ve gotten the Cornhuskers wrong every week. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is one of my favorite players in college football and I’m taking the Scarlet Knights. Congrats to Nebraska.
- Austin: The Scarlet Knights defeated the Washington Huskies for their first Big 10 win of the year. But the song of victory doesn’t last long as Nebraska conquers Rutgers by multiple scores.
- Drew: Greg Schiano has Rutgers playing very well but I have the Cornhuskers winning this one at home.
- Russ: Dylan Raiola shines as Rutgers suffers its first loss.
- Wyatt: I have been surprised by Rutgers this year. However, I think Raiola does just enough for the Cornhusker to win it in Lincoln.
- CFB 25: Kaliakmanis throws 2 TDs and Rutgers wins it 24-10
Michigan Wolverines at Washington Huskies – Sat. Oct. 5, 6:30 PM, NBC
- Anthony: The B1G gifted Michigan the win last week with an awful call to overturn a Minnesota onside kick recovery. The Wolverines run game and defense are just too good and will suffocate UW in the Natty rematch.
- Austin: Michigan is a shell of its former self after losing J.J. McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. Even though they’re not a contender, they’ll put away the Huskies with relative ease.
- Drew: I have Michigan winning in a rock fight.
- Russ: I’m not sure how sustainable Michigan’s offense is right now. Huskies with the win here.
- Wyatt: I think Michigan wins it on the road.
- CFB 25: An ugly slugfest goes to the Wolverines 10-7
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Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Austin: 71%
- Russ: 68%
- Drew: 68%
- Wyatt: 66%
- CFB25: 58%
- Anthony: 57%