Week 9 was a perfect example of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Caleb was definitely the good, pulling off a perfect 3-0 weekend and giving us at least one reason to celebrate. Zack was just the opposite, going 0-3 and earning sole possession of the Cone of Shame as we head into Week 10.
Craig was solid at 2-1.
What about the ugly? Well, I’m glad you asked.
The ugly belongs to Matt, who each finished 1-2 last weekend. That helped produce an even 6-6 record, despite Caleb’s perfect outing.
At least somebody looks like they know what they’re doing.
Now we turn our attention to Week 10, and there’s no shortage of intriguing matchups. We’ve got Georgia heading to Ole Miss, Miami visiting Notre Dame, Alabama traveling to LSU, and a couple of Big 12 games that have our crew split.
Arizona is getting some serious love against TCU, while the Texas-Missouri matchup has Craig and Matt taking opposite sides.
Let’s see what Week 10 has in store for us.
Arizona Is the Consensus Pick
If there’s one team our crew seems to agree on this week, it’s Arizona.
Matt and Zack are both backing the Wildcats against TCU, although they’re working with slightly different numbers. Matt is laying 6.5 points, while Zack has Arizona at -7.5.
Both see a favorable matchup for the Wildcats, especially with TCU dealing with some significant challenges heading into the game.
Matt is focused on the Horned Frogs’ lack of rest, a flu outbreak, and their offensive line struggles. Zack is looking at Arizona’s ability to bounce back after a couple of close losses to ranked opponents.
Matt: Arizona -6.5
TCU is utterly exhausted—they haven’t had a week off since September, they are playing on a short week of rest, and a nasty flu virus has swept through nearly 30 of their players. On top of that, Arizona has a ferocious defense that loves to blitz, which spells trouble for a shaky TCU offensive line that struggles to protect its quarterback.
Zack: Arizona -7.5
The Wildcats have 2 losses—both within the Big 12, both to ranked teams—but both were close games in which Arizona had an early lead. I like a rebound win in this one against a TCU squad that has played teams close, but doesn’t have an impressive win so far. I’m taking Arizona to cover at home on a Friday night.
Both are expecting Arizona to take care of business. The only question is whether the Wildcats can cover Zack’s slightly higher number.
Texas vs. Missouri: A House Divided
One of the more interesting disagreements this week comes from the Texas-Missouri matchup.
Craig is backing Texas as a 2.5-point road favorite, while Matt is taking Missouri at +3.
Craig believes the Longhorns are starting to find their offensive rhythm at the right time of the season. Matt sees a depleted Texas roster and an offensive line that could have serious problems against Missouri’s defense.
Same game. Two very different outlooks.
Craig: Texas -2.5
Texas needs to make a statement in November and I think this is the game to do it. The Longhorns are improving offensively and to me that is the difference maker in this one.
Matt: Missouri +3
The Longhorns are limping into this game with a heavily depleted roster, missing their star running back. Its top wide receivers are also dealing with injuries. This makes the Longhorns’ offense incredibly one-dimensional and predictable. To make matters worse for Texas, their offensive line has been awful at protecting the quarterback, which plays right into the hands of a ferocious Missouri defense that specializes in causing chaos and getting into the backfield.
This one could have a direct impact on the standings. One of us will be right, and the other will have some explaining to do.
Caleb
UCLA (-4.5) vs. Minnesota
UCLA has all the makings of a team that can take care of business against Minnesota on Saturday. The Bruins’ dominant defense, combined with their ability to establish the run behind Wayne Knight, should create major problems for a Minnesota offense that may struggle to keep pace. If UCLA controls the line of scrimmage and limits mistakes, expect the Bruins to come away with a convincing victory.
Oklahoma (+6.5) vs. Florida
While Oklahoma hasn’t looked good this season, they haven’t lost back-to-back games. We typically see a surge from teams after a coach gets fired, and I expect this Oklahoma defense to want a get-back game after its last performance.
Boise State (-17.5) vs. Colorado State
Boise State has the offensive firepower and physicality to control this matchup from start to finish. The Broncos’ ability to establish the run, create explosive plays, and dominate the line of scrimmage should put significant pressure on their opponent. If Boise State plays to its potential, expect a convincing performance and a comfortable victory.
Craig
Texas (-2.5) at Missouri
Texas needs to make a statement in November, and I think this is the game to do it. The Longhorns are improving offensively, and to me, that is the difference-maker in this one.
Georgia (-3.5) at Ole Miss
I’ll be cheering for Ole Miss in my heart, but the Bulldogs are simply the better team here.
Miami (+5.5) at Notre Dame
Miami looks to be legit this year. I guess we will find out tomorrow. Give me the Hurricanes on the road in South Bend.
Matt
Arizona (-6.5) vs. TCU
TCU is utterly exhausted—they haven’t had a week off since September, they are playing on a short week of rest, and a nasty flu virus has swept through nearly 30 of their players. On top of that, Arizona has a ferocious defense that loves to blitz, which spells trouble for a shaky TCU offensive line that struggles to protect its quarterback.
