I’ve never been happier to be wrong than I was last Friday. I was expecting the Pokes to take a ride on the struggle bus, and instead they came out looking like a real football team. It’s almost like Kasey Dunn reads this dang thing; the playcalling was fresh and innovative (well, everywhere but the goal line), the offensive line looked great (at least everywhere but the red zone), and the defense played really well against a good football team. Much maligned (by me) Bowman even looked improved. In short, if we continue to play like we did last Friday, we’ll win some football games. Probably not all of them, but we should at least be competitive in all our matchups going forward. I can live with that. There’s still work to be done in the red zone, but hopefully Gundy and Co. will get that straightened out. Also, how good is Alex Hale? Aside from one that got blocked, he’s only missed one FG this season. Made three from 50 plus. All hail! Hale for Groza!
I’m currently sitting at 42-17 which works out to 71% if my handy-dandy calculator is to be trusted. I’m afraid Nate has made up some ground recently. Last week I picked every single road team, which was inadvisable. I chose poorly (cue the Indiana Jones meme). With that, here’s this week’s picks:
West Virginia at Houston
In the Holgorsen bowl, I still don’t think there’s enough Red Bull in the state of Texas to give the Cougs an edge. Holgorsen should try some harder stuff. He already looks like a minor character actor trying to split the difference between creepy McConaughey, unhinged Nicholas Cage, and Frasier Crane.
Mountaineers 35-24
Iowa State at Cincinnati
The professional pickers have Cincinnati in this one, but aside from looking pretty good against OU, the Bearcats haven’t exactly been an inspiring team. Iowa State has issues, but ultimately I think they’re solid and get the W here.
27-17
Kansas at OSU
Kansas is a really good football team. Hard to believe that I just typed that, but over the last few years, they’ve really turned things around up there in Lawrence. I’m going to resist the temptation to rant about basketball, sneaker deals, and how unfair the NCAA is, but KU has a legitimately good football team. That said, Bean is not as dynamic a QB as their other guy who is reportedly out for this game, and I think that if the Pokes can keep riding the train they got on last week we can sweep our neighbor to the north. I’ll be cheering them on from the nosebleeds. Hopefully mu waving arm gets a workout.
OSU 30-24
BYU at TCU
The fighting Mormons aren’t going to prevail Fort Worth. I think TCU will actually be better on offense without Morris.
TCU 35-24
K-State at Tech
This is probably the hardest pick of the week. I think a night game in Lubbock gives the Tortilla Tossers an edge.
Tech 27-24