Standings:
1.) Hoying 6-2 (1-1 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 6-2 (0-2 upset)
1.) Seeberg 6-2 (0-2 upset)
4.) Draper 5-3 (0-2 upset)
Just when we thought the Pac-12 was out, they pull us back in. But while we're waiting for the resurrection of 2-Pac into the glorious and refreshing 6-Pac, a couple of longstanding Oregon Territory rivalries hang on for at least another year.
Arizona Wildcats @ Kansas State Wildcats (Friday night)
Draper: Neither of these teams has looked particularly competent on the year. Kansas State nearly dropped the ball to Tulane last week and Arizona has looked pedestrian at best against poor competition. Noah Fifita has some juice at QB for Zona, but the star is Tetairoa McMillan at WR. He absolutely lit up UNM for 304 (!) yards, but did nothing vs. Northern Arizona. I don't know what to expect out of this game, but I think the scare by Tulane last week will have the Wildcats (of Kansas St.) focused. Home game gives the edge. Who are we? The Wildcats! Zona: 27--KSA: 34
Hoying: Much like last Saturday's ranked chump of the week (NC State), here we find two teams that happen to be ranked just because we have to fill 25 spots. Somewhere out there are lurking a few teams that will reveal themselves to actually be worthy of those rankings but I don't think it will be either of these two. Arizona got off to slow starts in each of their games against New Mexico and Northern Arizona before pulling away late. Against UNM, WR Tetairoa McMillan was the hero but he was practically non-existent last week as the Wildcats struggled to do anything through the air. Kansas State at least blew out FCS UT Martin before struggling to put away Tulane last week on a go-ahead fumble return and an end zone interception in the closing seconds. Maybe everything we heard about Will Howard fleeing KSU to avoid being on the chopping block was a bit overblown, as his replacement, Avery Johnson, is averaging a paltry 167 yards through the air per game. Tulane was able to have good success in the passing game against Kansas State and I'm thinking the Cardinal and Navy Wildcats can do the same. Zona: 27--KSU: 24
Hoying: Much like last Saturday's ranked chump of the week (NC State), here we find two teams that happen to be ranked just because we have to fill 25 spots. Somewhere out there are lurking a few teams that will reveal themselves to actually be worthy of those rankings but I don't think it will be either of these two. Arizona got off to slow starts in each of their games against New Mexico and Northern Arizona before pulling away late. Against UNM, WR Tetairoa McMillan was the hero but he was practically non-existent last week as the Wildcats struggled to do anything through the air. Kansas State at least blew out FCS UT Martin before struggling to put away Tulane last week on a go-ahead fumble return and an end zone interception in the closing seconds. Maybe everything we heard about Will Howard fleeing KSU to avoid being on the chopping block was a bit overblown, as his replacement, Avery Johnson, is averaging a paltry 167 yards through the air per game. Tulane was able to have good success in the passing game against Kansas State and I'm thinking the Cardinal and Navy Wildcats can do the same. Zona: 27--KSU: 24
Schweinfurth: I'm really not sure how good Arizona is. Kansas State appears to be one of the better teams in the Big-12 this year. The Wildcats should pull away late. Zona: 21--KSU: 34
Seeberg: Excellent sweet 16 matchup here...hang on, wait, I'm being told this is actually a ranked football matchup. Wonders never cease (still probably more worthy of being ranked than Notre Dame though). Two weeks worth of games have given us very little about these two squads, the toughest opponent being Tulane so far, who actually gave the Plains Wildcats a scare. I trust K-State's offense the most of any of the four main units on this team, and that's enough for me. Zona: 24--KSU: 31
Boston College Eagles @ Missouri Tigers
Draper: Boston College is sneaky in this game. Beating FSU doesn't mean much this year, but they have some talent that hasn't been in Chestnut Hill of late. Missouri had a fantastic 2023 and has kicked off 2024 in style with back to back shutouts. The SEC schedule is going to be brutal on the Tigers, but they'll like stay clean here. I expect BC to hang around with a few deep drives by Castellanos, but it won't be enough down the stretch. MIZ. BC: 17-Mizzou: 31
