Photo cred: AP/Mitch Alcala
Had a pretty good opening week. Much tougher slate of games this weekend, I think.
WHISKEY CUP STANDINGS:
Trent last week: 14-2 (.875)
Trent overall: 14-2 (.875)
Nate last week: 15-1 (.937)
Nate overall: 15-1 (.937)
*****
Friday
BYU 23, SMU 34. Not nearly the only person to point this out, but this as Big 12 vs. ACC is just weird.
Saturday
Arkansas 27, No. 16 Oklahoma State 38. This is the 47th meeting between these two, but the first since 1980. Would be a great one to have either annually or near annually. Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks so: OSU has future dates set with the Porcine Fayettevillians in 2027, 2032 and 2033.
No. 17 Kansas State 34, Tulane 27. The Green Wave knocked off K-State last year. The Wildcats should return the favor.
Pittsburgh 20, Cincinnati 23. Considering these two’s relative proximity, I’m surprised this is only the fourteenth meeting between these two. Pitt holds the all-time edge 8-5 but has lost the last three.
Baylor 30, No. 11 Utah 38. I’m not sure why I think this will be tight. Gut feeling, I guess.
Iowa State 15, No. 22 Iowa 20. Seems about right for these two. The Hawkeyes have taken eight of the past ten in this game.
UAlbany 10, West Virginia 45. Yawn.
Sam Houston 3, UCF 48. Yawn, part II.
No. 19 Kansas 31, Illinois 17. A weirdly important game for the Big 12.
Colorado 28, Nebraska 27. Tough pick here: my one upset of the week. Colorado’s obvious talent gaps plus three incredible athletes vs. a school that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way for more than a decade. Was I correct in reading somewhere that when NU won its opener last week, it was the Husker’s first Week One win in a very long time?
Houston 24, No. 15 Oklahoma 42. Not gonna lie, it’s still really strange not to have OU in my weekly picks. Can Houston pick itself up off the mat for what might be a blood bath at the so-called Palace on the Prairie?
Long Island University 6, TCU 56. Yawn, part III.
Northern Arizona 24, No. 20 Arizona 45. Yawn, part IV.
Texas Tech 37, Washington State 41. The first Memorial Pirate Bowl commenceth. This game won’t start until after nine pm central—a factor that I think always hurts the visitors. Wazzu is favored by just under a fieldgoal.
Mississippi State 24, Arizona State 27. ASU was super impressive last week, and after going 3-9 last year, the Sun Devils suddenly find themselves favored (-5.5) against an SEC opponent.