WEEK TWO PICKS ARE IN.
CF Publisher, Chris Williams
Ohio @ Kansas (-3) – The O/U for Kansas wins on the season was 1.5. The Jayhawks rolled Rhode Island in week one. I’ll give them a 2-0 start and a comfortable cover vs. the Bobcats.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5) – Tennessee struggled in week one but is better than its current national perception. Vols by two touchdowns.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5) – Gary Patterson is one of the top coaches in America and he will prove it on Saturday. I’ll take the favorite but am nervous about the hook.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3) – Texas Tech’s defense will get a real test. Sun Devils were one of the most underachieving teams in the nation a year ago. I think they win this by double digits.
BYU @ Utah (-3.5) – BYU wins outright.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15) – Normally I take Iowa State to cover in this game. I just worry a lot about the offensive line though. I’ve obsessed over it all summer long and last Saturday, my worst nightmares came true. We should see significant improvement this weekend but how much? I’ll take Iowa by 17 and hope like hell I am wrong.
CF Senior Writer, Rob Gray
Ohio @ Kansas (-3)-Good lord: KU could move to 2-0 against an underwhelming MAC team. Will it happen? No. Ohio’s quarterback Greg Windham throws for 400-plus yards and the Bobcats eke out a road win against an improved, yet still woeful Jayhawks team.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5)-One of the few matchups for this week accompanied by intrigue. The Vols needed late overtime heroics to stave off an Appalachian State upset bid last week. Think the Hokies take this one down to the wire, so no cover for Tennessee.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5)-I love that Wally Burnham is an “analyst” on the Hogs’ staff. Props to him. And this is a bigger game for Bret Bielema (and Paul Rhoads) and Co. than for TCU — despite the Horned Frogs’ struggles vs. South Dakota State. I like TCU to win here, but not to cover.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3)-Patrick Mahomes is really, really good, folks, but late kicks in the state of Arizona for out-of-conference foes can be dicey. The Red Raiders will score points, but won’t pull out the win. Todd Graham’s Sun Devils cover (barely).
BYU @ Utah (-3.5)-You think this is “Hate Week?” Well, yes it is, but nothing splits Utah like a Cougars-Utes matchup. And this time, BYU’s has first-year offensive coordinator Ty Detmer calling plays and Taysom Hill is back. I like the Cougars to score the mild upset.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15)-Beware the big spread. The Cyclones will be a lot better this week — and barring another slew of major miscues — hang in this game until the end. Still Beathard and Co. are too much. Something weird happens, too, because, of course! Hawks likely win, but don’t cover.
CF Staff Writer, Jared Stansbury
Ohio @ Kansas (-3)-Kansas moves to 2-0 for the first time since 2011. Jayhawks win and cover easily.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5)-Tennessee wakes up after App State. Vols roll to a cover.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5)-I think TCU will win this one but give me Arkansas in a 24-21 Frogs win.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3)-I’ll take Arizona State to cover.
BYU @ Utah (-3.5)-BYU goes unfazed by the Iowa State student senates declaration of nonsupport. Cougars roll.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15)-I think Iowa will win this game, but it won’t be by more than two touchdowns. Hawks win 31-21.
CF Columnist, Brent Blum
Ohio @ Kansas (-3)-Kansas starts 2-0 for first time since 2011. Kansas 27 Ohio 21.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5)- What sound does it make when 150,000 people take a nap? Tennessee 20 Virginia Tech 12.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5)- TCU 34 Arkansas 24.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3)- Arizona State runs for 350+ in this one. Arizona State 41 Tech 37.
BYU @ Utah (-3.5)- Utah 31 BYU 24.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15)- Iowa will have just their 3rd sell-out since 2014. Two have come against Iowa State. Iowa 30 Iowa State 21.
Former Cyclone RB and CF Analyst, Jeff Woody
Sooooooo I went 2 for 9. The first week is always rough, but woof. That’s not good.
