Football

STAFF PICKS: Week 13

Staff rankings after 12 weeks:

Jared Stansbury: 48-43

Garrett Kroeger and Chris Williams: 42-49

Jeff Woody: 41-50

Rob Gray, Brent Blum, Adam Gray: 40-51

Kirk Haaland: 38-53

CF Publisher, Chris Williams

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3) – If Tommy Armstrong is playing, and it sounds like he is, I like Nebraska here. So give me the Huskers outright.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – I’m really down on TCU. Not a more disappointing team in the country this year IMO. Give me Texas in the Disaster Bowl.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – Home underdog in a rivalry game? Mike Leach, please.

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – We all saw Texas Tech last week. Woof. But Baylor’s entire staff is checked out looking for other jobs. No way this team is focused. Tech wins outright.

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27) – Kansas.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State – Clones cover.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – Auburn

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – Florida

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – Ohio State

CF Senior Writer, Rob Gray

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3) – Huskers hang tight. No cover for the Hawks.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5)- Texas rolls.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State- Huskies are a touchdown (and PAT) better, even on the road. UW covers.

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5)- Sentimental pick here. Tech.

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27)- Beaty’s breathed some life into the Jayhawks. Still like the Wildcats by 28 or more.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State – I’d like to pick the Cyclones and I think they play well. Still like the Mountaineers by 10.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5)- Every time I pick against Saban I lose. Roll Tide.

Florida @ Florida State (-7)- Give me the Gators.

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5)- Buckeyes cause Harbaugh to go home seething. A cover for the home team.

CF Beat Reporter, Jared Stansbury

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3) – If Tommy Armstrong starts at QB for Nebraska, I think they’ll win the game. The unfortunate fact is Zack Darlington (a high school quarterback turned sophomore wide receiver) could be the starter behind center. I don’t feel comfortable taking the Huskers with that situation up in the air. I’ll take Iowa to cover.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – I think the Texas players will rally behind Charlie Strong and send him out with a win… by two touchdowns.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – WAZZUUUUUUUU

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – There won’t be much defense in Waco. I think the final score could be 358-352 with the Bears coming out on top with a cover.

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27) – I’ll take the Jayhawks. 27 is a lot of points.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State – Give me the ‘Clones to lose by 7.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – I don’t pick against Alabama. Roll damn Tide.

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – Dalvin Cook runs wild and the Seminoles cover.

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – Buckeyes win this one by a field goal but Michigan covers.

CF Columnist, Brent Blum

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3). Hawks defense too much. Iowa 21 Nebraska 17

TCU @ Texas (-2.5). Texas BIG. Texas 37 TCU 20

Washington (-6) @ Washington State. Give me the Pirate. Wazzu 30 Washington 29

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5). We can assume neither team wants to be here. Baylor 45 Tech 42

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27). Kansas with a sneaky cover. KSU 40 KU 14

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State. Good guys straight up. Iowa State 28 WVA 24

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5). Auburn makes it interesting. Alabama 31 Auburn 21

Florida @ Florida State (-7). Florida 20 FSU 17

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5). This goes down to the wire. Ohio State 21 Michigan 20

Former Cyclone running back and CF Analyst, Jeff Woody

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3) – Hawks. It’s in Kinnick, Tommy Armstrong is less than healthy, and Iowa’s defense is actually performing like they should’ve been all year.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – Horns. Texas is going to get galvanized to send Charlie off right. And that is a horrifyingly good motivator. Texas by at least three scores. Also, under-reported, if D’Onta Foreman has a big game, he’ll pass 2,000 yards on the season. Which is cool.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – Wazzu. I still think Washington wins. But it’s inside of 6. Or as my dad who grew up in Reasnor, Iowa would say, “Washington will beat Washington State.”

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – Tech, I guess. What once was a game that I, an offensive football addict, would love is now a battle to see which football team is less of a dumpster fire as the season ends. Texas Tech at least has a quarterback. This is going to be a basketball score.

