Editor’s note: This week one of the Daily’s season long Gridiron challenge. Each week four of the Daily’s football reporters, along with a weekly guest pick,  will choose the winner from nine college football games from around the country and provide commentary about each game.

Nate Sandell – Managing editor of sports (0-0)

Chris Cuellar – Staff Writer (0-0)

Michael Zogg – Staff Writer (0-0)

Jake Lovett – Assistant Sports Editor (0-0)

Guest pick – Zach Thompson/ Iowa State Daily Editor-in-chief and non-sports fan (0-0)

1. Iowa State vs. North Dakota State

Nate: Iowa State — All roads lead to Rhoads getting a debut victory. Plus it better not be close, we have a deadline to meet.

Chris: Iowa State — This might be close for a while, but the Cyclones’ depth will be too much for the Bison to rob Paul Rhoads of his first victory at Jack Trice.

Michael: Iowa State — The Rhoads era gets off to a more auspicious start then the Chizik era did.

Jake: Iowa State — Really? I mean, no disrespect to the Bison … But, really?

Zach: Iowa State — You can’t not root for your own team on the first game of the season. And I love the Cyclones.

2. Northern Iowa @ No. 22 Iowa

Nate: Iowa — The Hawkeyes will be a comfortable 1–0 when they come to Ames next weekend.

Chris: Iowa — UNI is ranked No. 4 in the country. Unfortunately, that’s in the little brother FCS, and the Hawkeyes don’t care about those rankings.

Michael: Iowa — Ferentz earns that $3 million contract with a big win over an FCS power.

Jake: Iowa — Only because they’re playing at home. Any other way I wouldn’t be sold. Closer than the experts think.

Zach: Northern Iowa — You can’t root for Iowa. Ever.

3. No. 13 Georgia @ No. 9 Oklahoma St.

Nate: Oklahoma State — A high-powered attack led by Heisman hopeful Zac Robinson will be enough to quell Georgia’s upset bid.

Chris: Oklahoma State — The Bulldogs will find out how much they miss Stafford and Moreno when Zac Robinson throws his sixth touchdown pass.

Michael: Oklahoma State — Zac Robinson will lead the Cowboys over a Georgia team adjusting to life without Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford.

Jake: Oklahoma State — Zac Robinson is really, really good. Now the whole country will know it.

Zach: Oklahoma State — Cowboys vs. Bulldogs? Spurs win every time.

4. Florida Atlantic @ No. 24 Nebraska

Nate: Nebraska — The Huskers’ pursuit of the top spot in the Big 12 North gets off to a smooth start against a nocturnal Florida Atlantic squad.

Chris: Nebraska — Bo Pelini is going to want to end the Owls’ dreams for an upset early on, and the Huskers’ size on the line will likely accomplish that.

Michael: Nebraska — They may not be the feared Cornhuskers of the ‘90s, but they have to be better than Florida Atlantic, right?

Jake: Nebraska — Bo Pelini’s revitalization of the once-storied program begins to take its form this season.

Zach: Nebraska — As much as I’m sure we’re supposed to hate Nebraska, I’ve never even heard of Florida Atlantic, and what sort of school chooses an owl for its team’s mascot?

5. Baylor @ Wake Forest

Nate: Baylor — Baylor is poised to cause a headache for the rest of the Big 12 South this season, but for starters, the Bears will send Wake Forest running to the nearest drug store.

Chris: Baylor — The scrappy Wake Forest team just doesn’t have enough to contain the Flying Griffins for four quarters. My pick for under-the-radar game of the week and Baylor’s coming out party.

Michael: Baylor — Robert Griffin will make a big leap in his sophomore season. His first victim will be the Demon Deacons.

Jake: Baylor — The young Bears can take down one of the ACC’s more mediocre teams.

Zach: Wake Forest — I think I remember Baylor being pretty terrible, and the Demon Deacons? Awesome.

6. No. 5 Alabama @ No. 7 Virginia Tech

Nate: Alabama — A surprisingly tight matchup in week one. The Hokies will put up a valiant effort, but Alabama will sneak out of the Virgina foothills victorious.

Chris: Virginia Tech — Frank Beamer is returning a boatload of talent, but is facing tricky Nick Saban in a huge, early season game. Special teams and defense will win this for the Hokies, just like it has for 10 years.

Michael: Alabama — Alabama’s defense will shut down Virgina Tech.

Jake: Alabama — Should be a fantastic game. Could go down to the wire. Nick Saban may even smile at the end … Maybe.

Zach: Alabama — Not only do they have two points/seats/spots on Virgina Tech — I can never remember what those are called — elephants trample hokies any day.

7. Missouri @ Illinois

Nate: Illinois — The Illini put the Tigers on the road to what could be a disappointing season for the Missouri faithful.

Chris: Illinois — Illinois is last year’s Missouri. Missouri is last year’s Kansas State.

Michael: Illinois — Juice is thirsty for a win after falling just short against the Tigers the past two years.

Jake: Illinois — Missouri is down from the run-and-gun squad of the last couple seasons. A long way down.

Zach: Illinois — No numbers on this matchup. From what I can tell, Illinois doesn’t even have a mascot, but I like Chicago.

8. No. 20 Brigham Young @ No. 3 Oklahoma

Nate: Oklahoma — With a quick score, BYU could hang with the Sooners for the first quarter, but Bradford and Co. will eventually put the game well out of reach.

Chris: Oklahoma — Usually Bob Stoops doesn’t schedule a real non-conference opponent until the annual bowl game loss, and Max Hall and the Cougars aren’t pushovers. No way Bradford lets his Heisman-defending season start with a loss on primetime TV.

Michael: Oklahoma — The Sooners are just too big, too fast and too strong for the Cougars.

Jake: Oklahoma — Two-time Heisman winner? Sam Bradford begins his defense in a big way against BYU.

Zach: Oklahoma — Even I know that three is better than 20.

9. Louisiana Tech @ Auburn

Nate: Auburn — A decent returning cast will help start the Chizik era on the right note, but fans should be advised … Don’t buy your Chizik commemorative coins just yet.

Chris: Auburn — The Tigers return a lot of their talent and speed from last year, and after trying to run up the gut in the gunslinging Big 12, Coach Chizik tries his hand in the spread in the smash mouth SEC. It’ll work for at least a few of their eight home games.

Michael: Auburn — Louisiana Tech will find it too hard to move the ball against Chizik’s “firmly entrenched” defense.

Jake: Auburn — Gene Chizik builds up hopes for those Auburn faithful who doubted his hire. Then he’ll do his best to smash those dreams once SEC play begins.

Zach: Auburn — Bulldogs and Tigers aside, Auburn’s just a sweet name for a school. Earns my vote.