By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
September 5, 2025
Wise is the fan who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense predictions before watching this weekend’s games.
Throughout the 2025 college football season, I give you my just-for-fun picks for contests involving the best teams in the West across five conferences.
Those teams include Arizona, ASU, BYU, Colorado, and Utah in the Big 12; Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in the Big Ten; Cal and Stanford in the ACC; Oregon State and WSU in the Pac-12; and all of the Mountain West.
I went 6-4 in the 10 Week 1 games, missing on Colorado, San Jose State, Oregon State, and UCLA. That brings my overall record to 8-5 on the season, good for 62%.
This week, I make picks for the following 10 games:
- San Jose State at Texas
- Oklahoma State at Oregon
- Delaware at Colorado
- Fresno State at Oregon State
- Arizona State at Mississippi State
- Georgia Southern at USC
- UCLA at UNLV
- San Diego State at Washington State
- Stanford at BYU
- Sam Houston State at Hawaii
You will also want to read my previews of ACC and Pac-12 games, Stephen Vilardo’s preview of the Mountain West and Big Ten matchups, and Dane Miller’s previews of the Big 12 contests.
As always, my selections come with my best game-score guesses and just enough commentary to keep me from drinking too much coffee here in the South Shore District of Seattle.
I’m already on my second cup, so let’s get on with the picks!
San Jose State at No. 7 Texas
San Jose State at No. 7 Texas
Saturday, September 6
9:00 AM PT, ABC
SJSU opened up their season with a loss to Central Michigan at home. The loss snapped a 10-game road losing streak for the Chippewas.
The upset may be attributed to Matt Drinkall’s familiarity with Ken Niumatalolo’s schemes. Drinkall spent the previous six years in a variety of offensive roles at Army, while Niumatalolo was previously at Navy.
Whatever it is, Walker Eget needs to protect the ball better. Eget threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, but he also had three turnovers. Two of them left CMU with good field position.
One standout against Central Michigan was Danny Scudero, who finished with nine receptions, 189 yards, and one touchdown. He could prove crucial in helping to replace some of the production lost by Nick Nash.
The Spartans aren’t gonna win in Austin, but they need to play better.
Even if they do, they’re gonna get booted in Texas.
Texas 52, SJSU 14
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon 
Saturday, September 6
12:30 AM PT, CBS
“Oregon is paying a lot, a lot of money for their team.” He said, adding that, “from a non-conference standpoint, there’s coaches saying they should play teams with similar budgets.”
These comments make sense but they don’t. By his logic, Oklahoma State probably shouldn’t play UT Martin or Tulsa in the non-conference.
Anyway, Oregon is favored by 28 points in this matchup, and the Ducks have a lot more talent than the Cowboys. This isn’t the same OSU squad that we’re accustomed to seeing. They finished 3-9 in 2024.
UO looked phenomenal in the opener, routing a well-coached Montana State team. Dante Moore had an impressive debut throwing for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
The Pokes didn’t have an offensive standout against UT Martin. They also won’t have one against Oregon.
Gundy shouldn’t have poked the Duck.
Oregon 49, Oklahoma State 17
Delaware at Colorado
Delaware at Colorado
Saturday, September 6
12:30 pm PT, FOX
The Buffaloes were thought to have an improved defense line, but they got decimated on the ground by Tech.
CU allowed 320 rushing yards against the Yellow Jackets. GT’s quarterback Haynes King ran for 156, and added three touchdowns on the ground.
With the uncertainty of Colorado’s offense due to the losses of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, this is something to pay attention to going forward.
Kaidon Salter played well in the opener, but this is an opportunity to find himself against a weaker opponent. Salter threw for 159 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions against Tech.
He also added 43 yards and one touchdown with his feet.
This should be a “get right” game for CU’s defense, a contest the Buffaloes need to win, but they gotta do it in style.
Buffs in a stampede.
Colorado 42, Delaware 14
Fresno State at Oregon State
Fresno State at Oregon State
Saturday, September 6
12:30 PM PT, The CW
Oregon State is desperate for a victory after their opening-week debacle. The Beavers made countless mistakes that cost them the game against Cal.
Against Fresno State, Maalik Murphy needs to perform. If OSU loses this contest, their season could become unmanageable, with the next two games against Texas Tech and Oregon.
There’s not a lot to take away from the Beavs’ opening contest, but their defense looked decent enough against the Golden Bears.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a trouncing of Georgia Southern last week. E.J. Warner still hasn’t found himself at quarterback yet.
Warner has thrown for 355 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions in their first two matchups.
But the Bulldogs crushed the Eagles because of the halfback tandem of Bryson Donelson and Rayshon Luke. The duo combined for 263 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Fresno is good, but Oregon State isn’t ready to give up yet.
OSU scoots by.
Oregon State 31, Fresno State 27
No. 12 Arizona State at Mississippi State
No. 12 Arizona State at Mississippi State
Saturday, September 6
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2
The Sun Devils looked decent in the opener, but they never killshotted Northern Arizona as expected from a Top 15 team. They also committed 12 penalties against the Lumberjacks.
The contest at Mississippi State this week is a rematch from last season. Sparky was led by Cameron Skattebo, who had a combined 298 yards in the matchup.
