Standings after two weeks
1. Chris Williams: 8-6
2. Adam Gray, Brent Blum, Jared Stansbury, Kirk Haaland, Rob Gray: 6-8
7. Garrett Kroeger, Jeff Woody: 3-11
Week Three picks are in!
CF Publisher – Chris Williams
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati – First road game. The hook. Houston wins but Cinci backdoors them and makes it respectable. Bearcats cover.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville – Give me Florida State. They are loaded at the non-sexy positions, mainly up front and on defense. Love the running back Cook too. Noles win and cover.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5)- I won’t take Iowa State to cover (or win) until this team proves something, anything to me. TCU 49, Iowa State 13.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3) – Oregon is down (I think). Nebraska is up (I think). Huskers win. Huskers cover.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss – Bama lost to Ole Miss last year, right? Wait, so Nick Saban has that to use as motivation? ROLL TIDE.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – Ohio State is one of the youngest teams in the sport. Norman will not treat the Buckeyes well. OU covers and wins outright.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5) – Cardinal by 10.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU – Cougars win outright.
Texas (-7.5) @ California – I’m all in on Texas, who might be the best team in the Big 12. Longhorns win this one, BIG.
CF Senior Writer- Rob Gray
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati- The Fighting Tom Herman’s will steamroll the Bearcats. Greg Ward is expected back and that spells “easy cover.” 550-plus yards for the Cougars, who stay on track for crashing the power five’s playoff party.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville- The Cardinals are pretty darn good and I’ve found the ’Noles to be underwhelming. I think Louisville not only covers but wins. Lamar Jackson is the real deal — and a nightmare for any defense.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5)- As much as I’d like to, I can’t pick the Cyclones to cover — or win — until they shine in the fundamentals. I expect the offense to put some points up, but will take the Horned Frogs to cover easily.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3)- Big Red ready for a big game. Fellow senior Jared Stansbury will be on hand, so that should give the Huskers enough added juice to win by a touchdown. So Nebraska covers.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss- As good as ‘Bama is — and I believe it’s the best team in the country — Ole Miss is no pushover at home. Just ask Nick Saban, who fell victim to a Rebels’ upset two season ago. That won’t happen, but Tide won’t cover.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – Do-or-die time for the Sooners usually brings out the best in them. It’s just not very often that time comes this early in the season. Boomer! J.T. Barrett gets picked three times and Baker Mayfield has a big day. Sooners score the upset.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5)- The Cardinal have Christian McCaffrey. The Trojans still aren’t legit — as the thumping they took in Tuscaloosa illustrated. Formula for a beatdown. I’ll take Stanford to easily cover here.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU- This should be a sneaky good game. Tough start to the season for UCLA’s Josh Rosen, who’s thrown just two touchdowns to three picks. Oddly, I see a defensive battle. Cougars might win, but they won’t cover.
Texas (-7.5) @ California- I’m a believer in the Burnt Orange. They’re back and Cal’s not that good in my opinion. Tyrone Swoopes will easily pass the 3,000 career passing yards mark, though this will be won on the ground. Horns to cover.
CF Staff Writer- Jared Stansbury
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati- I get that this game is in Cincinnati, but this line seems low to me. Houston wins by two touchdowns or more.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville- Welcome to the spotlight, Mr. Lamar Jackson. Louisville gets their biggest win since…. ever?
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5)- I think that Iowa State will show some improvement in this one from where they were last weekend in Kinnick Stadium. That said, TCU’s offense and quarterback Kenny Hill will be too much to keep this close. Horned Frogs cover.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3)- Nebraska has hosted only three ranked non-conference opponents since the turn of the millennium. They have not beat a ranked non-conference opponent at home since Notre Dame in 2001. That ends on Saturday when Mike Riley sends his old arch-nemisis home with an L by a touchdown.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss- Give me Alabama by all the touchdowns until someone can prove they belong on the same field as the Tide.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma- I heard Urban Meyer was on the phone with Tom Hermann for over an hour earlier this week. I wonder what that was about? Buckeyes cover in Norman.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5)- Has USC even recovered from getting rolled over by the Crimson Tide? Doesn’t matter anyway. Stanford wins and covers easily.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU- I don’t pick against BYU! Okay, that might not be true, but I’m picking them here.
Texas (-7.5) @ California- Screw it, I’ll take Cal.
CF Columnist- Brent Blum
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati- This game could end up as a Classic on the Big 12 Apple TV app in three years. Cincinnati 31 Houston 28.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville– Things get nutty. Louisville 35 Florida State 34.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5)- I’m just not sure this sets up well at all for the good guys. TCU 47 Iowa State 17.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3)- Beware of the Nebraska is back posts from that Husker friend you haven’t heard from on Facebook in 15 years. Nebraska 27 Oregon 21.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss- Ole Miss gets feisty. Alabama 27 Ole Miss 24.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma- The Big 12 needs this is a big way, the worst way. Oklahoma 34 Ohio State 27.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5)- Stanford 24 USC 14.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU- BYU 30 UCLA 24.
