Staff Standing after 4 weeks
Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Rob Gray and Brent Blum: 15-16
Kirk Haaland: 14-17
Adam Gray: 12-19
Jeff Woody: 10-21
Garrett Kroeger: 9-22
WEEK 5 PICKS ARE IN!
CF Publisher, Chris Williams
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – Still need to see more from Washington before I will buy the hype. Tonight is a great opportunity. I’ll take Stanford though because they are proven and have played much better competition.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – Brutal game to pick. I have no clue so I’ll play the hook and take OSU by a field goal.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – I actually really like West Virginia here. I’m still not sold that Kansas State is legit and am starting to believe that the Mountaineers could be a sleeper in the Big 12.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – No clue. I’m done seriously picking Wisconsin games this year. They’ve burned me twice this season. Third times a charm. Michigan by two touchdowns.
Oklahoma @ TCU (+3.5) – Lots of tricky lines this week. OU bounces back and wins by 10.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Clemson, only because they are at home. Neutral field or on the road, I’d take Louisville.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Wrong team is favored. Give me the Fighting Leaches.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – Baylor by 17.
CF Senior Writer, Rob Gray
Stanford @ Washington (-3)- The Cardinal piled on late to derail my upset special pick of UCLA last week and that made me angry. So I’ll reward Christian McCaffrey and Co. by picking a solid win and cover this week. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right?
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5)- How naive I was a couple weeks ago to proclaim that the Horns are back. They’re not. They’re also not good enough to pull the upset on a solid Cowboys squad that’s yet to see the best from Mason Rudolph. Pokes.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5)- The Mountaineers have been impressive with their undefeated start to the season, but (insert vampire joke here). The Wildcats are doing little things (like plus-4 in turnover margin) right and hang tight in Morgantown. Might not win, will cover.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5)- My, oh my, BadgerBall crushed me last week. I said I wasn’t a believer. I am now. As good as the Wolverines are, I like Wisconsin to make this a game. Maybe the Badgers even pull off another unexpected ‘W,’ but either way I’m confident they won’t lose by more than 10.
Oklahoma @ TCU (+3.5)- It’s hard to see the Sooners disfavored here, but it makes perfect sense. Also shows that the Big 12 will be a free-for-all until the end. I’ll (gulp) take the Horned Frogs to cover and send OU to its third loss.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson- Is Louisville really a top-five team? We’ll find out against another top-five team on the road. I love Lamar Jackson, but will play it safe by picking the home team. Tigers score the mild upset in Death Valley.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State- Who cares? But Mike Leach — gotta love Mike Leach. Still, the Cougs (shockingly) won this game last season in Eugene. There’s bad blood in this one for the Ducks, who correct course and move to 3-2 with a convincing win.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State- I’m back on the picking-the-Cyclones-to-cover bandwagon, Sure, beating a middling team such as San Jose State like a drum last week may be a blip on the rebuilding radar, but I think ISU will put up some points in this one. Bears almost certainly win, but don’t cover.
CF Staff Writer, Jared Stansbury
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – I’ll buy into Washington in two years. Give me Stanford on the road.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – Mason Rudolph will have a big day in this one. Cowboys by 10.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – Don’t tell Adam Gray, but I’m going to take Kansas State here.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – This line makes no sense to me. Michigan wins at home, but only by a touchdown.
Oklahoma (-3.5) @ TCU – I haven’t been impressed by Oklahoma’s defense, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kenny Hill have a big day. Regardless, Sooners win by a field goal.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Lamar Jackson scores a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to seal a Cardinals win in a classic in Death Valley.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Is Royce Freeman playing? Ah, screw it, I’ll take Wazzu.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – I think Iowa State will move the ball a little bit on the Bears and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game close into the third quarter. That said, I think the Bears have too much in the end. 45-24 Baylor.
CF Columnist, Brent Blum
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – Washington may be the most unknown top ten team in the last decade. Yes, Washington is in the top ten, fooled me as well. Washington 27 Stanford 21.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – I am not a believer in Texas. Oklahoma State 40 Texas 31.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – This will be the sneaky fun game of the week. West Virginia 28 Kansas State 23.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – Michigan 30 Wisconsin 13.
