Posted on September 13, 2024
|
I may not always be perfect, but if you’ve followed my advice in the past, you’re money ahead.
Every Friday in this space throughout the 2024 college football season, I give you my straight-up picks for games involving SuperWest teams.
For those who don’t know, that includes all the former Pac-12 teams, the Mountain West, plus BYU.
On rare occasions, when I blow a pick (or two), I evaluate my mistakes the following week, analyzing where I may have gone wrong.
Last week, I went 5-5—too many misses to review. Let’s just say it was a week of upsets, and most of us fell short. On the season, I’m still a respectable 14-6, good for 70 percent.
I fully expect to be basking in the glory of success again this week—and you should, too.
As always, my selections come with incredibly accurate game scores and just enough commentary to keep me from eating too many Cheetos here in the South Shore District of Seattle.
The bag is almost empty, so let’s get on with the picks!
UNLV at Kansas
Friday, September 13
4:00 pm PT, ESPN
Kansas beat some team named Lindenwood in week one and were upset in Champaign last Saturday against Illinois.
If the Jayhawks are going to get a dub they’ll need more consistency out of their quarterback Jalon Daniels, who threw three picks against the Fighting Illini.
For UNLV, it’s also about their signal caller. Matthew Sluka has been solid through the first two games but nothing extraordinary.
Sluka will need to execute, because Kansas might have the best cornerback combination in the Big 12 in Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant. This duo should make it tough on Rebels starout wideout Ricky White III forcing other players to step up.
The others might make a few plays, but not enough to get a win.
Jayhawks bounce back at their home away from home.
Kansas 35, UNLV 27
No. 20 Arizona at No. 14 Kansas State
Friday, September 13
5:00 pm PT, FOX
The key to this contest should be Arizona’s defensive line versus Kansas State’s top 20 rushing attack. The “purple” Wildcats have a dangerous trio at the tailback position led by DJ Giddens. Are tailbacks still around?
This should prove challenging for the “red and blue” Wildcats who feature four new starters on their defensive line.
Flipping the script, the purple team should have enough playmakers in their secondary to slow down UA’s best receiver in Tetairoa McMillan. Jacob Parrish is a standout at the corner position and he’s surrounded by talented safeties.
KSU’s scoring defense currently ranks 47th nationally.
This game figures to be explosive and boring, but as long as it remains boring, K-State should be able to eke it out on the ground.
State wins the cat fight.
Kansas State 31, Arizona 28
No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State
Saturday, September 14
12:30 pm PT, Fox
On offense, UO is led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel and halfback Jordan James. But they’ve yet to find a stand out receiver—maybe The Duck?
Oregon State still needs to respect their rivals. Even though both squads enter this contest undefeated, UO’s the more complete team.
The Beaver defense has proven impressive, holding teams to only 7.5 points per game, but they’ll need Gevani McCoy to step up if they’re going to party at Squirrels.
They’ll also need the running back duo of Anthony Hankerson and Jamious Griffin to ball out.
OSU may have a top five running game nationally but Oregon isn’t losing to the Beavs again.
The Ducks find their feet.
Oregon 38, Oregon State 24
Washington State at Washington
Saturday, September 14
12:30 pm PT, Peacock
In the first ever nonconference rivalry game these two teams should prove evenly matched. The Huskies enter this contest 2-0 after knocking off two marshmallows. This should be their first real game.
UW is led by halfback Jonah Coleman who’s rushed for 231 yards and three touchdowns in the first two contests.
Washington State blew out Texas Tech last Saturday and dispatched Portland State in week one. The Cougars are led by quarterback John Mateer, who’s a real threat on the ground, rushing for 197 yards against Tech.
WSU has played a bit tougher of a schedule but Washington’s probably the more talented team. There’s a cold-hearted feeling coming from this one, and it feels like it’s coming from the Cougs.
Mateer builds his legend, Go Cougs!
Washington State 42, Washington 30
Indiana at UCLA
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, NBC
The Bruins have gotta score more points than they did against Hawaii.
Garbers threw two interceptions in the opener, but generated over 300 yards of offense himself. He’ll also need help from the UCLA backfield, which ran for a depressing 24 yards against the Rainbow Warriors.
As for Indiana, we’re about to find out who they are. The Hoosiers won their opening two games against scrubs in blowout fashion.
