Frogs O' War Friday Picks: Week 1

Hallelujah football is back, and we should all be glad we don't play A&M this season. Now, here are the first staff picks of the season:

Staff Standings

T-1. Jamie Plunkett (0-0)

T-1. HawkeyedFrog (0-0)

T-1. coachmelissa (0-0)

T-1. tylervr (0-0)

T-1. Marshall Weber (0-0)

Iowa State vs. North Dakota State

Jamie Plunkett

Iowa State 28, North Dakota State 27 - Iowa State is definitely on upset alert for this game, but after seeing Kansas State falter to the Bison in 2013, they take this game seriously from the start and hold on late.

HawkeyedFrog

Iowa State 30, North Dakota State 27 - This is surprisingly a big one for the Cyclones, because they need this one to have a shot at bowl eligibility, but NDSU is just a tremendous team. I think after last year's debacle, ISU comes out focused and takes an early lead that they maintain throughout, even with NDSU never letting them make it comfortable.

coachmelissa

Iowa State 20, North Dakota State 10 - ISU's linebackers wreak havoc and the defense scores. Offense manages to move the ball enough to hold off ND State. Cyclones win.

tylervr

North Dakota State 34, Iowa State 31 - The 3-time defending FCS Championship always has a lot to play for when going up against an FBS team. Iowa State's defense will not be able to prevent the Bison from scoring and completing the upset.

Marshall Weber

Iowa State 27, North Dakota State 17 - Mark Mangino's offense is easily the best storyline in the game. If that tells you anything.

Oklahoma vs. Louisiana Tech

Jamie Plunkett

Oklahoma 63, Louisiana Tech 10 - Blake Bell catches a TD pass from his new position, Trevor Knight throws for 4 touchdowns and rushes for two more as the Sooners dispatch of Louisiana Tech with ease.

HawkeyedFrog

Oklahoma 77, Louisiana Tech 9 - As rough a first season as Sonny Dykes had at Cal, Louisiana Tech possibly had it worse last year for the simple fact that they had expectations. Against an Oklahoma team that should be one of the nations best?  The Sooners will be able to make the score whatever they like- and you know Stoops loves big numbers in his early season games.

coachmelissa

Oklahoma 34, Louisiana Tech 17 - OU has been ranked as high as #3 in the nation in preseason polls. Trevor Knight will lead the way for the Sooners, even with a lack of strong options at wide receiver.

Marshall Weber

Texas Tech vs. Central Arkansas

Jamie Plunkett

Texas Tech 56, Central Arkansas 6 - Texas Tech doesn't screw around in the first half of the season. Over the last three seasons they're a combined 18-3 in their first seven games, winning by an average of 23 points per game (with a 9-3 conference record in those games) to boot. They don't screw around and stomp out Central Arkansas early.

coachmelissa

Kansas State vs. Stephen F. Austin

Jamie Plunkett

Kansas State 35, Stephen F. Austin 17 - Kansas State doesn't forget their home opener last season, but that won't stop SFA from making things difficult early. However, Tyler Lockett, arguably the best wide receiver in the Big 12, breaks free for two second half touchdowns to lead the Wildcats going away.

HawkeyedFrog

Kansas State 41, Stephen F. Austin 6 - Last year the Wildcats dropped their opener and stadium dedication game to an FCS team.  Snyder will have had that game playing in the locker room every time the team came in from fall practices, and K-State will take care of business.

coachmelissa

Oklahoma State vs. Florida State (At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tx)

Jamie Plunkett

Florida State 42, Oklahoma State 24 - Jameis Winston shows up in big games, and this one won't be any different. Oklahoma State thinks they're in it for a while, but we all know they're not.

HawkeyedFrog

Florida State 47, Oklahoma State 31 - This would be a huge one for Big 12 playoff respect, and any other year I might pick the Cowboys to pull the upset over the defending national champs. This year the losses are too great, and while I expect it will be tight early on, the Cowboys won't be able to find a way to pull ahead and stay ahead of the Seminoles (though, of course, they'll still find their mojo come Big 12 season).

coachmelissa

Texas vs. North Texas

Jamie Plunkett

Texas 42, North Texas 17 - As you'll see, most of my colleagues think this game will be close. Sure, North Texas is much improved, but unfortunately for the Big 12, so is Texas. Their running game is Charlie Strong. Yes. I made that joke. Don't worry. I regret it.

HawkeyedFrog

Texas 27, North Texas 24 - I've been arguing with myself over this one, and as much as I think there's an 80% chance that the Longhorns steamroll the Eagles, the niggling statement of "but that UNT O-line should be really good" is staying in my head. I think the Eagles will put up a hell of a game, but some late heroics from David Ash and company (and perhaps some home cooking in the officiating) keep the streak alive and ensure coach Charlie Strong of a win in his debut.

coachmelissa

West Virginia @ Alabama (in Atlanta)

Jamie Plunkett

Alabama 31, West Virginia 7 - Clint Trickett won't get any love from Nick Saban, despite getting a smooch from his daughter in 6th grade. Alabama may be "down" but they won't have a problem with the Mountaineers.

HawkeyedFrog

Alabama 23, West Virginia 19 - This is not a ringing endorsement of Alabama, as I think they're highly overrated this season and could come in with 3-4 losses pretty easily (even with a pretty light SEC schedule).  This is merely a hunch that West Virginia is going to be pretty average this year, as much as the league may hope otherwise. It's tight, but the Big 12 loses both of its marquee opening games.

coachmelissa

Baylor vs. SMU (Sunday)

Jamie Plunkett

Baylor 77, SMU 17 - Baylor scores 56 in the first half and attempts only 4 passes in the second half, but their ground game manages to pound out a few more touchdowns. It's not their fault SMU is terrible, so don't blame them for a lopsided score.

HawkeyedFrog

Baylor 91, SMU 40 - Although Baylor will come back to earth this season, SMU loses the one consistently good thing they had going for them on offense last year in RB Zach Line and the defense returns just 3 starters. Given that Art Briles is the coach of Baylor, the bears will be chucking it deep in the fourth quarter Jackie Sherrill style and calling time outs to run more plays to make this one look as ugly as possible. Judgement will come for this year's Baylor team, but as SMU is the best(!!!) non-con they'll face, it won't happen until Big 12 play hits.

coachmelissa