Texas (-7.5) @ California- Cal ends the Texas buzz. Cal 37 Texas 31.
Former Cyclone running back and CF analyst- Jeff Woody
Ok, so apparently I’m bad at picking games this year? Good to know. Don’t take these picks, as I am rolling at about 15% accuracy.
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati – Houston is one of the top 4 teams in college football. The only thing that should give anyone pause is the health of Greg Ward. But the team speed and discipline of the Cougs is way too high.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville – Noles. This is essentially a pick ’em. With the quality of play-makers at QB for both teams and health of FSU’s defense, I have a feeling this is going to be a boat race, and that’s totally fine with me.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5) – I’ve picked Iowa State for almost every single game in the past 3 years. Until I see some type of improvement in the mistakes that were made in weeks one and two, it’s hard for me to feel like any outcome is going to be different. The improvement is going to happen sometime, but I have 3 correct picks in 2 weeks, so this is kind of reverse jinxing.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3) – Huskers. Oregon has a ton of raw talent and speed and a stud tailback. But traveling 2 time zones east and playing in a ravenous crowd is really tough to do, and I don’t love their QB’s decision making.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss – Tide. This one has the biggest chance for an upset, but Bama is gonna be maaaaaaaaaaaaaad when they kick off, and Ole miss may not be able to respond.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – OU. Ohio State has throttled two bad teams, so it’s hard to say how good they are. OU has played a quality opponent, so they have great film to teach and learn off of.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5) – Cardinal – Is Bama that good or is USC that bad? I’m gonna go with both, and the best player in America on the road doesn’t really bode well for answering that question.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU – NEVER DOUBT TAYSUM HILL! COOOOOUGS
Texas (-7.5) @ California – Texas – This is the perfect opportunity for a letdown game. Texas has won 2 weeks in a row, are ranked highly, and finally have some good press clippings. If they start to read them, Cal is good enough to pick them off. I don’t think it happens, but it could. Hell, after the first two weeks, anything can happen.
Stat Guy- Kirk Haaland
As always, the prediction machine at cfbanalytics.com is helping me with my picks.
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati – Cinci loses but covers at home.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville – Louisville covers and wins straight up.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5) – I think the staff is really struggling to find things that work offensively and when they do things have not panned out with either inaccurate throws or extremely untimely penalties. It may take some big wins in the turnover game but I think Iowa State shows signs of life and covers but still loses in a mostly comfortable win for TCU.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3) – Cornhuskers cover in a big win in Lincoln.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss – Bama wins, but they don’t cover the ten point spread.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – Sooners get back on track and get the win in Norman.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5) – Stanford wins but the Trojans keep it inside the seven point line.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU – Another home dog gets the straight up win at home. Cougars.
Texas (-7.5) @ California – Bears cover.
Director of sales- Adam Gray
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati – Greg Ward will be back in the game and he’s the difference between Houston covering and not IMO. I’ll take the Cougars 37-24
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville – Everyone is on the Louisville bandwagon and rightfully so with the outstanding play of Lamar Jackson, but I think the Noles get after him early and often. This will be a close game all the way until the end with the Noles wearing them down and winning 37-31.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5) – Until we see otherwise, you can’t take Iowa State, even getting 23.5. TCU 42-17
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3) – I can’t believe I’m going to do it, but give me Nebraska in Memorial stadium for what feels like their biggest game in a LONG TIME. Nebraska 27-20
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss – Last year was a fluke game for Ole Miss and Nick Saban hasn’t lost to the same school 3 straight years since he was at Michigan State. So I’ll take the Bama, on the road to demolish Ole Miss. Bama 42-20
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – Must win for Oklahoma and a team that has plenty of talent lead me to believe they pull off the win at home. 34-28 OU.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5) – Give me Stanford.
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU –Go Cougars
Texas (-7.5) @ California – Hook’em Horns.
CF Intern- Garrett Kroeger
Houston (-7.5) @ Cincinnati – Remember when Cincy went to the Sugar Bowl? Ya, it has been awhile. Greg Ward, Tom Herman and the Cougars destroy the Bearcats.
Florida State (-3) @ Louisville – I love Lamar Jackson and all, but Noles win.
Iowa State @ TCU (-23.5) –Turn away Cyclone Fanatics. The Cyclones are gonna get murdered.
Oregon @ Nebraska (-3) – God I hope the Cornhuskers lose just so I rub it in Stansbury’s face. Ducks.
Alabama (-10) @ Ole Miss – I hate Bama. Go Swag Kelly! Rebels.
Ohio State (-2.5) @ Oklahoma – I love ya Baker, but Ohio State is more talented. Give me the Buckeyes.
USC @ Stanford (-7.5) – Christian McCaffrey. That is all. Cardinal
UCLA (-3.5) @ BYU – Chosen Rosen is overrated. Cougars.
Texas (-7.5) @ California – The Longhorns are for real. Give me Texas.