Hoying: Ah, now here are some ranked teams who have done something. For Boston College, it was win a game on Irish home soil (which I guess makes them at least as good as Northern Illinois), while Missouri has been following the Buckeye blueprint of just punishing lesser competition, to the tune of an aggregate 89-0 through two games. I don't need to tell you about Missouri; they are capable to holding a team with Lincoln Kienholz level play to 3 points while finally breaking through an elite defense after ramming their heads against the wall for three quarters. A #6 ranking might be a bit optimistic for this Missouri team but they'll be able to dream on for at least another month before it's put up or shut up time in Tuscaloosa. BC: 10--Mizzou: 31
Hoying: Ah, now here are some ranked teams who have done something. For Boston College, it was win a game on Irish home soil (which I guess makes them at least as good as Northern Illinois), while Missouri has been following the Buckeye blueprint of just punishing lesser competition, to the tune of an aggregate 89-0 through two games. I don't need to tell you about Missouri; they are capable to holding a team with Lincoln Kienholz level play to 3 points while finally breaking through an elite defense after ramming their heads against the wall for three quarters. A #6 ranking might be a bit optimistic for this Missouri team but they'll be able to dream on for at least another month before it's put up or shut up time in Tuscaloosa. BC: 10--Mizzou: 31
Schweinfurth: BC is an okay team. Mizzou seems sneaky good again to me. The Tigers should win this with defense. BC: 13--Mizzou: 35
Seeberg: Let's be honest about this one, the Eagles are ranked solely on the back of a now-useless win against Florida State. Mizzou, meanwhile, looks poised to become the next SEC team that threatens to break into the top echelon, stacking a couple of good years in a row. The Tigers may not quite be there yet in their home conference, but they're certainly potent enough- particularly on defense- to shut down a second-tier ACC team. Tigers roll. BC: 10--Mizzou: 27
Washington State Cougars @ Washington Huskies
Draper: I don't think I've EVER picked this game correctly. This is mainly due to my love of Mike Leach (RIP), but I just whiff every time. The Cougs have looked pretty good against paper thin defenses thus far while Washington has been fine, but is nothing like the 2023 National Champion runners-up*. While we have no real info on either team, I'll stick with the B1G team with a semblance of a defense. The win of Texas Tech is nice but their defense is ATROCIOUS. When in doubt, go for the home team. WSU: 20--Wash: 30
Hoying: Long live the Big Ten / Pac-12 challenge. This is the only Power 2 team that the Cougars get to play this year so they'd better make it count. WSU has looked surprisingly competent so far this year, blowing out Texas Tech by racking up over 300 yards on the ground to overcome their QB's atrocious passing...game...wait, which team is this again? I know that Mike Leach left his mark on each of these programs but they seem eager to wash it off quickly in Pullman. Perhaps that's just the price of losing Cam Ward to Miami. Speaking of transfer quarterbacks, Will Rogers has settled nicely into Washington's offense, but he's no Michael Penix, and much like the other two Playoff teams we looked at last week, UW is really hurting from offseason losses. The difference is that one of these teams got promoted at season's end and the other was left twisting in the wind, and the portal results reflect the brutal new reality for Wazzu. The Apple Cup may never be the same again. WSU: 20--Wash: 24
Hoying: Long live the Big Ten / Pac-12 challenge. This is the only Power 2 team that the Cougars get to play this year so they'd better make it count. WSU has looked surprisingly competent so far this year, blowing out Texas Tech by racking up over 300 yards on the ground to overcome their QB's atrocious passing...game...wait, which team is this again? I know that Mike Leach left his mark on each of these programs but they seem eager to wash it off quickly in Pullman. Perhaps that's just the price of losing Cam Ward to Miami. Speaking of transfer quarterbacks, Will Rogers has settled nicely into Washington's offense, but he's no Michael Penix, and much like the other two Playoff teams we looked at last week, UW is really hurting from offseason losses. The difference is that one of these teams got promoted at season's end and the other was left twisting in the wind, and the portal results reflect the brutal new reality for Wazzu. The Apple Cup may never be the same again. WSU: 20--Wash: 24
Schweinfurth: I'm so glad they didn't ruin this rivalry. Wazzu has some hate built up over the Pac-12. I'm just not sure hate is enough. Washington is the better overall team. WSU: 17--Wash 38