Ohio @ Kansas (-3) – Kansas, I guess. Kansas looked great at home against a really bad FCS team. This is now a decent MAC school, so there’s still not a lot to know about either one. But I am going out on a limb and saying that Kansas can win by at least 3 points.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5) – Va Tech. Va Tech isn’t what it once was, but they can keep it within 10 on a racetrack in front of a crowd literally the size of the entire population of the Des Moines Metro.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5) – TCU. I know this seems hypocritical, but I feel like TCU’s shoddiness was aberrational. At home, TCU rebounds and wins by more than a TD.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3) – Tech. Texas Tech is one of the best offenses in the country, and one of the best quarterbacks in the nation can travel. The Raiders get to leave one crappy desert for a really nice desert.
BYU @ Utah (-3.5) – Cougs. If Glass-Man Taysom Hill can stay healthy, it’s really hard to pick against BYU in any game. Especially because they never play games on Sundays like Notre Dame tried to do. Never college football the Sabbath.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15) – Cyclones. Iowa hasn’t won at home in the CyHawk game since 2010. Only twice in the last 10 years has this game’s margin of victory exceeded 14 points. The greatest improvement a team can make is between weeks one and two, especially for a young team with a new coaching staff. But most of all, I cannot pick the Hawkeyes in this game.
Stat Guy, Kirk Haaland
Ohio vs Kansas (-3) – I have no wise cracks. Ohio.
BYU vs Utah (-3.5) – Cougars win straight up and cover.
Iowa State vs Iowa (-15) – Iowa State is probably slightly better than the cfbanalytics.com computer says (slightly), and this line is traditionally slightly inflated to the eastern school. Iowa wins comfortably by 13, but ISU covers.
Virginia Tech vs Tennessee (-11) – Tennessee gets the close win, but Hokies cover.
Texas Tech vs Arizona State (-3) – Tough pick, but I think the Tech offense will score enough to cover…and they’ll have to.
Arkansas vs TCU (-7.5) – Frogs looked a little slow out of the gates last week. Bielema loses this one but keeps it close.
Yeah, all dogs, what of it?
Director of Sales, Adam Gray
Ohio @ Kansas (-3) – Still not buying Kansas even after their big win over a horrible Rhode Island program. Ohio wins by 4.
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (-10.5) – Butch Jones has to love that they won that game despite how terrible they played. I expect a focused Vols team and for them to win big! Tennessee by 3 scores.
Arkansas @ TCU (-7.5) – You worry about Arkansas wearing down TCU with the running game a bit, but in the end I don’t think they can keep up. TCU by 13.
Texas Tech @ Arizona State (-3) – Whenever I don’t have a great feel, I take the team that has the best QB. Patrick Mahomes throws one of the best balls in college football and for that I like Tech to win this game outright.
BYU @ Utah (-3.5) – Give me the Utes at home by 4 in a great college football game.
Iowa State @ Iowa (-15) – In this rivalry game if you give me 15 points I will take it all day, every day. Iowa State responds well and puts together a much cleaner game, but unfortunately Iowa’s physical play is to much. Iowa 27-17
CF Intern, Garrett Kroeger
Ohio vs Kansas (-3) –I believe the blue and red chickens of Kansas will win at least three games this season and the chickens will become 2-0 after this match up.
BYU vs Utah (-3.5) – Taysom Hill is a stud. BYU wins.
Iowa State vs Iowa (-15) – Look away Cyclones fans, I think the the school out east will win this game by at least 21 points. But knowing my luck–since I want to win this competition–Iowa State somehow pulls off the upset and costs me a W this week.
Virginia Tech vs Tennessee (-11) – B-O-R-I-N-G game alert! However, Tennessee wins.
Texas Tech vs Arizona State (-3) – The Red Raiders have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. Who does the Sun Devil have? Texas Tech wins.
Arkansas vs TCU (-7.5) – Although the Horned Frogs looked ugly during Week One, they will look much better during Week Two and defeat the Razorbacks.
