The staff predicts the week’s action in the Big 12 and the top games of the week
Big 12
BYU Cougars at UCF Knights – Sat. Oct. 26, 2:30 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: While the Knights are capable of burning this whole thing to the ground, and nearly did so to ISU last week, and the cross-country travel could be an issue, the Cougars have that team of destiny feel. BYU finds a way to keep the magic alive in the Magic Kingdom.
- Austin: The Cougars defense has been its calling card this season. The Knights are fairly one-dimensional, which should help BYU’s defense a step further. I’m siding with the Cougars.
- Drew: Vegas has UCF as a favorite in this game which makes me a bit nervous but the Knights have not shown anything positive in their last four games. Give me BYU.
- Russ: BYU beats the Knights to stay unbeaten.
- Wyatt: The BYU defense does just enough to control RJ Harvey and UCF’s ground game. BYU defeats the Knights and remain unbeaten on the season.
- CFB 25: The Knights pull the major upset thanks to a Colton Boomer 39-yard FG with 37 seconds to play, winning 13-10
Oklahoma State Cowboys at Baylor Bears – Sat. Oct. 26, 2:30 PM, ESPN+
- Anthony: It was heartbreak for the Cowboys on Friday night in Provo and stunning dominance from the Bears on Saturday in Lubbock. This might be the toughest pick of the week. I’ll take OK State to finally earn its first Big 12 win this season.
- Austin: Certainly a weird one here. The Cowboys are one of the most disappointing teams, while the Bears have been better than expected. Baylor wins a high-scoring affair in Waco.
- Drew: Sawyer Robertson diced up a bad Texas Tech defense on the road last week and Oklahoma States defense has not looked good this season. I’ll take the Bears in a shootout.
- Russ: Oklahoma State once again has major issues at the quarterback position. Baylor wins a close one at home.
- Wyatt: I think that this game is a toss up. It would be hard for me to imagine a world where Oklahoma State is 0-5 in Big 12 play, but the Bears looked good in their dominant win against Texas Tech. I’ll take Baylor to carry the momentum from last week and get the win against the Pokes.
- CFB 25: Pokes dominate 31-17 in Waco as Alan Bowman throws 2 TDs and Ollie Gordon rushes for 144 yards
West Virginia Mountaineers at Arizona Wildcats – Sat. Oct. 26, 5:00 PM, FS1
- Anthony: Two teams that have me like the Tyra Banks We Were All Rooting For You gif. When Garrett Greene is on, it’s incredibly fun; when Fifita & McMillan are in sync, it’s electric. But both squads have let college football down this season. No idea who is actually the better team, but with WVU coming off consecutive weeks getting mauled by ISU & KSU and now traveling across the country, the Wildcats find the fireworks and the win column.
- Austin: Arizona is the more talented team…right? Well, that’s what we once thought, but the Wildcats sure are struggling. However, so are the Mountaineers. This game is truly a toss-up, yet I’ll choose Arizona to win.
- Drew: Arizona has had three straight very poor showings since beating Utah on the road but I think Tet McMillan has a big game to get the Wildcats back to .500 with a win over WVU.
- Russ: Arizona has underwhelmed this season, but I think the Wildcats win here.
- Wyatt: Another game that could go either way. Both teams have struggled this season. I think the Wildcats take it at home.
- CFB 25: Wildcats QB Noah Fifita gets his mojo back with 375 yards and 4 TDs as Arizona wins 34-24
Utah Utes at Houston Cougars – Sat. Oct. 26, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
- Anthony: No chance Utah is actually as bad as TCU made it look right? Isaac Wilson will look like BYU Zach Wilson in this one instead of Jets Zach Wilson. Utes end their losing streak with a blowout.
- Austin: If these two squads combined to score more than 30 points—color me impressed. In a low-scoring affair, I’m rocking with Utah.
- Drew: I picked Houston last week against Kansas thinking they would ride the hot hand in Zeon Chriss and instead they gave Donovan Smith the majority of the snaps at quarterback and lost. I’ll take the more talented team in Utah to win in a rock fight.
- Russ: Utah is all out of sorts right now, with its offensive coordinator parting ways and a true freshman quarterback running the show instead of Cam Rising. Nevertheless, Utah’s defense comes up big and the Utes squeak one out.
