Oct 15, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass the ball against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Staff rankings after 9 weeks
Jared Stansbury, Brent Blum and Garrett Kroeger- 32-35
Chris Williams- 31-35
Rob Gray- 30-36
Kirk Haaland and Jeff Woody- 28-38
Adam Gray- 25-41
CF Publisher, Chris Williams
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – On Sunday when this line came out, I probably would have taken Oklahoma. However with the Joe Mixon news and having watched Iowa State’s tape from last week, I’m convinced the Cyclones will keep this somewhat respectable. I’ll give the Sooners a 17 point win here, but will take an Iowa State cover.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – I’m torn here because I really think that Oklahoma State is way better than most people think. They started to show that last week. But it’s Kansas State – in Manhattan and all they have to do is win by a field goal. The safe play here is to go with Snyder against a suspect rush defense, so that’s what I will do.
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – The only reason you’d consider taking TCU here is because of Gary Patterson’s hatred for Baylor. Having said that, Briles is out and his good friend Jim Grobe is in. Still, I like the Bears by at least two scores.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – I’m not on the Texas bandwagon yet. Not at all. Red Raiders win outright.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – Penn State is overrated and Iowa just isn’t very good. Still, the Hawks find a way to cover.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – I keep picking against Bama and keep getting burnt. Gonna do it again this week too. LSU loses, but only by a touchdown.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – UPSET. UPSET. UPSET. Wildcats beat a worn down Badger team outright.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Just seems like soooo many points. It almost makes me nervous (like Vegas knows something). Give me the points though. That’s way too many to pass up.
CF Senior Writer, Rob Gray
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State- I like the Cyclones to again show signs of progress, but I see a 24-point loss, so OU covers, barely.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5)- Cowboys riding high after handling West Virginia and may upset the vampire in Manahattan. At the very least, K-State doesn’t cover.
TCU @ Baylor (-9)- Give me the Horned Frogs. No cover for the Bears and maybe a second straight loss for ‘em.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – Give me the Red Raiders in a shootout.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5)- Penn State wins, but doesn’t cover.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU- LSU’s been getting better, bot no match for the Crimson Tide, who cover.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern- Pat Fitzgerald is the Big Ten’s (younger) Bill Snyder. No cover for the Badgers and maybe an upset by the ‘Cats.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17)- Huskers rebound from get-wrenching loss and keep this close. No cover for the Buckeyes.
CF Staff Writer, Jared Stansbury
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – Earlier in the week I would’ve picked an OU cover, but Joe Mixon’s suspension has me feeling a little less sure. I’ll take the Cyclones to come through the backdoor for a cover.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – This seems like a Vampire special with the Cowboys coming off a big win over West Virginia. I’ll take the Wildcats to win on a field goal late.
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – Baylor bounces back from the loss to Texas and covers at home.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – I know Texas has been playing well, but I think Patrick Mahomes will throw it all over the place in this one. Red Raiders win outright at home.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – I’m not completely sold on Penn State, but I don’t think this is the game in which they’ll be exposed. Nittany Lions cover in the white out.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – Roll damn Tide.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – This Northwestern team is starting to get scary. I’ll take them to cover at home.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Nebraska covers.
CF Columnist, Brent Blum
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State. Some weird stuff surrounding this game. Both teams on a very short week and OU down a bunch of players, suspended or injured. Give me the good guys to keep it exciting. Oklahoma 41 Iowa State 30.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5). You know better than to bet against Bill Snyder at home. K-State 30 Oklahoma State 24.
TCU @ Baylor (-9). TCU is flat out not a good football team. Baylor 37 TCU 21.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech. I flipped a coin and it came up Kingsbury. Tech 47 Texas 41.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5). This has 21 to 17 written all over it. Penn State 21 Iowa 17.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU. I’m refusing to pick against Alabama until proven otherwise. Alabama 31 LSU 17.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern. Northwestern 24 Wisconsin 21.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17). This is a trap. Ohio State 38 Nebraska 17.
Former Cyclone running and CF analyst, Jeff Woody
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – Cyclones. This game is either going to be a total drubbing or a pretty close game. If it exceeds 17 it’s going to be 35. I don’t think it gets there because the short week is going to keep everything simple for everyone.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – Kansas State. OK State had a big win at home, so it’s high time for a letdown week against the most frustratingly consistent team in the country.
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – TCU. These two teams have some kind of other-worldly dislike for each other. For that, never take more than a touchdown.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – Tech. UT is 4-0 at home and 0-4 on the road/neutral sites. Next question.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – Unless it’s mad scientist Jim Harbaugh, I’m not buying that any game can exceed 30 total points. Penn State 12-5.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – I want to take LSU because I love me some Ed Orgeron. But Bama does what the Patriots do and take away your best thing and make you beat them with the next best thing. Bama slows down Fournette and wins by 9.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – Cats. See: Iowa vs Penn State. Also, it’s another one of those streaks that makes no sense like UT not beating Kansas State in Manhattan since ’02. Wisco hasn’t won in Evanston since 1999.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Huskers. Ohio State is bound to break out, but 17 points is a lot of points against a confident team whose only loss is on the road in overtime against the team that beat OSU by the same margin in the same place.
Stats guy, Kirk Haaland
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – The Cyclones were slow out of the gates on both sides of the ball versus Kansas State and missed out on some key opportunities far too many times. The offense needs to find it’s “Happy Place” and the defense needs to create some mistakes for any chance here. In the 80 meetings between these two teams Iowa State is 5-73-2 (1-44-1 since 1962) and Oklahoma has outgained the Cyclones by 7.77 miles in total offense. What could possibly go wrong?
That said, a spirited effort and weird game gets ISU the cover.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – The Cowboy offense does enough to keep this one close and scare the ‘Cats in Manhattan, Pokes.
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – Baylor bounces back over the Frogs and covers.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – Tech gets the win.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – Iowa is trending downward but they’re still good enough to keep this close, even with Penn State surging.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – Bama has consistently been a huge favorite on the road this year and consistently covered. Same drill, different day.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – Northwestern keeps it close enough to be a threat and cover the line.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Buckeyes bounce back with a comfortable win, but the Cornhuskers cover the 17.
Director of sales, Adam Gray
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – Kansas State
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – Baylor
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – Texas
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – Iowa
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – Bama
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – Northwestern
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Ohio State
CF Intern, Garrett Kroeger
Oklahoma (-21) @ Iowa State – Sooners win but the Cyclones cover.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (-2.5) – The Cowboys possess to much of a high octane offense for the Wildcats to stop. Okie State wins.
TCU @ Baylor (-9) – Bears cover.
Texas (-1) @ Texas Tech – Classic Longhorn let down after defeating a top ranked team. Tech.
Iowa @ Penn State (-7.5) – Penn State covers.
Alabama (-7.5) @ LSU – Tide wins but Tigers cover.
Wisconsin (-7) @ Northwestern – The Wildcats pull off the upset.
Nebraska @ Ohio State (-17) – Buckeyes win but Cornhuskers cover.