Utah (-4.5) vs. BYU
Utah has a massive, physical running game that loves to bully opponents, and BYU’s defense has been terrible at stopping the run lately. On top of that, Utah is playing at home. I expect Utah to control the clock, punish BYU on the ground, and win this game by at least a touchdown.
Missouri (+3) vs. Texas
The Longhorns are limping into this game with a heavily depleted roster, missing their star running back. Its top wide receivers are also dealing with injuries. This makes the Longhorns’ offense incredibly one-dimensional and predictable. To make matters worse for Texas, their offensive line has been awful at protecting the quarterback, which plays right into the hands of a ferocious Missouri defense that specializes in causing chaos and getting into the backfield.
Zack
TCU at. Arizona (-7.5)
The Wildcats have 2 losses—both within the Big 12, both to ranked teams— but both were close games in which Arizona had an early lead. I like a rebound win in this one against a TCU squad that has played teams close, but doesn’t have an impressive win so far. I’m taking Arizona to cover at home on a Friday night.
Alabama (+6.5) at LSU
It’s hard to predict the SEC right now. Aside from Georgia’s dominance, everybody seems to be able to beat anybody, and I like Alabama as an underdog on the road against the Tigers.
West Virginia (+17.5) at Texas Tech
The Mountaineers aren’t likely to slow down the Red Raider offense, but I think Michael Hawkins Jr. and the West Virginia offense are good enough to make this one interesting. I don’t see West Virginia winning, but I think they cover the spread.
The Week 10 Heartland Sports Scorecard
Caleb is coming off the kind of weekend everybody wants. A perfect 3-0 performance is exactly what this group needed, even if the other three couldn’t quite get on board.
Zack’s 0-3 finish puts him in sole possession of the Cone of Shame, while Craig and Matt each managed to salvage one win.
Here’s where things stand after Week 9:
| Rank | Writer | Week 9 | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb | 3-0 | 14-16 |
| 2 | Matt | 1-2 | 14-16 |
| 3 | Craig | 2-1 | 14-16 |
| 4 | Zack | 0-3 | 13-17 |
Caleb has climbed into the top spot, while Matt sits right there with him. Craig is lurking at #3 and Zack has slid to the bottom.
There’s still plenty of football left, but we need to start stringing together some winning weekends.
Week 10 Picks
| Writer | Pick No. 1 | Pick No. 2 | Pick No. 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb | UCLA -4.5 | Oklahoma +6.5 | Boise State -17.5 |
| Craig | Texas -2.5 | Georgia -3.5 | Miami +5.5 |
| Matt | Arizona -6.5 | Utah -4.5 | Missouri +3 |
| Zack | BYU -16.5 | Alabama +6.5 | West Virginia +17.5 |
Week 10 Storylines to Watch
Most Popular Pick: Arizona
Matt and Zack are both backing the Wildcats against TCU.
Arizona has played some competitive football against ranked opponents, and both believe the Wildcats are in a good position to take advantage of a TCU team dealing with some serious challenges.
The difference is the spread. Matt needs Arizona to win by at least seven, while Zack needs the Wildcats to win by eight or more.
Game of the Week: Texas at Missouri
Craig and Matt are on opposite sides of this SEC matchup.
Craig believes Texas is improving offensively and needs a statement win. Matt sees a depleted Longhorns roster and a Missouri defense capable of taking advantage of their offensive line struggles.
It’s a classic disagreement between trusting a team’s potential and trusting the matchup in front of it.
Biggest Underdog Cushion: West Virginia +17.5
Zack is taking nearly three touchdowns with the Mountaineers against Texas Tech.
He doesn’t expect West Virginia to win, but he believes Michael Hawkins Jr. and the offense can do enough to keep the game interesting.
Texas Tech has the firepower to make that difficult, but Zack is betting on the Mountaineers to find a way to stay within the number.
The SEC Showdown: Georgia at Ole Miss
Craig is taking Georgia -3.5, even though his heart might be pulling for Ole Miss.
He believes the Bulldogs are simply the better team, and he’s willing to lay the points on the road.
With so much unpredictability across the SEC this season, this is one of the more intriguing matchups on the schedule.
The Bounce-Back Watch
Caleb has the momentum after a perfect 3-0 weekend, and he’ll try to keep it rolling with UCLA, Oklahoma and Boise State.
Zack has the most immediate pressure. After going 0-3, he’ll be looking to pass the Cone of Shame to someone else with BYU, Alabama and West Virginia.
Craig is hunting a perfect weekend himself, while Matt is looking to do better than last week’s 1-2 performance. Craig has a couple of major SEC matchups, while Matt is trusting Arizona, Utah and Missouri to get him back on track.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going
Week 9 was a reminder that this group is capable of producing some pretty good weekends—and some pretty ugly ones.
Caleb deserves the credit this week. A perfect 3-0 performance is exactly what we needed, and he’s now sitting alone at the top of the standings.
Week 10 gives us plenty of opportunities to get back on track. Arizona has a couple of believers, Texas and Missouri have our crew split, and we’ve got some big SEC games that could shake up the standings.
We’re hoping Caleb’s success is contagious.
Week 10 is here. Let’s get back to winning weekends.