Jake Calhoun, sports editor (21-14)

Dean Berhow-Goll, assistant sports editor (22-13)

Alex Halsted, assistant sports editor (21-14)

Stephen Koenigsfeld, sports online editor (25-10)

Guest Pick: Aimee Burch, ISD news online editor (19-9)

 

Iowa State vs. No. 16 TCU

Jake Calhoun: TCU — I’ll probably be able to see the glare from TCU’s new chrome helmets from the press box. Those are sweet.

Dean Berhow-Goll: Iowa State — Upset Alert! Casey Pachall might not play. Iowa State will get the focus back to ground game where it should be.

Alex Halsted: TCU — The Horned Frogs will get a better test than they did in their welcoming from Kansas, but they’ll still be too much.

Stephen Koenigsfeld: TCU — 24 hours in a car with Calhoun. This better be a good inaugural Big 12 home game.

Aimee Burch: TCU — There’s a movie I hate that says, “There’s no place like home.” Welcome to your new home, TCU.

Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse

Calhoun: Pittsburgh — This game will be an ACC conference game next year and people still won’t care about it.

Berhow-Goll: Syracuse — My Orangemen are a little underrated. Ryan Nassib will throw big yards.

Halsted: Syracuse — The start of a future ACC rivalry game — how riveting.

Koenigsfeld: Syracuse — Google their mascot. You’ll know why I chose them.

Burch: Pittsburgh — Seriously? An orange? Who would really be intimidated by that?

No. 4 LSU vs. No. 10 Florida

Calhoun: LSU — Instead of a redneck joke, I will say LSU’s pass defense is sixth in the nation while Florida’s passing game is 110th. Yeah.

Berhow-Goll: LSU — Florida is coming out of nowhere, but I believe LSU has a date with Alabama in the SEC Title Game.

Halsted: LSU — I went back and forth with this one. Hopefully I won’t be second-guessing myself.

Koenigsfeld: LSU — There will be no Gator chomp against the Tigers this weekend.

Burch: Florida — Tebow got shut out last weekend. Here’s hoping his alma mater doesn’t do the same.

No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 6 South Carolina

Calhoun: Georgia — The Bulldogs keep the wheels from falling off by stunning the Gamecocks’ stout run defense.

Berhow-Goll: Georgia — A sneaky national title pick here. Todd Gurley has Georgia fans forgetting about Crowell.

Halsted: South Carolina — Normally a bulldog would destroy a gamecock, but Spurrier will have his team ready; plus this is between football players.

Koenigsfeld: South Carolina — Bulldogs are just ugly animals…

Burch: Georgia — Have to go with Calhoun on this one. Georgia’s got it. And besides, who doesn’t love bulldogs?

No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Texas

Calhoun: West Virginia — The Mountaineers won’t need to play defense if they can keep putting up 70 points per game.

Berhow-Goll: West Virginia — Which team’s quarterback has a 20-0 TD/INT ratio? Oh, okay.

Halsted: West Virginia — Wait, the Mountaineers will actually face some defense this week? Eh, they’ll still put up enough points.

Koenigsfeld: Texas — WVU has a lot of offense. Texas has a lot of defense. And David Ash.

Burch: West Virginia — They seem to be having no trouble transitioning to the Big 12, judging by last week’s performance.

No. 21 Nebraska vs. No. 12 Ohio State

Calhoun: Nebraska — Bo Pelini concludes every answer to questions from the media with “and you’re a moron.” #bopelinifunfacts

Berhow-Goll: Ohio State — Urban Meyer has something going here. And Braxton Miller should be getting more national recognition.

Halsted: Nebraska — Bo Pelini beats his alma mater for a second year.

Koenigsfeld: Ohio State — The Buckeyes didn’t disappoint last weekend. Why not go 2-2.

Burch: Nebraska — This wins for weirdest mascot showdown of the weekend. In other news, ol’ Brutus Buckeye will have to wipe that creepy smirk off his face after this game.

Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 9 Notre Dame (in Chicago)

Calhoun: Notre Dame — Catholic School USA rolls again in this one.

Berhow-Goll: Notre Dame — The more I watch, the more I love them. Manti Te’o could be the next big thing.

Halsted: Notre Dame — Will Notre Dame continue to (finally) live up to their expectations? For at least one more week they will.

Koenigsfeld: Notre Dame — Whoever decided on the location for this game just threw a dart at the map and said “There! That’s where we’ll hold the game.”

Burch: Notre Dame — ”Three cheers for old Notre Dame…” and that’s all of the song I really know. But you get where I’m going.