Frogs O' War Friday Picks: Week 3

Current Standings

1. tylervr (17-0)

T-2. coachmelissa (16-1)

T-2. Hawkeyed Frog (16-1)

T-2. Marshall Weber (16-1)

5. Jamie Plunkett (14-3)

No. 8 Baylor @ Buffalo (Friday)

Jamie Plunkett

Baylor 52, Buffalo 10 - Buffalo is the next sacrificial lamb taken to the slaughter. I do want to give props to Baylor for one thing though, doing a home-and-home with a smaller school. So, good for you Baylor.

Marshall Weber

Baylor 56 Buffalo 17 - Keep challenging yourself, Baylor.

Hawkeyed Frog

Baylor 90, Buffalo 24 - Like last year, Buffalo gets an early score, and like last year, Art Briles gets a grisly revenge.

coachmelissa

Baylor 42, Buffalo 28 - Baylor gets its first "test" of the young season, traveling to Buffalo to face a squad that gave them the every tiniest bit of a scare. This is also the first time in, oh, maybe forever*, that Baylor will leave the state for a non-conference game (*not fact checked). The Bears will win, while looking mortal ish, but probably come home and build a statue for Bryce Petty for it.

tylervr11

Baylor 63, Buffalo 7 - Baylor might have the easiest start to the season in the FBS. They will coast to 3-0 in this scrimmage-like game.

West Virginia @ Maryland

Jamie Plunkett

West Virginia 35, Maryland 24 - The Mountaineers very clearly remember 37-0, and they'll want to return the favor. They'll give up some points, but win this game easily.

Marshall Weber

West Virginia 38 Maryland 28 - This game is actually pretty fun to watch every year. I don't know if you can call this one an upset really--espesically after the way the Mountaineers competed with Bama. Trickett gets it done this game.

Hawkeyed Frog

West Virginia 31, Maryland 27 - An interesting matchup, last year Maryland exposed West Virginia and shut them out, this year West Virginia's defense actually holds once or twice and the offense works.  This one will be down to the wire.

coachmelissa

West Virginia 34, Maryland 28 - I for one, kind of like the Terps unis for this battle of Virginias. Unfortunately, patriotism can only get you so far, and the Eers ruin the goodwill by eeking out a win on the shoulders of an excellent day by Saban ex Clint Trickett.

tylervr11

West Virginia 34, Maryland 17 - West Virginia will be tested this week. Maryland will be wearing their incredibly patriotic uniforms, but they will not be able to pull this one out at home.

Kansas @ Duke

Jamie Plunkett

Duke 35, Kansas 10 - A few years ago this game would be hilarious to watch, because, you know, it's football, not basketball. Now that Duke is good though, we just feel bad for Kansas.

Marshall Weber

Duke 37, Kansas 21 - Kansas is showing signs of improvement. But they're still, you know,...Kansas.

Hawkeyed Frog

Duke 45, Kansas 17 - Last week Kansas's defense was feast or famine in pass defense, and this week there's going to be a lot more famine than feast.  Duke isn't as good as last year, but they're still a world better than Kansas.

coachmelissa

Duke 45, Kansas 17 - Maybe Charlie Weis should take a hint from June Jones and ride off in to the sunset. He's basically turned around the Jayhawks, too, by SMU's standards. David Cutcliffe, on the other hand, has made Duke a respectable football team, and they blow out KU in Durham.

tylervr11

Texas Tech vs. Arkansas

Jamie Plunkett

Arkansas 42, Texas Tech 38 - Arkansas offense is better than it gets credit for, and Tech's offense stalls out too much for its own good. Pray for the defenses in this game.

Marshall Weber

Arkansas 41, Texas Tech 38 - This is the one I'll probably regret. Arkansas is not very good. They do however, have a strong running game. And given how Tech's played the past two weeks, I'll put this one in favor of the Razorbacks. But then again, it's in Lubbock. Don't bet on this game.

