After a few weeks of frustration, Friday Locks finally swung a little momentum back in the right direction. We went 7–5 collectively in Week 8, marking our first winning slate in a while — and while it doesn’t fix everything, it’s a step forward. The biggest boost came courtesy of Zack’s perfect 3–0 weekend, the kind of clean sweep we’ve all been chasing since September. Even with the improvement, our season record sits at 46–59–3, meaning there’s still plenty of ground to make up as we turn the page to Week 9. But hey, it’s the kind of lineup that makes you believe a heater could be coming.
This week’s picks feature plenty of overlap — and a few bold statements. BYU at Iowa State stands out as a consensus play, with Caleb, Craig, and Zack all backing the Cougars to cover (and potentially win outright) in Ames. Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State is another one to watch, as Caleb expects the Red Raiders to dominate a struggling Cowboys team that hasn’t found its footing all season. Craig’s call on Texas A&M at LSU could be the swing game of the week — a battle between SEC contenders fighting for legitimacy, while Zack’s Alabama pick keeps rolling with the Tide’s midseason surge.
Meanwhile, Matt’s board leans heavy on matchups where dominance meets momentum: Indiana is a complete team at home, Georgia Tech’s punishing ground game, and Virginia’s offense looking to torch a faltering North Carolina secondary. All told, Week 9 gives us a mix of conviction plays and statement spreads — exactly the kind of setup that could shift our season record closer to even.
2025 Season Results
| Name | Last Week | Overall |
| Zack | 3-0 | 14-12-1 |
| Craig | 1-2 | 12-13-2 |
| Matt | 2-1 | 11-16 |
| Caleb | 1-2 | 9-18 |
Caleb
BYU (+2.5) at ISU – The Cougars have found ways to win tough games this season while ISU has not. BYU looks like one of the better teams in the Big 12, and I fully expect them to show that this weekend.
Texas Tech (-36.5) vs Oklahoma State – The Cowboys have been one of the worst teams in college football this year. With their closest game in conference play being a loss by 18. Texas Tech has an explosive offense and a strong defense. The Red Raiders should have not problem taking care of the Cowboys.
Oregon (-31.5) vs Wisconsin – The Badgers are a bad football team going on the road to play a really good Oregon team. The ducks should have no problem dominating both sides of the ball from start to finish.
Craig
BYU (+3) at Iowa State – I’ve stated in my power rankings that I believe this BYU team will make it to the conference championship. This game will be a tough one, but the Cougars will get it done.
Vanderbilt (-2.5) vs Missouri – I’ve doubted Vanderbilt for far too long. I do think having home field advantage will be the difference maker. Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense will be the reason they win this game.
Texas A&M (-2.5) at LSU – Time to find out what Texas A&M is made of. They’re the better team in this matchup, but winning at LSU is very difficult. I could see this one being back and forth, but the Aggies will come out on top.
Matt
Indiana (-25.5) vs. UCLA – The Hoosiers boast both a Top-5 scoring offense and defense. I think they are poised to overwhelm a talented but outmatched UCLA team. The early 9:00AM (PT) kickoff creates a difficult road environment for the Bruins as well. This all points to a multi-touchdown victory, exceeding the spread.
Georgia Tech (-16.5) vs. Syracuse – Georgia Tech’s dominant and physical rushing attack, spearheaded by dual-threat quarterback Haynes King, is a nightmare matchup for a Syracuse defense that is currently allowing nearly five yards per rush. Facing a Yellow Jackets team at home, the Orange’s sputtering offense—which has scored less than 15 points per game during their current three-game losing streak—simply lacks the firepower to keep this contest within the +16.5 margin.
Virginia (-10.5) at North Carolina – Virginia’s high-powered offense, which averages 40 points per game, is perfectly positioned to exploit North Carolina’s vulnerable passing defense, while the struggling Tar Heels offense has failed to score more than 20 points in any of their losses this season. Given the Cavaliers’ strong momentum and North Carolina’s clear offensive limitations, Virginia should comfortably exceed the -10.5 spread and control the game throughout.
Zack
Alabama (-11.5) at South Carolina – The Crimson Tide are cruising, and the Gamecocks are not. This could get ugly for South Carolina.
BYU (+3) at Iowa State – Ames is a difficult place to play, but the Cyclones have struggled the last couple of weeks, so I think the Cougars keep the momentum going with another solid win.
Texas (-6.5) at Mississippi State – The Longhorns haven’t looked great outside of the Oklahoma game, but Mississippi State seems like a good opportunity to figure some things out.
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