- Wyatt: I think Utah wins in Houston, where Utah only needs to score 10 points to win.
- CFB 25: Utes romp 27-10 behind Micah Bernard’s 130 yards and a TD.
Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats – Sat. Oct. 26, 7:00 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: Avery Johnson has shaken off whatever rust he may have had and the Wildcats have looked very dangerous the last few weeks. K-State takes the Sunflower Showdown
- Austin: Maybe a bout against Houston was what Jalon Daniels needed to revive his stock. Despite the huge win a week ago, the Jayhawks don’t come away victorious in Manhattan. Kansas State wins.
- Drew: I’ll take Kansas State in a close one here. Kansas looked improved last week but I think that was more of a product of playing a bad Houston team than anything else.
- Russ: Kansas State is my pick to win the Big 12. I think the Wildcats are the best team in the conference and they’ll beat the Jayhawks here.
- Wyatt: Kansas looked better last week, but that was against a bad Houston Team. Kansas State takes care of business, and wins handedly.
- CFB 25: K-State survives in a 3OT thriller 46-44 after the Jayhawks scored 28 in the 4th quarter to tie it
Cincinnati Bearcats at Colorado Buffaloes – Sat. Oct. 26, 9:15 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: A pair of 5-2 squads looking to secure bowl eligibility in October and push towards the top of the conference standings….just as we all predicted. It’s possible Shedeur torches this secondary, but I think the Bearcats have a strong offense and are flying too far under the radar. They’ll get everyone’s attention with the win in Boulder in what could be a wild one to close out the Week 9 slate in Big 12 After Dark.
- Austin: Colorado is an odd team, no telling statistic wows when assessing the Buffalo. However, Colorado employs two of the nation’s best players and they get it done at home to improve the Buffaloes’ record to 6-2.
- Drew: Colorado has been playing well recently and I think that continues in what should be a fun game Saturday night.
- Russ: Shedeur Sanders has another big game to lead the Buffaloes over the Bearcats.
- Wyatt: I think the Buffs move to 6-2 on the season. Cincinnati is an underrated team, but I do not think Colorado drops this one at home.
- CFB 25: Buffs stomp the Bearcats 41-29 thanks to Shedeur Sanders’ 403 yards and 3 TDs, completing 77% of passes
Top National Games
Boise State Broncos at UNLV Rebels – Fri. Oct. 25, 9:30 PM, CBS Sports Net
- Anthony: UNLV OC Brennan Marion is going to be distracted by all the calls from Oklahoma trying to get him to take over the Sooners offense after firing Seth Littrell. Ashton Jeanty’s Heisman campaign gets another big boost and the Broncos take another step towards the CFP.
- Austin: Can anyone bet against Boise State and Ashton Jeanty? Even though the Rebels are a fierce competitor, the Broncos continue to roll.
- Drew: I can’t pick against Ashton Jeanty. Give me Boise State.
- Russ: Ashton Jeanty is an absolute monster and he leads the Broncos to a win here.
- Wyatt: Boise State wins by at least 2 scores, and Ashton Jeanty has 200+ yards.
- CFB 25: A high scoring affair in Vegas goes to the Broncos 41-27 thanks to a pair of interception touchdowns.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Navy Midshipmen – Sat. Oct. 26, 11:00 AM, ABC
- Anthony: Unfortunately, Navy being undefeated and ranked going into this one only serves as a further boost to Notre Dame’s nonsensical CFP resume, having already lost at home to a terrible NIU team and refusing to participate in a conference. Irish take it with ease to maintain its fraudulent relevance.
- Austin: Who would’ve thought this game would be a ranked matchup? Despite Navy’s status in the polls, Notre Dame wins handily.
- Drew: Army and Navy both being undefeated in week nine is a very cool storyline but I have Navy’s run ending this week in a blowout loss to Notre Dame.
- Russ: Fighting Irish take down the Midshipmen in a battle of ranked opponents.
- Wyatt: Notre Dame beats Navy on the road. It’s a shame, because I was rooting for an undefeated Army vs. Navy game at the end of the year, but I don’t see Navy pulling this one out.