Hawkeyed Frog

Arkansas 48, Texas Tech 42 - In the offseason I'd pegged this as a definite win for the Big 12, but actually seeing Tech try to defend the run this year... I think Tech starts slow and plays catch up late, but doesn't ever slow the hogs down enough to take the lead.

coachmelissa

Arkansas 45, Texas Tech 31 - Even the handful of reasonable Tech fans in this world understand the Red Raiders should be 0-2. Their luck runs out against the Hogs, who are bottom dwellers in the SEC but good enough to run all over the Raiders. They are who we thought we were!

tylervr11

Arkansas 41, Texas Tech 31 - Other than being 2-0, Texas Tech has shown little reason to believe that they will win this game. Arkansas is coming off a rough season, but a decent showing against Auburn to open the season will help lead to a win in Lubbock.

Iowa State @ Iowa

Jamie Plunkett

Iowa 28, Iowa State 17 - Iowa State redeemed itself in a loss to Kansas State, and is probably one of the better 0-2 teams in the country. Iowa is probably one of the worst 2-0 teams in the country, after beating Northern Iowa and Ball State by a combined 12 points. All that said, Iowa wins, because it's a rivalry game and who really knows.

Marshall Weber

Iowa State 31, Iowa 28 - After playing a not-so-inspiring game in Week 1, and playing a really inspiring game last week against Kansas State, the Cyclones get their first win against the season.

Hawkeyed Frog

Iowa State 25, Iowa 17 - This is the game that Cyclone fans live for, and with both teams struggling mightily this season (the only difference is that Iowa's struggles have still resulted in wins) I'm picking the one that wants it more.  The Cyclones get their first win of the season and win... whatever the hell the Cy-Hawk trophy looks like now.

coachmelissa

Iowa State 24, Iowa 21 - ISU hasn't embarrassed themselves to 0-2, and a bad call probably cost them the upset win against K State. They finally turn the corner, and there's not a better time to do it, as they score a late TD to secure state pride for the next year. The Cyclones are just sneaky good enough to beat someone they shouldn't... and that's a scary thought.

tylervr11

Iowa 17, Iowa State 13 - I believe this will be a low scoring defensive game. ISU put up a good fight last week versus Kansas State. The state of Iowa has been split and the campus police are bringing the heat over Twitter. Please look it up if you are looking for a laugh...

Oklahoma State vs. UT-San Antonio

Jamie Plunkett

Oklahoma State 42, UTSA 20 - Is UTSA greatly improved? Yes. Is Oklahoma State now an unknown without Walsh? Yes. But despite all of that, OSU cruises, because I'm done underestimating the Cowboys.

Marshall Weber

Oklahoma State 45, UT-San Antonio 31 - The Roadrunners nip at the Cowboys most of the game. But the Cowboys pull away late in the 3rd.

Hawkeyed Frog

UTSA 38, OSU 31 - Upset alert as a quite good UTSA team catches the cowboys a week after they lose J.W. Walsh.  Though the offense eventually comes around, it's not enough to catch up with the early lead from one of CUSA's best teams.

coachmelissa

Oklahoma State 28, UT-San Antonio 24 - UTSA gave Arizona all they could handle a while back, and OSU has lost their QB for the foreseeable future, making this game much closer than it should be. Larry Coker will keep the Roadrunners in it, and this will be an entertaining game. Unfortunately, they don't have quite enough to pull the upset, falling just short in the fourth.

tylervr11

Oklahoma State 37, UTSA 27 - I think this is going to be a great matchup. UTSA is an underrated team that was a last minute turnover away from 2-0. OSU being at home will pull away late, but it will be a close game.

Texas vs. No. 12 UCLA (at Jerryworld)

Jamie Plunkett

UCLA 38, Texas 17 - It may be time to start calling it like we see it. Texas is bad, y'all. Not that UCLA is much better, almost losing to Memphis, but Texas is really bad.

