Our "experts" appeared to be going through the motions in week one.
Austen Arnaud and Brent Blum (the defending champ) led the way by 4-2 and get this. The rest of the field went 3-3 on the weekend!
We’ve got a tough slate of games on top for this weekend, including the Iowa State vs. Iowa matchup.
Enjoy.
CURRENT STANDINGS
Austen Arnaud, 4-2
Brent Blum, 4-2
Chris Hassel, 3-3
Dave Zawilinski, 3-3
Bret Meyer, 3-3
Adam Gray, 3-3
Trevor Enerson, 3-3
Adam Carper, 3-3
Chris Williams, 3-3
BRENT BLUM – CYCLONE RADIO NETWORK
Iowa @ Iowa State – Fun fact: Only Ohio State has more wins against Kirk Ferentz than Iowa State. This game has been a bit too status quo as of late. Steele Jantz is the wild-card. If he throws one or less picks, Cyclones win. Cyclones 21 Iowa 17.
South Carolina @ Georgia – Georgia is the Hugh Heffner of college football. Surrounded by lots of talent, but can’t do much with it. South Carolina 31 Georgia 21.
Notre Dame @ Michigan – Notre Dame bounces back. Still not sold on the Michigan defense. Notre Dame 34 Michigan 30.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – Mediocrity wins this game. I think this is the first ever Vandy game picked on the CF Pick ’em or any other pick em contest. Congrats for selecting this Williams, breaking barriers! Vanderbilt 24 UCONN 20.
Missouri (+7.5) @ Arizona State – Arizona State has a salty squad. But if you’re giving me a touchdown with a ranked team with a stingy defense and a solid run game, you could have Chris Hassel playing quarterback and I’d take the points. Arizona State 20 Missouri 17.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – Probably not a good sign for Texas that the BYU TV Network is carried by more cable providers than the Longhorn Network. Not exactly a good last few months for Bevo. But things turn around for them Saturday. A nice little statement win. Texas 31 BYU 13.
AUSTEN ARNAUD – FORMER IOWA STATE QUARTERBACK
Iowa @ Iowa State – Iowa state 17-13. Clones defense has got to get off the field against an aggressive Iowa offensive line. Tempo is the key if Iowa state can execute their jet tempo efficiently, it will have this defense tired. Steele has to take care of the football, bottom line.
South Carolina @ Georgia – 28-24 Gamecocks win. Garcia looked great when he came in and took over at QB. Garcia to Alshon Jeffrey with steady help from Lattimore gives SC the edge. Georgia will play well but not good enough in this one.
Notre Dame @ Michigan – 35-31, Notre Dame wins in dramatic fashion. Notre Dame’s season is almost make or break on this game. Two losses in a row isn’t going to happen.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – Vandy by a field goal 24-21. One thing Vandy does have is speed. Home field advantage huge in this one. Like Vandy to soften up the Huskies before I-State rolls in next week.
Mizzou (+7.5) @ Arizona State – I think Mizzou loses the game but by 3 or 4. ASU arguably has the best defense in the Pac-12.
BYU (+7) @ Texas – Texas isn’t that special and I think if byu can execute at times on offense they will cover this spread. Texas offense still hasn’t proved anything.
CHRIS HASSEL – WHO TV 13 SPORTS
Iowa @ Iowa State – Andy Fales has agreed to shave his head if the Cyclones win, OR lose by 6 or less. I’m not nearly that confident in the Hawks, but I think the difference in talent at the line of scrimmage will be too much for ISU to overcome. Hawks win 24-13.
South Carolina @ Georgia – This is a must-win for the dawgs. SC looked shaky in it’s opener. Give me the home team 23-20.
Notre Dame @ Michigan – No one understands why ND is favored in this one. Are we missing something? Nope. Michigan wins 35-31.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – I don’t know anything about either team. In that case, I’ll go with the SEC team at home 17-13.
Missouri (+7.5) @ ASU – I like ASU’s new logo. It’s gotta be worth 7.5 points. 35-24 Devils.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – I love BYU’s willingness to play tough non-conference games on the road. No late defensive TD, here. Texas wins 26-18.
DAVE ZAWILINSKI – ABC 5 SPORTS
Iowa @ Iowa State – I said going into week one if Steele Jantz played well and showed me something I would pick ISU. He was good late but not good enough overall. With no points spread it’s an easy pick… Hawks (a lot more difficult to pick with the spread).
South Carolina @ Georgia – If Georgia falls to 0-2, there is a good chance Mark Richt is on his way out. South Carolina didn’t look great in their opener, but that was before Stephen Garcia came in. He’ll start this week and the SC will win on the road.
Notre Dame @ Michigan – Two words for Notre Dame… Quarterback controversy. Its the first night game in the Big House’s history. Michigan will win easily.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – What? OK. Coin flip…Vanderbilt
Missouri (+7.5) @ Arizona State – This looks like a pretty good spread. Traveling west is tough. Mizzou didn’t look great in their opener but lets remember the Pac 12 doesn’t play defense ( I know, I’m watching OSU shred Zona right night) I’ll take Mizzou and the points..
BYU @ Texas (-7) – I think BYU might win this game outright. Their D is legit, just ask Houston Nutt. Getting 7 points is the easy pick here…Give me the cougars and don’t be surprised if they win outright!