- CFB 25: Navy hung around for a bit, but the Irish pull away 34-13 behind Riley Leonard’s 3 TDs.
Illinois Illini at Oregon Ducks – Sat. Oct. 26, 2:30 PM, CBS
- Anthony: It’s a Top 20 Tilt, so it gets some attention, but this game is over before the Illini even get on the flight to Eugene. Ducks dominate.
- Austin: While a victory over Michigan is impressive, this version of the Wolverines aren’t at all similar to last season’s nation champions. Illinois is a quality team, but Oregon is just too good.
- Drew: Bret Bielema has Illinois playing solid football and their offense is very fun to watch but Oregon is just too talented. Give me the Ducks.
- Russ: As much as I’d like to root for the Fighting Illini as an Illinois resident, Oregon should win this game handily.
- Wyatt: Dillon Gabriel has an amazing game in this one, and the Ducks win by multiple scores at home.
- CFB 25: Ducks rush for five touchdowns and win with ease, 41-19
Missouri Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide – Sat. Oct. 26, 2:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: Mizzou can lose this game and win out, finishing 10-2 with losses in its only meaningful games and will be granted an invite to the Playoff. The Tide take it, but the Tigers keep it interesting long enough to call it a “quality loss” in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Austin: Alabama won’t lose two in a row—bookmark it. The Missouri Tigers are too shaky to count on. While the same can be said for Alabama, the Crimson Tide are too talented to lose consecutive games.
- Drew: Luther Burden has had a quiet start to the season for his standards and I do not see Alabama being knocked out of the playoff race this early. The Tide win this one at home.
- Russ: I’ve lost too much money picking Missouri to win games this season. No more. Alabama takes this SEC matchup.
- Wyatt: Mizzou has not been as good as many people thought they would be this year. No way Alabama drops 2 in a row, especially when they they play the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.
- CFB 25: A high-scoring shootout goes to the Tide 44-27, even as Brady Cook throws over 300 yards with 4 TDs.
LSU Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies – Sat. Oct. 26, 6:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: This one is a banger. The last two teams unbeaten in SEC play and neither is really even considered among the top 4 in the league. Brian Kelly picks up his signature win with the Tigers to set up a Game of the Century next week vs. Bama in Baton Rouge
- Austin: After some early season hiccups, the Tigers and Aggies are rolling. I’ve bet against Texas A&M time and time again. And, you know what? I’ll continue to do so here. Go Tigers.
- Drew: Kyle Field will be rocking for this one but I do not think Connor Weigman and the Texas A&M offense will be able to keep up with Nussmeier and the Tigers. LSU wins a fun one.
- Russ: LSU is starting to roll after outlasting Ole Miss in overtime and beating Arkansas handily. I’ll take the Tigers to gain a signature win by a narrow margin.
- Wyatt: LSU wins on the road in a thriller.
- CFB 25: Tigers take it 28-20 as the A&M comeback falls short
SMU Mustangs at Duke Blue Devils – Sat. Oct. 26, 7:00 PM, ACC Network
- Anthony: I think Duke will keep this one within one score, but the Ponies remain on the path to the ACC Title, hoping Clemson or Miami drop one along the way since they do not play each other.
- Austin: SMU. The Mustangs are put on an offensive clinic as of late and Kevin Jennings looks like a far superior quarterback than he did when the Horned Frogs came to town. SMU wins, scoring 30-plus points once again.
- Drew: The SMU offense is humming right now and I don’t think Duke will be able to keep up. I’ll take the Mustangs here.
- Russ: Shout out to Duke for winning me money against Florida State, but the Blue Devils are well below the Mustangs offensively. Duke’s D will do its best, but SMU wins here.
- Wyatt: Both teams are entering this game at 6-1. However, I think SMU is the much better squad. SMU wins by 2 scores.
- CFB 25: Duke’s attempt at a game tying score is intercepted and the SMU dream season rolls on with the 30-23 win.
Frogs O’ War Pick ‘Em Leaderboard
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Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Austin: 66%
- Russ: 64%
- Wyatt: 64%
- Drew: 61%
- Anthony: 60%
- CFB25: 53%