Marshall Weber

UCLA 24, Texas 17 - Sloppy be thy name. Myles Jack shines in this game though--offense and defense. Thus helping my case for him as the darkhorse Heisman candidate.

Hawkeyed Frog

UCLA 52, Texas 12 - UCLA has struggled mightily the first two weeks in attempts to live up to that lofty ranking, but they'll find an injury and suspension ravaged Longhorn team just the cure they need.  Things get ugly early, and UCLA keeps it ugly in an attempt to move back up in the polls.

coachmelissa

No. 12 UCLA 34, Texas 17 - oof, Texas looked bad without David Ash. The D played a good half, but couldn't maintain that level in the second, as BYU had their way with the Horns on their home turf. Unfortunately for Charlie Strong and co, Brett Hundley is better than Taysom Hill, even factoring in him and his team's slow start. The Bruins find the perfect remedy for what ails them in UT, and the Horns go home with their tails between their legs once again.

tylervr11

UCLA 41, Texas 14 - Texas will not be happy with a tough schedule to open the season. They will return to Austin 1-2 after an outcome that will be very similar to BYU last week.

No. 4 Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

Jamie Plunkett

Marshall Weber

Oklahoma 49 vs. Tennessee 13 - Bob's lost 5 games at home. We know how he feels about the SEC. If the Sooners get going early, he's not going to take his foot off the gas.

Hawkeyed Frog

Oklahoma 40, Tennessee 23 - Tennessee is talented, but young, and Oklahoma's offense has rolled over more talented SEC teams lately (you know the one I mean).  It's tight early, but the Sooners keep the pressure on and create breathing room in the third quarter.

coachmelissa

No. 4 Oklahoma 35, Tennessee 21 - OU has looked like the class of the conference so far, and get a chance to show that to be true against an SEC opponent. Tennessee is on it's way back up, but the Vols don't have enough to handle the Sooners in Norman.

tylervr11

Oklahoma 35, Tennessee 31 - This is the most exciting game for a Big 12 team this week in my opinion. Tennessee is a strong opponent and they will force Trevor Knight and the Sooners to play a full 60-minute game.

TCU vs. Minnesota

Jamie Plunkett

TCU 38, Minnesota 7 - This isn't a shot at the Gophers, whose fans have been really nice all week. Rather, it's more of a testament to how good the new offense actually is, and how solid the defense remains.

Marshall Weber

TCU 34, Minnesota 14 - Welcome to the new age, sssson! Cumbie and Mecham's offense has a beautiful encore in this game. The defense also shines. The Gophers have a great running game, but the TCU takes advantage of their questionable passing game early. As a side note, I'm excited about using a handful of Fargo (yah) gifs for Overreaction Sunday.

Hawkeyed Frog

TCU 38, Minnesota 17 - This game is close through the third quarter, but at some point in this game Minnesota is going to have to try to throw to beat the Frogs.  This will go very poorly (maybe even pick 6-ish level poorly) and end up giving TCU a win that looks a lot more impressive on the scoreboard than it actually was.  As TCU fans we're all familiar with how that looks, but this time it actually works in TCU's favor.

coachmelissa

TCU 34, Minnesota 13 - Coach Kill and GP are great friends, and the coaching staffs have been sharing secrets for years. Patterson said that no one knows his stuff better than the Gophers, which could make things difficult on both sides of the ball. All that said, after two weeks to work out the bugs, the Frog Raid shows out, continuing to put points on the board in bunches and giving us all hope, while the D takes advantage on the Gophers top QB being out, and holds their offense down. It's another happy ending for Frog fans, and sends us off in to another bye feeling good about out prospects.

tylervr11

TCU 38, Minnesota 17 - I have a lot of confidence in TCU this week. Minnesota has been out gained in both of their first 2 match-ups. Turnovers are the reason why Minnesota is 2-0. TCU's offense will continue to progress and the defense will force the Minnesota offense to be one-dimensional in their running game.