BRET MEYER – FORMER IOWA STATE QUARTERBACK
Iowa @ Iowa State –Turnovers have plagued the Clones in the last two contests with Iowa. Once Steele settled in last week vs. UNI he played well. No time to get comfortable this week, all phases need to be effective from start to finish. If ISU can win third down and limit turnovers, we can take back whatever trophy is up for grabs. Clones do so and win at home. 17-14
South Carolina @ Georgia – Don’t see Georgia rebounding from last week’s beat down at the hands of Boise State. Stephen Garcia played well off the bench last week. Look for Lattimore and Jefferies to both have big games. Carolina wins 28-17
Notre Dame @ Michigan – Brian Kelley vowed to behave better on the sidelines this week. We’ll see if making a change at the quarterback position pays off. The turnover bug is a hard one to solve. I like Michigan at home. 35-31.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – Be interesting to see what ISU will face next week at UCONN. I like the Huskies on the road 24-10.
Missouri (+7.5) @ Arizona State – James Franklin struggled last week in his debut as the starter. Vontaze Burfict is arguably the best linebacker in all of college football. Look for the ASU defense to make a statement. I like ASU.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – Garrett Gilbert looked much improved in last weeks win over Rice. I like the Horns to cover at home.
ADAM GRAY – ADAM GRAY INSURANCE AGENCY
Iowa @ Iowa State – Iowa will get up for this game as it is their SUPER BOWL. There is no doubt about that. But ISU gets a lot of players back and hopefully healthy. Jake Knott and the defense slow down the Hawks and Steele improves from his game 1 performance. Iowa State 20 Iowa 17.
South Carolina @ Georgia – South Carolina got it rolling in the 2nd half against ECU and it will continue at Georgia. USC wins 31-20.
Notre Dame@ Michigan – I’m still high on Notre Dame despite the trainwreck against South Florida. I think they have been talent than Michigan and are better coached. Brady Hoke still doesn’t have the pieces for his offense and Notre Dame wins 38-20.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – I’d love UCONN to win this game and be 2-0 heading into next Fridays game but on the road against an SEC opponent will be to much for them and their 3 QB’s. 24-14 Vandy.
Missouri (+7.5)@ Arizona State – Is Mizzou really 7.5 underdogs in this game? Give me the Tigers. The offense needs to get going but the fact that they had a decent opponent in week 1, where as ASU didn’t, is the difference. Mizzou 24-17.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – What a tough start for BYU. They had a big come from behind win to beat Ole Miss. Will they be able to rebound and have another big win in week 2? Probably not. To much talent at the skill positions by Texas and they win this one 31-20
TREVOR ENERSON – THE VOICE OF THE FAN (YAMAN3)
Iowa @ Iowa State – I just can’t ever pick Iowa. It will never happen. ISU will win the one behind improved line play. It will be close but this year, it’s a Cyclone State. ISU 31-27
South Carolina @ Georgia – This is a tough one. Because of the amount of playmakers they have though. I am taking South Carolina meaning Georgia will start off 0-2 for the second straight year. SC 27-20
Notre Dame @ Michigan – The Irish have a QB controversy. Michigan has Denard. I’m taking Michigan and Denard easy. Michigan 31-17.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – I have to take UCONN. Vandy just isn’t very good. UCONN 24-10
Missouri (+7.5) @ Arizona State – I like ASU unis but I don’t think that will be enough. I’ll take Mizzou and take the points. Mizzou 27-24.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – I am going to take Texas here and give the 7. Texas 27-17.
ADAM CARPER – FORMER IOWA STATE LINEBACKER
Iowa @ Iowa State – Although Steele Jantz and the Iowa State offense showed signs of hope in the 4th quarter last week, I expect Norm Parker to continue his success against the Cyclones showing multiple looks and confusing the inexperienced QB. Iowa 24 ISU 14
South Carolina @ Georgia – Could the SEC East title already be decided after week 2? History shows the winner of this game can usually stamp their trip to Atlanta. With Stephen Garcia expecting to start, I’m taking the Gamecocks on the road. SC 31 Georgia 20
Notre Dame @ Michigan – The Wolverines were all business last week against Western Michigan and they will try to replicate that this week. Notre Dame keeps it close but I think Michigan prevails at home. Michigan 28 ND 17
UConn @ Vanderbilt – Since making the jump to the FBS in 2002, the Huskies are 11-29 in road games against BCS teams (how can we Cyclone fans forget one of those wins?) Don’t know about either team but I’ll take my odds and go with the SEC team.
Missouri (+7.5) @ Arizona State – We all know what happens when teams go down to the desert for a non-conference game. ASU.
BYU @ Texas (-7) – BYU’s athletic department certainly didn’t do their football team any favors scheduling Ole Miss and Texas on the road the first 2 weeks. They seem battle-tested after last week’s win and I think they will do enough to cover in Austin.
CHRIS WILLIAMS – CYCLONEFANATIC.COM’S PUBLISHER
Iowa @ Iowa State – READ MY BREAKDOWN HERE. Iowa 20, Iowa State 14.
South Carolina @ Georgia – Something clicked in the second half under Stephen Garcia last week for the Cocks. Stick a fork in Mark Richt. He gone.
Notre Dame @ Michigan – The Irish are a good road team. Brian Kelly is one of the best coaches in America. I don’t anticipate ND dropping two in a row to start the season. Irish 31, Michigan 28.
UConn @ Vanderbilt – I don’t think that UConn is very good. I’ve said that since June. No way they win this week. Vandy 24, UConn 10
Missouri (+7.5) over Arizona State – All summer long, I preached that Missouri was my "sleeper to watch" in the Big 12. After a shaky week one performance, I’m standing by that. The Tigers will work the kinks out and pick up a road win for the Big 12. Missouri 38, Arizona 27
BYU (+7) over Texas – The Horns struggled to put Rice away last week. BYU got a road win against and SEC team. I like Texas to win, BYU to cover. Horns 27, Cougars 24