They’re led by the duo of Kurtis Rourke at quarterback and Justice Ellison at halfback. In last week’s contest they tallied over 700 yards on offense and held their opponent to 121 total yards.
But last week isn’t this week, and Bloomington is different from L.A.
UCLA gets by.
UCLA 24, Indiana 20
New Mexico at Auburn
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2
If UNM is going to have a chance in this contest they’ll need to rattle Payton Thorne early. Thorne played atrocious against the Golden Bears and probably feels like he’s the reason the Tigers lost.
Back to life, back to reality.
The Lobos have one of the worst defenses in the nation in just about every statistical category, they’re literally the worst when it comes to yards allowed per game.
All Auburn needs to do is run the ball and play logical football, if they do anything stupid everyone should be fired.
Stupid is, as stupid does, but even being stupid won’t mess up the Tigers in this one. AU by 50.
Auburn 56, New Mexico 6
Colorado at Colorado State
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, CBS
Colorado got destroyed by Nebraska last week and it felt embarrassing. If they would like to avoid the same fate against rival Colorado State they gotta find themselves on offense.
The Buffaloes were unable to move the ball against the Cornhuskers until the game was over. Most teams can do that when the defense stops caring.
The Rams need to hope Tory Horton is healthy. Without Horton, CSU lacks playmakers against a Colorado offense primed for a rebound performance.
His injury has hurt the offensive production all year, including the play of quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. Fowler-Nicolosi has only thrown for 261 yards and one touchdown this season.
This game proved nasty last year, but the Buffs will not lose back-to-back rivalries, Deion’s ego isn’t built for that.
Buffs stomp on the Rams.
Colorado 42, CSU 17
Air Force at Baylor
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, FS1
But worse than pressing the snooze button is that Ken Niumatalolo showed Baylor exactly how to stop the Falcons triple-option attack. All the Bears need to do is follow the same scheme SJSU ran. The only difference is their players are more talented.
On the other side of the ball, the Baylor offense should be able to find themselves against a team that isn’t Utah.
The Bears are led by quarterback Dequan Finn who struggled last week, but was phenomenal in the MAC, where he averaged over 2,000 yards passing and 500 yards on the ground as Toledo’s quarterback.
Finn will be complemented in the backfield by Dawson Pendergrass.
Baylor’s going to beat Air Force pretty easily.
Baylor 35, Air Force 14
BYU at Wyoming
Saturday, September 14
6:00 pm PT, CBS Sports
If the boys would like to fix the ship they’ll need to find any offense without Harrison Waylee.
Quarterback Evan Svoboda needs to do better, he’s only thrown for 168 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in the early season. They should probably consider trying anyone else if they’d like to compete this year.
For BYU, they’re in the other boat. The Cougars had a huge upset win against SMU last Friday and they opened their season with a shellacking of Southern Illinois.
The key for the Cougs is to get Jake Retzlaff going early. BYU has enough talent at wideout to make things happen if Retzlaff makes the right reads.
Even though the Cougars are down to their third-string running back, Wyoming is playing fourth-string football.
BYU wins an odd one.
BYU 28, Wyoming 24
San Diego State at Cal
Saturday, September 14
7:30 pm PT, ESPN
The Biggest concern for Cal is to avoid overlooking San Diego State. The Aztecs were shutout against Oregon State and I’d expect Sean Lewis’ offense to bounce back, particularly against an in-state foe.
The key to this matchup is Fernando Mendoza. The Golden Bears signal-caller has thrown for 391 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the first two games.
But it’s more about his demeanor. His teammates call him “The Mayor” for a reason.
For SDSU, they must get Marquez Cooper the ball. True freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil looked shaky against OSU and Cal’s secondary made Auburn’s passing attack look bad.
Let’s put the logic aside, the Aztecs hang around, but the Bears eat them in the end.
California by four.
Cal 31, SDSU 27
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA)
21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. First Bet Offer up to $1500*. *Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.
-
Nick Bartlett’s 2024 Week 6 SuperWest Fearless Predictions
Picks for the weekend's top football games with Nick's trademark humor and off-beat perspective - October 4, 2024 -
SuperWest on Sundays: 2024 Week 5 CFB Games in Review
This week Nick Bartlett and Stephen Vilardo discuss the implications of key contests - September 29, 2024 -
Nick Bartlett’s 2024 Week 5 SuperWest Fearless Predictions
Game predictions with just enough commentary to keep Nick from eating too many Fritos - September 27, 2024