Seeberg: Brutal to pick a game like this (or the next one, for that matter) so early in the season. Rivalry games can get nuts regardless, and these two squads have played a combined GARBAGE schedule thus far, leaving most of their abilities to the imagination. The Huskies have obviously taken a step back from last season, but they still have more talent and better coaching. Quite frankly, that doesn't always lead to wins in this series, but the Huskies' D appears pretty legit, and should be enough to hoist the Apple Cup. WSU: 17--Wash: 23
Oregon Ducks @ Oregon State Beavers
Draper: I've been wholly unimpressed with Oregon thus far. Boise has a solid running game but the Ducks were primed for my upset pick last week without 2 special teams TDs. That being said, I think the Broncos are likely better than the Beavers. I do expect Oregon to get these kinks worked out, but even without, there is no good reason to lean on the Beavers. The Pac-2 may be expanding to 6 soon, but the west coast OSU doesn't inspire fear in opponents. Ducks roll. UO: 38-OSU: 20
Hoying: Oregon apparently thought their lofty #3 preseason ranking was an excuse to just go on cruise control until the Buckeyes came to town at season's midpoint, as they've struggled against both Potato State opponents they've faced so far. Granted, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is going to be a problem for any defense he faces, but the holes on defense are what grounded the Ducks in their two losses to Washington last year, and they're going to have to find an answer to Quinveyon Herderkins or risk getting run out of their own building in a few weeks. But the Ducks need to knock it off with the snooze alarm now. Oregon State may have been completely overmatched in last year's Civil War but they're fresh off a total dismantling of future Pac-12 compatriot San Diego State. Oregon should be much, much better than its eastern neighbor this season but the half-butt effort we've seen the last two weeks won't get the job done this time. This is where the rivalry motivation can do wonders to get a team in gear during an extended period of blah. If Oregon looks off for a third time, it might be time to hit the panic button and declare the Big Ten a presumptive one-team race. UO: 34--OSU: 24
Hoying: Oregon apparently thought their lofty #3 preseason ranking was an excuse to just go on cruise control until the Buckeyes came to town at season's midpoint, as they've struggled against both Potato State opponents they've faced so far. Granted, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is going to be a problem for any defense he faces, but the holes on defense are what grounded the Ducks in their two losses to Washington last year, and they're going to have to find an answer to Quinveyon Herderkins or risk getting run out of their own building in a few weeks. But the Ducks need to knock it off with the snooze alarm now. Oregon State may have been completely overmatched in last year's Civil War but they're fresh off a total dismantling of future Pac-12 compatriot San Diego State. Oregon should be much, much better than its eastern neighbor this season but the half-butt effort we've seen the last two weeks won't get the job done this time. This is where the rivalry motivation can do wonders to get a team in gear during an extended period of blah. If Oregon looks off for a third time, it might be time to hit the panic button and declare the Big Ten a presumptive one-team race. UO: 34--OSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Oregon has been struggling on offense. They just seem to be in neutral and can't find the endzone. Odd. Oregon State is overmatched in this game. However, I can definitely see the Ducks offense continuing to struggle here. This one should be close until late. UO: 31--OSU:24
Seeberg: I'm highly surprised at the Ducks' start this season. Gabriel has been putting up video game stats (84.3% completion is insane against air) but those stats have only translated into 29 ppg somehow. The west coast OSU is, well, the least competent of the three OSU squads. Again, rivalry games can get crazy, and early in the year it can be hard to draw conclusions, but the dam has to break for TDs for the Ducks sooner rather than later. Quack quack, here comes the flying V! UO: 42--OSU: 24
Upset Special
Draper: Tulane over Oklahoma
Hoying: Purdue over Notre Dame
Schweinfurth: Wisconsin over Alabama
Seeberg: North Texas over Texas Tech
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