Oklahoma (-3.5) @ TCU – OU gets back on track. OU 38 TCU 31.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Sorry, Mr. Jackson. Clemson’s a bit more for real. Clemson 34 Louisville 30.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Oregon 37 Washington State 33.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – This is Baylor’s first trip outside of Texas, my heart says Iowa State keeps it entertaining. Baylor 38 Iowa State 27.
Former Cyclone running back and CF analyst, Jeff Woody
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – Huskies. I think there is a great team with a big deficiency. Stanford, the Fighting Christian McCaffrey’s, doesn’t have much of an offense outside of #5 making big plays. That’s hard to make work against the top-level teams.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – Cowboys. Texas looked to be back early against Notre Dame. Well, turns out, neither one is what we thought.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – Eers. West Virginia at home is really tough to beat, especially for K State, who is a ball control offense playing against another ball-control offense.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – Badgers. People are sleeping on Wisco with a 10.5 point line. I think Michigan still wins, but 10.5 is a lot.
Oklahoma (-3.5) @ TCU – OU by a lot. Kenny Hill can turn the ball over a LOT when he gets pressure, and as shaky as OU has been, they can get pressure.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Clemson. Best game of the year. Lamar Jackson hasn’t had to play on the road in a really tough road environment, and Clemson is on one of the toughest. I’m so excited to watch this, since my picks are so bad I can just watch for fun.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Ducks. Mathematically they’ll start making those 2 point conversions. then they’ll be really tough to beat. #SaberMetrics #Math
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – ISU. 16.5 is a big line on the road. This Baylor team is not near as god on the road as they are in Waco. This game comes down to turnovers and execution. If ISU doesn’t turn the ball over, they definitely keep this close, and wouldn’t be surprised with a win.However, If they turn it over, they gets run out of the stadium.
Stat Guy, Kirk Haaland
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – Washington takes down the Cardinal at home, covers the three points.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – The Cowboys don’t cover and don’t be shocked if Texas sneaks out the win.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – We’ll find out how real Kansas State is after obliterating two bad teams and keeping it close with Stanford. ‘Cats cover.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – Michigan has likely been the most impressive team in the country so far this season, don’t expect that to change. Wolverines win big and cover.
Oklahoma @ TCU (+3.5) – Oklahoma gets back on track, but not easily…the Sooners win but can’t cover the small spread on the road.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – The team that may battle with Michigan as being one of the most impressive teams of the young season heads to Clemson with the country’s best offense as one point favorites. The Clemson defense is tough but the cfbanalytics.com prediction machine has Louisville winning comfortably.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Oregon is down a bit from previous years, but one point isn’t enough as we have them strolling out of this one with a double digit victory.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – Line is 16.5, our predictions have Baylor by 17. That makes it a close call but what it can’t factor specifically is the improvement we’ve seen from Iowa State in the last two weeks. I’d like to think that the Cyclones can keep this one inside of 17 but I’m sticking with my original method…plus, the Baylor run game will be a problem for the Cyclone defense that is still fighting issues with their run defense. Baylor covers.
Director of Sales, Adam Gray
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – Washington
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – Okie State
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – Kansas State
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – Michigan
Oklahoma @ TCU (-3.5) – TCU
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Clemson
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Oregon
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – Baylor
CF Intern, Garrett Kroeger
Stanford @ Washington (-3) – It’s in Seattle, so give me Washington 31 Stanford 24.
Texas @ Oklahoma State (-2.5) – Okie State rebounds nicely.
Kansas State @ West Virginia (-3.5) – Kansas State has no offense. Give me West Virginia by 10 points.
Wisconsin @ Michigan (-10.5) – Michigan is just to dominant.
Oklahoma (-2.5) @ TCU – The Horned Frogs haven’t impressed me at all this year. Give me the Sooners to win by a touchdown.
Louisville (-1) @ Clemson – Clemson wins on a last second field goal.
Oregon (-1) @ Washington State – Oregon rebounds nicely after that ugly Colorado loss.
Baylor (-16.5) @ Iowa State – Baylor wins by at least three touchdowns. Sorry Cyclones.