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27) – Jayhawks! Kansas is coming off of the biggest win in their program and is genuinely improving! They only get beat by 3 scores instead of 4.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State – I’ll take Iowa State straight up.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – Auburn. 17.5 Is just a lot in a rivalry game when both teams are actually quasi-good.

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – Florida. Dalvin Cook is awesome, but nothing else on FSU’s team is good enough yet to scare me. They’re really young, which makes for a nice future in Tallahassee for whoever the new coach is after jimbo is in Baton Rouge.

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – Michigan. For some reason, I don’t see Jim Harbaugh not having a game plan ready that works even without a functional quarterback. Should be real fun.

Stat Guy, Kirk Haaland

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3) – Exhibit A of the cfbanalytics.com prediction machine closely aligning with Vegas: Iowa wins 27-26.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – Exhibit B of the cfbanalytics.com prediction machine closely aligning with Vegas: Texas wins 33-31.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – Exhibit C of the cfbanalytics.com prediction machine closely aligning with Vegas: Washington wins 42-36 (I’ll give the nod to the home team, the Cougars).

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – Red Raiders bounce back to cover in this game of teams headed the wrong direction, like my fitness level as we head into the holidays.

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27) – The Jayhawks get no respect…but honestly, there is some tangible improvement in Lawrence. Wildcats win big, 39-16, but not by enough to cover in this massive Sunflower showdown.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State – The Cyclones are on the verge of climbing into the top half of the cfbanalytics ratings with the Mountaineers coming to town. West Virginia was on the doorstep of playing for a playoff spot before getting bounced by the Sooners last week. The Cyclones have a chance but West Virginia has the 11th best rushing offense accounting for the schedule they have played and the best defense in the Big 12 by scoring second best by yardage. Cyclones cover but West Virginia prevails, 32-27.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – Auburn is probably better than you realize, and likely good enough to cover this one, even on the road. Bama wins but Auburn covers, 32-26.

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – Exhibit D of the cfbanalytics.com prediction machine closely aligning with Vegas: Florida State wins 32-26.

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – This is a big one, huh? Michigan has topped our ratings for most of the season and been one of three elite teams to separate themselves from the pack, the trouble for them is that Ohio State is another one of those three teams. With the game in Columbus, we have the Buckeyes winning, but not by enough to cover the line, 38-37.

Director of Sales, Adam Gray

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3)  – Nebraska

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – Texas

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – Washington

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – Tech

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27)  – Kansas State

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State  – WVU

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – Roll Tide

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – Florida State

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – Ohio State

CF Intern, Garrett Kroeger

Nebraska @ Iowa (-3)  – Hawks have been up and down all season. Give me Nebraska.

TCU @ Texas (-2.5) – Texas covers and carries Charlie out of the stadium on their shoulders.

Washington (-6) @ Washington State – I love the Cougars….but the Huskies are the better team. Washington covers.

Texas Tech vs. Baylor (-5.5) – I always root against Baylor. TECH!

Kansas @ Kansas State (-27)  – Kansas is good people, but they still lose. However not by 27.

West Virginia (-7.5) @ Iowa State  – West Virginia covers in this one…unfortunately.

Auburn @ Alabama (-17.5) – Tigers have been sneaky good all season. I have a gut feeling Auburn keeps it close, but Bama wins by 3 field goal or a late TD.

Florida @ Florida State (-7) – That Gator defense is to much. Florida.

Michigan @ Ohio State (-6.5) – If Speight wasn’t injured, I’d go with Michigan. But that isn’t the case. O-H-I-O!!

G

Garrett Kroeger

Cyclone Fanatic Publisher

Garrett is an intern for Cyclone Fanatic and is currently a junior at THE Iowa State University. He is studying Journalism and Mass Communications while minoring in Sports and Rec. If you like college football, NBA or just random life tweets, Garrett is a must follow on Twitter: @gkroegs.

@cyclonefanatic