Last week’s Friday Locks left us sitting right in the middle — a clean .500 record at 6-6. Not a losing week, but not quite a winning one either. The silver lining is that we’ve established a baseline, and now the goal is to build on it, turn that momentum in our favor, and start stacking winning weeks. With several intriguing conference matchups on the slate this weekend, there’s no shortage of opportunities to do just that.
This week, our crew is diving into some of the most compelling storylines in college football. Caleb, Craig and Matt are all riding with Iowa State as the Cyclones travel to Cincinnati, while Vanderbilt’s surprising start has earned attention in their road test at Alabama. Matt is sticking with the Friday night lights in Provo, taking BYU to handle West Virginia, while also keeping an eye on Kentucky’s chances to hang with Georgia. Zack is looking for bounce-back statements from Georgia and Penn State after tough losses, along with a strong showing from Texas Tech at Houston. From double-digit spreads to tight Big 12 battles, we’ve got a full slate of picks to break down.
2025 Season Results
| Name | Last Week | Overall |
| Craig | 2-1 | 10-7-1 |
| Zack | 1-2 | 8-9-1 |
| Caleb | 2-1 | 8-10 |
| Matt | 1-2 | 6-12 |
Caleb
Iowa State (+1.5) at Cincinnati – ISU has looked like one of the better teams in the Big 12. Rocco Becht has this ISU team rolling and Cincinnati has been very underwhelming this season. I like ISU in this game a lot.
Vanderbilt (+10.5) at Alabama – While I do think Bama will win this game, Vandy has played great ball so far this season. Pavia has this team rolling and should keep this game really close.
Oklahoma (-44.5) vs Kent State – Oklahoma has been one of the better teams in the country while Kent State has been one the the worst. This Oklahoma defense is elite and this Oklahoma offense even without John Mateer will roll right over Kent State.
Craig
Iowa State (+1.5) at Cincinnati – The Cyclones have been very good to me on Friday locks. I’m gonna stick with them to win this one on the road at Cincinnati.
Vanderbilt (+11.5) at Alabama – This is the most excited matchup this week in my opinion. Diego Pavia went to Vanderbilt with a chip on his shoulder and has the Commodores off to a 5-0 start. I don’t think they’ll pull off the win, but I do think they’ll keep it close and cover this spread.
Texas (-4.5) at Florida – I don’t think either of these teams are very good, especially Florida. However, going to the swamp is no easy challenge. Texas will have their work cut out for them, but I think they win by a touchdown at least.
Matt
BYU (-19.5) vs. West Virginia – Sticking with the Friday Night Specials again this week. BYU should control this matchup with its balanced offense, as West Virginia’s defense has been leaky against both the run and the pass, giving Kedon Slovis and the Cougars plenty of opportunities to put points on the board. Add in BYU’s home-field edge, with the Provo altitude, and the Mountaineers’ inconsistent offense won’t be able to keep pace.
Kentucky (+19.5) at Georgia – I expect the Bulldogs to control tempo, exploit Kentucky’s inconsistent passing game, and lean on their strong run defense to keep the Wildcats off balance. Georgia should win convincingly, but come away just under the cover.
Iowa State (+1.5) at Cincinnati – The Cyclones’ defense has been more disciplined against the run, which should help limit Cincinnati’s ability to control tempo. Meanwhile, Iowa State’s balanced attack and late-game execution give them the edge in a matchup that likely stays competitive well into the fourth quarter.
Zack
Kentucky at Georgia (-20.5) – This is a great opportunity for the Bulldogs to bounce back in a big way after dropping the loss at home last week to Alabama. I expect the crowd to be into it early, and a 3-touchdown win feels likely.
Penn State (-24.5) at UCLA – Similar to Georgia, I expect a rebound game from Penn State. Losing at home to Oregon in double OT was a heartbreaker for the Nittany Lions, so don’t be surprised if they come out focused and energized to earn back some respect by demolishing the Bruins on the road.
Texas Tech (-10.5) at Houston – The Cougars are much improved from a season ago, but they’re not in the same tier as the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is going to keep things rolling, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat Houston by 3 touchdowns.
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