Rock M Pick ‘Em: Week 2
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Welcome to Week 2 of the College Football season, and the Border War is BACK between the Tigers and Jayhawks — this time in Lawrence. Elsewhere, Oklahoma at Michigan and Ohio State at Texas highlight the Big Ten vs SEC blockbusters. The CyHawk rivalry is also on our radar, and Alabama at Kentucky marks the first SEC conference game of the season. Let’s make some picks! (Odds provided by Fanduel Sportsbuook).
But first, a standings recap after Week 1:
Stava: 6-3
Gustafson: 5-4
Matejka: 6-3
Lewis 7-2
Hurst: 2-2
Friday: No. 23 Missouri Tigers (-5.5) at kansas Jayhawks (7:00 p.m. CST on FOX)
Sammy Stava: This one is on the road, and anything can happen in rivalry games. Perhaps I’m not as confident in one as I should be, but in the end, Mizzou will have the more talented team on paper. Drinkwitz’s resume in rivalry games is pretty strong. Jayhawks will have enough to make this interesting, but Missouri pulls away in the end …. with a late TD run by Jamal Roberts just like last year. 31-20, Tigers.
Matthew Gustafson: The performance of the offensive and defensive lines was a valid concern in week one for MU, and that — combined with the variance seen in rivalry games — may keep this one close early on. But Mizzou is simply the more talented team, and I’ve got the Tigers pulling away late in a 38-28 win.
Josh Matejka: Both teams played cupcakes in Week One, so I’m not too sure what we can know about either team heading into Friday. The one thing I do know is that Mizzou is more talented. And with a week to clean up any of the inconsistencies he saw on tape, Drinkwitz should have his team well-drilled for Lawrence. Mizzou won’t walk away with a win, but they’ll do enough to cover. I’ll say 34-24, Mizzou.
Jaden Lewis:
Nathan Hurst:
No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (-5.5) at Michigan Wolverines (11:00 a.m. CST on FOX)
Sammy Stava: Kyle Whittingham might get Michigan going in the near future, but not now. The Wolverines are a bit of a mess right now after the near loss to Western Michigan in the opener. Sooners get it done on the road behind a well-coached team led by Brent Venables. 17-13, OU.
Matthew Gustafson: OU should have another elite defense on its hands this year, while Michigan’s offense looked… well, let’s just say less than elite in week one. That sets a pretty low bar for John Mateer and the Sooners offense, and I think that’s a bar they’ll meet. Give me Oklahoma, 21-13.
Josh Matejka: This is a dog baby of a game, isn’t it? Michigan will have to shake off whatever the hell that performance was in Week One, but staying at home should help. Oklahoma isn’t a world-beater, but their defense shouldn’t have too much trouble handling a unit that scored 7 13 points against Western Michigan. Sooners win, 24-10.
Jaden Lewis:
Nathan Hurst:
No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide (-10.5) at Kentucky Wildcats (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Kentucky probably isn’t ready for this in Year 1 under Will Stein. While the future looks bright for the Wildcats — Alabama can’t afford to lose this one and Keelon Russell will lead them to victory. 35-17, Tide.
Matthew Gustafson: Wildcats fans might bring some extra energy for Will Stein’s first SEC game in Lexington. I don’t think that will be enough against an Alabama team always loaded with talent, though. The Tide will roll, 31-21.
Josh Matejka: Kentucky should be on the up-and-up with Will Stein, but we’ve been in these situations before as Tiger fans. New coach, lots of excitement to welcome in a conference powerhouse. And we know how it usually ends up. 37-21, Tide.
Jaden Lewis:
Nathan Hurst:
Iowa State Cyclones at No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes (-13.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on NBC)
Sammy Stava: The Cy-Hawk rivalry is always interesting and could go either way, but Iowa State lost too much — especially at the quarterback position with Rocco Becht transferring. Cyclones find a way to cover because they always play tough in Iowa City, but Kamari Moulton and the Hawkeyes get the win. 24-20, Iowa.
Matthew Gustafson: Cy-Hawk is one of the most underrated rivalries in college football, and the game always features some absurd shenanigans. Iowa should be the better team, but these squads both rank last in their conferences in returning production, so you never know what might happen in an early season matchup. The Cy-Hawk game requires an absurd score — I’ll say the Hawkeyes win it 21-15, but every point scored is on a field goal.
Josh Matejka: Anyone here watch soccer? Anyone here know what ‘haramball’ means? This rivalry, to me, is haramball. Hawkeyes should win, but it’ll be terrible to watch. I’ll say like 17-13.
Jaden Lewis:
Nathan Hurst:
No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 4 Texas Longhorns (-1.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Ohio State might be the better team, but the Buckeyes won last year in Columbus — and the Longhorns will be looking for revenge in a “prove it” year for Steve Sarkisian. Texas finds a way to get it done with Arch Manning. 28-24, Horns.
Matthew Gustafson: Texas is stacked with returning production and an absurd portal class, and the Longhorns will be out for revenge after last season’s loss in the ‘Shoe. If UT gets the version of Arch Manning we saw last November, that might be enough (along with a home field advantage) to squeak by in a tight contest. I’ll take the Longhorns, 28-24.
Josh Matejka: Hell yeah, a game that should be entertaining between two teams I hate whole-heartedly. This is really just a toss-up as I think Ohio State is still the decidedly better team… but that doesn’t always matter when you’re on the road in Austin. I’ll take Texas to win a nail-biter 27-24.
Jaden Lewis:
Nathan Hurst:
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