Staff Standings after 3 weeks
- Jared Stansbury, 12-11
- Chris Williams, Kirk Haaland and Rob Gray, 11-12
- Brent Blum, 10-13
- Adam Gray, 9-14
- Jeff Woody, 7-16
- Garrett Kroeger, 6-17
WEEK 4 PICKS ARE IN!
CF Publisher, Chris Williams
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5) – I loved the improvement I saw from this team last week. Clones win 30-17.
Iowa (-13.5) at Rutgers – Rutgers is really, really bad. I like a bunch of the guys on that staff but following its first regular season loss in over a calendar year, Iowa will impose its will on the Scarlet Knights.
Wisconsin at Michigan State (-5.5) – My lock of the week. Wiscy has QB problems and we all have a false sense of how good they are after that LSU game. Take Sparty here and be confident.
BYU at West Virginia (-6.5) – West Virginia always plays its best ball during this time of the year and continues to slip the later it gets. Mountaineers by 10.
Florida @ Tennessee (-6.5) – Vols by a touchdown.
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (-6.5) – Oklahoma State, OUTRIGHT.
Stanford (-3) @ UCLA – UCLA is a lot of hype right now and they really haven’t done anything. I’ll take Stanford.
Arkansas @ Texas A&M (-6) – I’ll take Kevin Sumlin to cover.
CF Senior Writer, Rob Gray
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5)- The underdog Spartans gave up 10 sacks last week. 10! If Demond Tucker and Jhaustin Thomas aren’t celebrating multi-sack games, look out. Kenny Potter leads a solid San Jose State offense, but I expect Mike Warren to rush for 100-plus and ISU to cover while topping the 30-point mark.
Iowa (-13.5) at Rutgers- The sentimental side of me wants former Iowa Staters Chris Ash (head coach) and Shane Burnham (defensive line coach) to keep this close. The rational side actually concurs. Hawks struggle at times on both side of the ball and can’t pull off the cover (though will likely win).
Wisconsin at Michigan State (-5.5)- What did we learn when Wisky shocked LSU to open the season? More about LSU (as in no QB) than the Badgers. Both teams boast elite rushing defenses, so an extra takeaway will be needed for Sparty to cover. They’ll get it.
BYU at West Virginia (-6.5)- Future Big 12 rivalry? Who knows, but I expect an entertaining game. I have a hard time believing the Mountaineers’ defense can bottle up Taysom Hill, but I’m also convinced WVU can score. Give me the men from Morgantown to at least cover.
Florida @ Tennessee (-6.5)- This is a head scratcher to me. Yes, the Gators haven’t beaten anyone worth a lick, but that Alex Anzalone-led defense is legit. Not buying the Vols as approaching elite yet. Give me the Gators to at least cover, and maybe glide off with a narrow win.
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (-6.5)- Yes, the rightfully scandal-shamed Bears have looked inconsistent and sluggish at times, but you know what? They still field a top-10 offense. Seth Russell and K.D. Cannon connect early and often and Baylor covers comfortably.
Stanford (-3) @ UCLA- Christian McCaffrey deserves all the hype he’s getting, but the Cardinal look dominant because of yet another great defense. Still, I think Josh Rosen could have a breakout game at home, so I’m picking the Bruins to cover, if not win outright.
Arkansas @ Texas A&M (-6)- The Hogs seem solid if unspectacular on both sides of the ball as their 3-0 start attests. But one stat stands out: 3rd down defense. Arkansas ranks 108th there. That bites you eventually. It will vs. the Trevor Knight-led Aggies in College Station, who cover.
CF Staff Writer, Jared Stansbury
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5) – Joel Lanning runs for two touchdowns and Iowa State wins 31-20.
CF Columnist, Brent Blum
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5)- The good guys could really use a nice, comfortable W. I think they get one. Iowa State 31 San Jose State 20.
Iowa (-13.5) at Rutgers- Just a classic B1G showdown in Piscataway. Backdoor cover possibility. Iowa 30 Rutgers 17.
Wisconsin at Michigan State (-5.5)- Wisconsin has a really good defense. I’m not sold on Michigan State’s offense. This is a FG game. Michigan State 21 Wisconsin 20.
BYU at West Virginia (-6.5)- Fun fact: Des Moines is closer to Mexico City than Provo, Utah (home of BYU) is to Morgantown, West Virginia. So that would be an entertaining Big 12 travel partner. West Virginia 27 BYU 21.
Florida @ Tennessee (-6.5)- UT 27 Florida 13.
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (-6.5)- Baylor is the mystery shot at the local bar, never trust the mystery shot at the local bar. Oklahoma State 41 Baylor 35.
Stanford (-3) @ UCLA- This seems like the place Stanford loses their annual game that keeps them out of the Playoff. UCLA 30 Stanford 20.
Arkansas @ Texas A&M (-6)- The last time Paul Rhoads was in College Station, Bo Williams(!!!) had a TD run in Iowa State’s 35-10 loss. A&M 34 Arkansas 24.
Former Cyclone running back and CF analyst, Jeff Woody
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5) – Cyclones. Because I have missed every single Iowa State game, so at some point I have to be right, right?
Stat Guy, Kirk Haaland
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5) – Iowa State was so bad the first two weeks that the football picking machine atcfbanalytics.com has San Jose State winning. I don’t really buy that, but rules are rules so I’ll pick the Spartans to cover.
Iowa (-13.5) at Rutgers – Iowa bounces back with a win, but not enough to cover.
Wisconsin at Michigan State (-5.5) – We’ve got Michigan State winning a tight one, Badgers cover.
BYU at West Virginia (-6.5) – BYU with another tough game, it will likely be another close one with the Cougars covering.
Florida @ Tennessee (-6.5) – Our ratings are high on Florida and we’ve got the Gators winning this one outright.
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (-6.5) – Baylor covers this one at home over the Pokes.
Stanford (-3) @ UCLA – I’ll take the home underdog.
Arkansas @ Texas A&M (-6) – The computer says the Aggies by 3, Arkansas covers.
Director of sales, Adam Gray
San Jose State at Iowa State (-6.5) – Think this is a must win for Campbell and his staff to keep the fan base somewhat happy. Clones 26-17
Iowa (-13.5) at Rutgers – This screams 24 point Iowa win to me.
Wisconsin at Michigan State (-5.5) – MSU has the better coaching staff and is playing at home. I’ll take them by 13.
BYU at West Virginia (-6.5) – BYU is battle tested and they give WVU fits. BYU with the upset.
Florida @ Tennessee (-6.5) – can either team score in this game? It’s at Tennessee so I’ll take them 20-10 but don’t love it.
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (-6.5) – Flipped a coin. Oklahoma State
Stanford (-3) @ UCLA – UCLA just got done with a physical road win against BYU and I think that prepares them for Stanford. UCLA by 7.
Arkansas @ Texas A&M (-6) – A&M by 13
