Editor’s note: This is week one of the Daily’s season-long Gridiron challenge. Each week, the Daily’s three football reporters and the sports desk’s columnist will choose the winner from seven college football games around the country and provide commentary on each game. Each week we will feature one guest pick, with this week’s guest being Iowa State Daily Editor-in-Chief Jessica Opoien.

Iowa State vs. Northern Illinois

Jake – Iowa State – Not everyone can start their season against powers like Eastern Illinois…ahem…

Chris – Iowa State – Cyclones may have dropped this two years ago. Not for this coach, not when the schedule only gets tougher.

Jeremiah – Iowa State – Coach Paul Rhoads will have the team ready to get off to a fast start, and I see A-Rob having a big game on the ground.

David – Iowa State – The Cyclones can’t sleep on this Huskie team that I think gives Iowa State a fight, but the Jack Trice crowd wills the home team to victory.

Jessica – Iowa State – A natural disaster versus a dog? Really? Cyclones beat Huskies, obviously.

 

Utah vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh

Jake – Pittsburgh – Utah is better than the pollsters give it credit for. I’m not sure about Pittsburgh. They’ll get game No. 1, though.

Chris – Pittsburgh – Dave Wannstedt’s spitting and cursing if Pitt lost this one could create a tropical storm. We don’t want that.

Jeremiah – Utah – Pitt will overlook a talented Utah team. The Utes will start their season off the right way at home with a win.

David – Utah – Upset alert. Utah’s high powered offense has enough to get this one done at home.

Jessica – Pittsburgh – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a Big East title – but I’ll look to defensive end Greg Romeus to start laying the foundation here.

No. 24 Oregon State vs. No. 6 TCU

Jake – TCU – The only way the TCU defense could be scarier is if they wore their Nike Pro Combat uniforms (see: Below).

Chris – Oregon State – Karma from not wearing last year’s Nike Pro Combat uniforms everywhere catches up to TCU. That, or the Rodgers brothers.

Jeremiah – TCU – A loss in the Fiesta Bowl will give TCU the motivation to start the season out right. Not to mention they have more talent.

David – TCU – Fear The Frog. TCU over the Beavers. Big.

Jessica – TCU – What do you get when you throw Horned Frogs onto a field with a bunch of Beavers? I don’t want to know, but leave it to the Beavers to lose.

No. 21 LSU vs. No. 18 North Carolina

Jake – LSU – Les Miles might be in trouble if this season goes downhill. Seriously. I know he’s won 70 percent of his games. I didn’t say it made sense!

Chris – North Carolina – ESPN says Butch Davis has more NFL talent than anyone in college football. I just think UNC doesn’t have the holes LSU does now.

Jeremiah – LSU – This will be a close game, but the talent and speed of the SEC will show through LSU, who will spoil UNC’s home opener.

David – LSU – When you add together Les Miles, the crowd in Death Valley and the Tigers’ stronger finish in 2009, it equals an LSU win.

Jessica – LSU – If the Tigers blow it, with North Carolina facing two misconduct investigations, Les Miles can probably kiss his job goodbye. Just sayin’.

No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech

Jake – Virginia Tech – People always rag on Boise for playing a cupcake schedule. Well, maybe they went too big, too fast.

Chris – Virginia Tech – Gonzaga’s football cousin has joined the big pond. The Hokies are big fish in said pond.

Jeremiah – Boise State – This likely being their toughest game, Boise State’s high powered offense will outgun a talented Va. Tech team.

David – Virginia Tech – Its hard to pick against the Broncos, but I’m going to anyway. Beamer Ball bucks the Broncos off their high horse.

Jessica – Boise State – Virginia Tech thinks they can pull one over on Kellen Moore? Hooookie then. Not gonna happen.

Notre Dame vs. Purdue

Jake – Purdue – Brian Kelly got NBC to shorten commercial breaks. Won’t make this season feel any shorter in South Bend. Long year head, Domers.

Chris – Notre Dame – As long the Irish don’t party at Panama City before kickoff, they should be able to knock off the freshly stocked Boilermakers.

Jeremiah – Notre Dame – The first game in the Brian Kelly era won’t leave the Irish faithful disappointed. An average Purdue defense will help ND get off to a good start.

David – Notre Dame – The Brian Kelly Era begins in South Bend. While some of the golden dome luster has disappeared, the Irish have too much pride to lose.

Jessica – Notre Dame – Dayne Crist, almighty. With Crist as quarterback, plus generally kick ass coach Brian Kelly, the Fighting Irish should have this locked.

UCLA vs. Kansas State

Jake – UCLA – UCLA might win this one, but only about six people outside of Los Angeles (see: population of Manhattan, Kan.) will notice. Or care.

Chris – Kansas State – This one was a struggle last season, but I’ve got Bill Snyder over Neuheisel in an arm wrestling match, so K-State gets the W.

Jeremiah – UCLA – Two average teams will meet on UCLA’s home field, and that will give them the advantage.

David – UCLA – Will anyone be paying attention to this one?

Jessica – Kansas State – “Slick Rick” will have to pull from his bag of tricks – but he won’t get my pick, ‘cause I think the Bruins’ butts will get kicked.