If ASU is going to get another victory, they’ll need to have a balanced attack on offense. The Bulldogs held Southern Miss to 3.0 yards per carry in the opener.
In last year’s matchup in Tempe, Arizona State took a 24-point lead into the break.
Blake Shapen and the rest of the dawgs are gonna remember this. Shapen performed well statistically, but his squad got rocked.
Even though Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson are probably the best players on the field, SEC road games are different.
The Sun Devils might have a 79 percent total production retention, but they’d need 80 to beat Miss State.
Bust out the cowbells.
Mississippi State 28, ASU 24
Georgia Southern at USC
Georgia Southern at USC 
Saturday, September 6
4:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network
USC enters this contest after throttling Missouri State last week. The Trojans beat the Bears by sixty points. Jayden Maiava threw for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the matchup.
SC featured a balanced attack with four different players rushing for at least 30 yards. They also had three receivers go for over 70.
If USC can continue this balance they’ll be a tough offense to contain.
This is gonna be particularly difficult for Georgia Southern because their best defensive back, Marques Watson-Trent, is gone, and Fresno ran all over them last week.
Four years ago Clay Helton was fired as the Head Coach of USC. In 2025, he makes his return to the Coliseum.
But Lincoln Riley isn’t losing to Georgia Southern, because if he does, he’ll be next up.
Trojans stab the Eagles.
USC 45, Georgia Southern 10
UCLA at UNLV
UCLA at UNLV
Saturday, September 6
5:00 PM PT, CBSSN
The key to the Bruins season going forward is winning their next three contests. Nico Iamaleava didn’t come to L.A. to lose, and he’ll be looking to rebound against UNLV.
Iamaleava threw for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the opener. The limited production is not really his fault though, Utah pressured him the entire game.
He should have more time against the Rebels because their defensive line is inexperienced. UNLV hasn’t looked amazing in their first two outings, but they’re 2-0.
The Rebels have a new head coach, signal-caller, and lost most of their notable players on defense. Anthony Colandrea has been alright so far, throwing for 444 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Jai’Den Thomas is their best player on offense at the halfback position. UCLA got embarrassed in Week One, and they have a good enough rush defense to limit Thomas.
The Bruins hit the jackpot.
UCLA 42, UNLV 21
San Diego State at Washington State
San Diego State at Washington State
Saturday, September 6
7:15 PM PT, The CW
WSU finished with a total of 211 yards and only three on the ground. If the Cougs can’t find a way to generate more offense this week, they’ll probably lose against San Diego State.
The Aztecs scored 42 points in their opener against Stony Brook.
But this isn’t a clear reflection of SDSU’s offense, they scored 45 points in the 2024 opener, but didn’t tally more than 27 points in a game the remainder of the season.
A major reason Sean Lewis was selected as the head coach of San Diego State is because of his “AztecFAST” offense. The Aztecs only averaged 21.3 points per game in 2024, which was 116th in the nation.
Lewis has a new starting quarterback in Jayden Denegal, who’s hoping to spark this unit. SDSU and WSU feel like a perfect level-up for each other.
This is a stylistic matchup between a gritty defense and a quick offense.
Life’s always been slower in the country, the Cougs “Git-R-Done” on the Palouse.
Washington State 21, SDSU 17
Stanford at BYU
Stanford at BYU
Saturday, September 6
7:15 pm PT, ESPN
To compete against BYU, the Cardinal needs Ben Gulbranson to step up.
The senior quarterback posted a 7-1 record as the starting quarterback at Oregon State in 2022, so we know he can play better than he did in the opener.
It would also help if Micah Ford continues to make an impact. Ford rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown against Hawaii.
For the Cougars, all eyes will be on Bear Bachmeier. He and his brother Tiger transferred to Provo in the offseason from Stanford.
The Bachmeier brothers helped lead the Cougs to a 69-0 victory in their opener against Portland State. They were up by 49 at halftime.
Bear was efficient in the outing, throwing for 97 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. LJ Martin added 131 yards on the ground.
BYU should win this game easily, but Stanford can make things happen if they win the following two weeks.
The Bachmeier’s light the tree.
BYU 38, Stanford 20
Sam Houston State at Hawai’i
Sam Houston State at Hawai’i
Saturday, September 6
9:00 pm PT, Spectrum
He’s been dealing with an ankle injury all season.
For the rest of the Rainbow Warriors, this is an opportunity to get revenge for 2024. Sam Houston State beat Hawaii 31-13 last season.
The Bows escaped with a victory against Stanford in Week Zero, but they need to get a cleaner result for their fanbase. They’re only averaging 14 points per outing.
Outside of Alejado, the only consistent production on offense is Pofele Ashlock. Jackson Harris has also contributed at wide receiver.
Regardless of who’s playing signal caller for UH, they should be able to exploit Sam Houston State’s defense. The BearKats are allowing 39.5 points per game, which ranks 123rd nationally.
SHS feels like a team in transition while UH has a lot of returning experience. Hawaii’s experience will make the difference.
A tidal wave engulfs Sam Houston State.
Hawai’i 24, Sam Houston 20
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