This column is presented by SuperWest Sports, a media partner of Oregon Sports News.
Wise is the bettor who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense Betting Tips before logging on to his sportsbook.
I may not always be perfect, but if you’ve followed my advice in the past, you’re already ahead of the game.
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!
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UNLV at Kansas
Friday, September 13
4:00 pm PT, ESPN
UNLV could just be starting up. Last week, they buried Utah Tech, and in the opener, they destroyed a solid Houston team on the road.
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 star 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
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No. 20 Arizona at No. 14 Kansas State
Friday, September 13
5:00 pm PT, FOX
In this matchup, two Big 12 teams square off in their Big 12 opener, except this is a nonconference.
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 surrounded by talented safeties.
KSU’s scoring defense currently ranks 47th nationally.
This game seems 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 catfight.
Kansas State 31, Arizona 28
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No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State
Saturday, September 14
12:30 pm PT, Fox
Maybe the best thing that happened to Oregon this year is starting out slow. First, they were tested by Idaho and then Boise State, so there should be no reason why the Ducks are not prepared for this contest.
UO is led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel and halfback Jordan James on offense. But they’ve yet to find a standout receiver—maybe The Duck?
Oregon State still needs to respect its rivals. Although both squads enter this contest undefeated, UO is 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
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Washington State at Washington
Saturday, September 14
12:30 pm PT, Peacock
Washington won the Apple Cup last year, and everyone from Washington State remembers.
In the first-ever nonconference 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 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, a real threat on the ground, rushing for 197 yards against Tech.
WSU has played a bit tougher of a schedule, but Washington is 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
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Indiana at UCLA
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, NBC
I’ve always been a fan of Ethan Garbers, but I’m not sure why. In this contest, we have a matchup between two even teams, and it could go either way.
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 the 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
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New Mexico at Auburn
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2
This is an unfortunate situation for New Mexico. The Lobos probably have improved under Bronco Mendenhall, but they’re facing an angry Auburn team in Auburn after an upset loss to California.
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
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Colorado at Colorado State
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, CBS
If Deion Sanders loses this contest, he should probably stop talking sh*t.
Colorado was destroyed by Nebraska last week, and it felt embarrassing. If they want to avoid the same fate against rival Colorado State, they have to find themselves on offense.
The Buffaloes could not 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
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Air Force at Baylor
Saturday, September 14
4:30 pm PT, FS1
This is one of those timing things. Air Force enters this contest after a boring loss against San Jose State at home.
But worse than pressing the snooze button, 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. As Toledo’s quarterback, he averaged over 2,000 yards passing and 500 yards on the ground.
Finn will be complemented in the backfield by Dawson Pendergrass.
Baylor’s going to beat Air Force pretty easily.
Baylor 35, Air Force 14
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BYU at Wyoming
Saturday, September 14
6:00 pm PT, CBS Sports
Wyoming’s start to the year has proven tough. The Cowboys were upset at home by Idaho last Saturday and decimated by Arizona State in week one.
If the boys want to fix the ship, they’ll need to find any offense without Harrison Waylee.
Quarterback Evan Svoboda needs to do better. In the early season, he’s only thrown for 168 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. They should probably try anyone else if they want 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
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San Diego State at Cal
Saturday, September 14
7:30 pm PT, ESPN
California has proven me wrong so far this season. I did not expect much out of the Golden Bears, but they looked great against Auburn, even if Payton Thorne played like a**.
The Biggest concern for Cal is to avoid overlooking San Diego State. The Aztecs were shut out 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.
SDSU 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
