Week 1 wasn’t the best week of football. Those are yet to come. And maybe it’s just me, but it seemed there was a greater separation between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in week 1. However, that can’t be said when looking at the MAC versus the Big Ten. Ohio was only down 28-21 to Nebraska in the fourth quarter, Michigan State didn’t exactly walk all over Toledo, Rutgers got dismantled by UMass and there isn’t anyone in the world that can look you straight in the eye and say Michigan won the game against Western Michigan. The last time I witnessed such a travesty they were putting one more second back on the clock in a Big XII Championship game in Texas. It wasn’t a good look for college football then, and it’s even a worse look now.

Reminder – this year I’m listing games in two categories, “Must See” and “Of Interest”. They’ll be signified as follows:

Must See games M

Games of Interest O

Here are my 10 games for the week. Let’s get to it.

Friday, September 11

O (23) Missouri 1-0 vs Kansas 1-0

FOX 7:00pm

The Kansas versus Missouri ‘Border War’ series has been played 121 times since 1891, making it the 10th most played rivalry in college football. Missouri holds a slim advantage in the series with a record of 57-55-9. The two teams won’t meet again until 2031. The Tigers are still without running back Ahmad Hardy and will look to former Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons, who went 17/19 for 252 yards, and 4 TDs last week in a win over Arkansas Pine Bluff. Simmons is the difference in this game. 

Win Probability – Missouri 66.5%

Las Vegas Odds – Kansas +5.5, O/U 50.5

OTC’s Pick – Missouri

Saturday, September 12

O Arizona State 1-0 vs (10) Texas A&M 1-0

ABC 11:00am

This is not the Arizona State Levitt led team of the past. If it were, look out Aggies. Kenny Dilingham is a good coach and his Sundevils are talented but neither will get them over the hump against Mike Elko, the Aggie’s better talent and the twelfth man at A&M. However, former Kentucky QB Cutter Boley and his supporting cast will make the Aggies work for the win. This is a good test for Elko and his crew. 

Win Probability – Texas A&M 83.5%

Las Vegas Odds – Arizona State +14.5, O/U 50.5

OTC’s Pick – Texas A&M

M (11) Oklahoma 1-0 vs Michigan 1-0

FOX 11:00pm

I was disappointed to see Michigan look so soft. It was a very un-Whittingham-like performance. I anticipate Michigan will look better in game two, but I don’t see Bryce Underwood turning it around to the point of beating the Sooners. I may have jumped the gun on Michigan, especially if Underwood stays in the lineup. If Underwood plays like he did last week and Whittingham doesn’t bench him for Carr, Kyle will quickly become unpopular in Ann Arbor. Oklahoma smells blood and brings justice with them.

Win Probability – Oklahoma 68.1%

Las Vegas Odds – Michigan +5.5, O/U 43.5

OTC’s Pick – Oklahoma

O Mississippi State 1-0 vs Minnesota 1-0

CBS 2:30pm

This is a big game between a bottom feeder SEC team and mid-tier B1G team. It’s also the first all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Gophers. And it’s the first home game for the Gophers against an SEC opponent since Vanderbilt in 1959. I have to go with Mississippi State in this one. For one, I like Bulldog QB Kamario Taylor. Minnesota’s Lindsey is a good QB, but he can’t and won’t run like Taylor. And number two, I don’t think Libby has done a bad job, it’s just hard to get a club off the ground in the SEC, especially when they’ve been told to ‘stay down’ for such a long time. Right or wrong, I just can’t bring myself to row that freaking boat.

Win Probability – Mississippi State 50.7%

Las Vegas Odds – Minnesota -1.5, O/U 55.5

OTC’s Pick – Mississippi State

O Arizona 1-0 vs (15) BYU 1-0

ESPN 8:00pm

BYU hasn’t lost at home since 2024, and the Cougars will be looking to make a statement against Big XII opponent Arizona. Life against Kalani Sitake has never been easy for Wildcat’s QB Noah Fifita, as the Cougars have brought pressure on 40% of his drop backs over the last two meetings. And with good reason, Fifita is making his 35th consecutive start and is already the Wildcat’s career leader in touchdown passes. But it’ll be QB Bear Bachmeier that determines the outcome of this one. Arizona has trouble containing mobile quarterbacks, and Bachmeier is more than mobile.

