Jake Calhoun, sports editor (26-23)

Dean Berhow-Goll, assistant sports editor (30-19)

Alex Halsted, assistant sports editor (27-22)

Stephen Koenigsfeld, sports online editor (33-16)

Guest Pick: Mickey Belding, ISD opinion editor (24-18)

 

Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State

Jake Calhoun: Iowa State — I know I look like I’m drinking the Kool-Aid, but Oklahoma State is having a lot of issues this year.

Dean Berhow-Goll: Iowa State — I hate to hop on the bandwagon, but Oklahoma State hasn’t found itself yet and Iowa State is in a must-win situation.

Alex Halsted: Iowa State — Tough choice, but Oklahoma State struggled with Kansas and the ISU defense should contain them.

Stephen Koenigsfeld: Iowa State — A threatening ISU defense against a struggling Oklahoma State defense says it all.

Mickey Belding: Iowa State — Oklahoma may be where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain, but Iowa is a wind tunnel. You know, because of Nebraska and Illinois.

Michigan State vs. No. 23 Michigan

Calhoun: Michigan — I have literally run out of ways to say the Big Ten sucks.

Berhow-Goll: Michigan — Both these teams have been on a rollercoaster this season, but Michigan takes sweet mo’ into the Big House with them.

Halsted: Michigan — The Spartans blew a win against Iowa, and it’ll only get worse from there.

Koenigsfeld: Michigan — Denard Robinson is going to have a field day with Sparty’s defensive woes.

Belding: Michigan State — I could say something cliche about how “This is Sparta,” but since they’re playing in Ann Arbor, I can’t. Oh well.

No. 6 LSU vs. No. 20 Texas A&M

Calhoun: Texas A&M — Upset alert: Les Miles still has no idea what he’s doing.

Berhow-Goll: LSU — One of the best defenses in the country and a win against South Carolina is enough to convince me.

Halsted: LSU — Kyle Field has grass? Yes? So Les Miles can take a bite of it before the game? In that case I’ll take LSU.

Koenigsfeld: LSU — Tigers are almost just as good on the road as they are at home. Possible BCS title contender.

Belding: Texas A&M — Their only loss was the first game of the season. Who doesn’t want to see them keep it going?

No. 9 South Carolina vs. No. 3 Florida

Calhoun: South Carolina — Upset alert: I really just don’t want to see an all-SEC championship game this year.

Berhow-Goll: South Carolina — Still riding the Lattimore train. I love the ol’ ball coach’s team this year.

Halsted: South Carolina — I missed on South Carolina last week, but I think they’ll bounce back following a close loss to LSU.

Koenigsfeld: Florida — I think the Gators might be for real, you guys.

Belding: Florida — The old farewell is wrong. “See ya later, alligator” doesn’t apply here.

No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 17 West Virginia

Calhoun: West Virginia — The Mountaineers will be hungry after getting upset last week. Plus Bill Snyder is really old.

Berhow-Goll: West Virginia — I don’t believe the Wildcat offense is EXPLOSIVE enough to keep up with West Virginia. Geno Smith gets back on track.

Halsted: Kansas State — I think the Wildcats might be for real. We’ll find out if their defense can control the West Virginia offense.

Koenigsfeld: Kansas State — Research shows Collin Klein is actually the great-great-great-great-great-nephew of Bill Snyder.

Belding: West Virginia — I feel like a killing a wildcat is a basic rite of passage for any mountaineer.

No. 18 Texas Tech vs. TCU

Calhoun: Texas Tech — Texas Tech has been vulnerable after pulling off upsets, but Purple Baylor will still struggle with Pachall in detox.

Berhow-Goll: Texas Tech — If their defense keeps this up and Doege keeps rolling, the Red Raiders are going to wreak havoc in the Big 12.

Halsted: Texas Tech — I’m going with the Masked Rider to beat the Horned Frog.

Koenigsfeld: TCU — Students are back from fall break. Amon G. Carter will be full for this one.

Belding: Texas Tech — Raiders vs. a frog. A horned frog, sure. But it’s still an amphibian.

North Carolina vs. Duke

Calhoun: Duke — I just want to see Duke become bowl eligible for the first time since 1995.

Berhow-Goll: North Carolina — UNC is a few points away from being undefeated. Also I don’t believe Coach K has any sort of pull on the football field.

Halsted: North Carolina — This isn’t basketball, so it’s not all that interesting. But I think Duke waits at least another week for bowl eligibility.

Koenigsfeld: Duke — Lots of potential for this to be a good football game, as long as Pam Ward stays out of it.

Belding: North Carolina — Tar is sticky. The Blue Devils will probably get stuck to the bottom of North Carolina’s foot. I don’t think that counts as “winning.”