Win Probability – BYU 73.6%

Las Vegas Odds – Arizona +6.5, O/U 47.5

OTC’s Pick – BYU

O (12) Alabama 1-0 vs Kentucky 1-0

ABC 2:30pm

This game is about two head coaches trying to prove themselves and two young quarterbacks doing the same. For Alabama it’s Kalen DeBoer and Keelan Russell. For Kentucky it’s Will Stien and Kenny Minchey. DeBoer has a chip on his shoulder because it’s been pointed out that he’ll never be Nick Saban. Stien is a first-year head coach at a school where he’s been told he can’t win. And the quarterbacks…well, they’re young, talented, and ready to make a name for themselves. Bama is still Bama. Kentucky is still Kentucky. 

Win Probability – Alabama 78.6%

Las Vegas Odds – Alabama -10.5, O/U 49.5

OTC’s Pick – Alabama

O Memphis 2-0 vs Boise State 0-1

USA 4:00pm

This is a monster game in the Group of Six. Memphis faces Boise after knocking off UNLV. The Tigers also have G6 contenders Tulane, Army, South Florida, and Navy on their schedule. They have a path to the playoffs. Boise made a good showing against Oregon in week one and kicks off their first season in the revamped PAC 12. The new conference means the Bronco’s face consistently better competition each week. It won’t be a walk in the park, and they face Western Michigan in game 4, which could be challenging after what Western did to Michigan.   

Win Probability – Boise State 74.3%

Las Vegas Odds – Memphis +6.5, O/U 53.5

OTC’s Pick – Memphis

M Bowling Green 0-1 vs Nebraska 1-0

FS1 6:00pm

This one shouldn’t be a game. But Matt Rhule and Nebraska seem to have a way of making the dullest of pennies shine. And God forbids meany Matt do anything like spank former Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George’s butt and send him home. Rhule needs to suit as many players as he’s allowed, play every one of them, and if he racks up 84 points, so be it. Somebody get Rhule that tee-shirt that says, “Sportsmanship is for Losers.” I don’t really believe that, but it wouldn’t hurt Rhule to find a new attitude and be hated for winning big.

Win Probability – Nebraska 93.5%

Las Vegas Odds – Bowling Grenn +28.5, O/U 51.5

OTC’s Pick – Nebraska

M (1) Ohio State 1-0 vs (4) Texas 1-0

ABC 6:30pm

After Michigan’s performance last week this became the biggest game of the week. This one will tell us a lot about both teams. Does Ohio State have a shot at running the table with Indiana, Oregon, Michigan and USC on their schedule? Is Texas as good as always advertised or is Sarkisian all bark and no bite? Two winning coaches with a game that could become a red flag on their resume.

Win Probability – Texas 52.5%

Las Vegas Odds – Ohio State +1.5, O/U 48.5

OTC’s Pick – Ohio State

O Iowa State 1-0 vs (21) Iowa 1-0

NBC 6:30PM

I’m not a big Iowa State and Jimmy Rogers fan. However, I would like to see this team have a winning season after they way they were gutted and left for dead. Plus, I always root for Iowa State over Iowa. Go figure. I respect what Rodgers did at South Dakoata State and I think he’s a good fit in Ames. He has big shoes to fill behind Campbell, and it’ll be more than difficult for the Cyclones to get a fifth straight win against the Hawkeyes.

Win Probability – Iowa 84.8%

Las Vegas Odds – Iowa State +13.5. O/U 40.5

OTC’s Pick – Iowa

I ended up picking 10 games and selected teams that were of interest to me and perhaps not so much the college football world. This was a far better slate of games than last week, and it’s early in the season and as teams start building their resumes, the games will get even better.

GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!

Art worked designed and owned by Lyle Harmon and ‘Off the Cob’.

Stay on top of Husker football at CarrikerChronicles.com