Any week now, we’ll figure this out and cash in.
Until then, we’re all what our record says we are. And for most of us, that’s pretty mediocre.
Only Matt Mosley (8-4) and Jimmy Burch (7-5) had winning records last week.
But this is the week. Plenty of fun games to follow.
You know the drill. Bet the house.
Standings
ART GARCIA
Last week: 6-6
Season: 31-15-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Coach P won’t be out-coached two straight weeks. Or will he? Pick: Frogs
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — Classic letdown situation for the Ponies. They won’t. Pick: SMU
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — UH might as well redshirt the entire the season. Pick: UNT
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — This qualifies as a big matched up the Big 12. Yeah, I know. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Probably empty seats at Globe Life to play this game there, even with the Yankees in town. Pick: A&M
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Sooners in another tuneup before that Red River Shootout. Pick: OU
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — Coach Mullet lost it for his ‘Boys last week in Austin. Not again. Pick: OSU
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Big showdown in the ACC Light. Pick: Virginia
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — The Pirates play spoiler in SLC. Pick: WSU
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — Lady Luck smiling on Dak and Co. with Brees incapacitated. Pick: Cowboys
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — Dansanity sweeping the Big Apple. Pick: NY
Vikings at Bears -2 — Big clash in the NFC’s best division. Pick: Bears
Last week: 5-7
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 – A good prescription for a disappointed football team is to take three Kansases and call the doctor in the morning. Even new Kansas. Expect the Horned Frogs to bounce back well – with the added incentive of atoning for losing in Lawrence last year — but can they score enough to cover a spread better than two touchdowns? Pick: Kansas
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 – Dallas’ team or Highland Park’s team, or some such, getting serious respect from Las Vegas after starting 4-0. The Mustangs will go to 5-0 for the first time since 1983, but they’ll get a game from Charlie Strong’s South Florida, which has had two weeks to prepare for this one. Pick: South Florida
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 – The game changed when the Coogs put D’Eriq King and receiver Keith Corbin in storage for the season. Here’s betting UH can still score some points with sophomore Clayton Tune, who grew up in the Denton area. Pick: Houston.
Iowa State at Baylor +3 – A Mr. Green peered over his fence and noticed that the neighbor’s little boy was in his backyard filling in a hole. Curious about what the youngster was up to, Mr. Green asked, “What are you doing, Johnny?” / Tearfully, little Johnny replied, “My goldfish died, and I’ve just buried him.” / “That’s an awfully large hole for a goldfish, isn’t it?” Mr. Green said. / Patting down the last bit of earth, Johnny replied, “That’s because he’s in your cat.” (No animals were actually harmed in this projection model.) Pick: Baylor.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 – Trust the Aggies with 231/2 points in the biggest mobile home on planet earth as far as I can throw Refrigerator Perry. Pick: Arkansas.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 – Maybe on PlayStation, Red Raiders. But not in Norman without a frontline QB. Pick: Oklahoma.
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 – Manhattan has already forgotten Bill Snyder and his son … what’s-his-name. Pick: Kansas State.
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 – Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the University of Virginia, played Russian roulette with his eternal life: “In every country and in every age, the [Catholic] priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.” Expect the boys from Our Lady to give a few “your mothers” to the visitors. Pick: Notre Dame.
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 – Do you know who Mike Lookinland is? Mike Brady’s youngest son, Bobby, of the Brady Bunch. He went to Utah for a spell. Planet Osmond. Pick: Utah.
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 – We’ll find out the beloved Cowboys of Arlington and Frisco are pretty good. Pick: Cowboys.
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 – Two teams who exemplify the argument that there are too many teams in the NFL. Pick: Redskins.
Vikings at Bears -2 – Beleaguered, albeit very rich, Kirk Cousins’ life doesn’t get any easier with a good Bears defense. Pick: Bears
JAN HUBBARD
Last week: 5-7
Season: 28-18-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — SMU was more than a wakeup call. It was a brutal nightmare. Frogs bounce back: Pick: TCU
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — Pick: SMU
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — In the last six years, the Cougars are 28 games over .500, so the struggles this year are uncharacteristic. A motivated North Texas team is not the one to face right now on the road. Pick: North Texas
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — The Bears have outscored three cupcake opponents by a total of 140-44. It won’t be so easy this time, but home field helps. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Aggies have lost to two top 10 teams, so a rebuilding Arkansas team that lost last week to lowly San Jose State is a welcome blowout possibility. Pick: A&M
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Norman is not a good place to play a college football game with your No. 1 quarterback unable to play. Tough challenge for Tech. Pick: Oklahoma
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — OSU had a spirited effort in losing to Texas. But the Wildcats are 3-0 with a victory last week at Mississippi State. Pick: Kansas State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Not quite sure why the line is so high. Irish were competitive at No. 3 Georgia last week, but No. 18 Virginia will present a challenge. Pick: Virginia
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Cougars put 63 points on the scoreboard last week . . . and lost. Utes had tough loss at USC, but defense allowed only 29 points in their first three games. Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — Disappointed that Drew Brees won’t play because that would have given the Cowboys a good idea if they are a great team at 3-0 or have they simply played horrible teams. Pick: Cowboys
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — Giants looked revived with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. They were criticized for taking him early in the first round of the draft, but now they are looking brilliant. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — Ball control offense vs. best defense in the NFL. Bears a slight favorite at home, but they should be able to limit Vikings enough to get the victory. Pick: Bears
MARJORIE LEWIS
Last week: 6-6
Season: 28-18-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — TCU will be reeling after the home loss to SMU, but the Frogs will not cover. Pick: Kansas
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — SMU is where South Florida would like to be someday. Pick: SMU
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — With two starters taking redshirts, it’s hard to know if Houston has given up on this season to focus on next. Pick: North Texas
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Iowa State tends to be the big mystery every season. But Baylor is at home. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Arkansas is a long way from finding itself. Pick: Texas A&M
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Normally I’d go against a spread this big, but Texas Tech was a big disappointment at Arizona even though the defense did OK, but the disappointment continues. Pick: Oklahoma
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — The wrong team has entered the rankings. Pick: Oklahoma State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Notre Dame did a lot of things right against Georgia, but Virginia ain’t bad. Pick: Virginia
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Washington State showed last week it can put huge points on the board and still lose. Has no defense. Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — Nothing the Cowboys have done shows me they’re slowing down. Pick: Cowboys
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — A nap might be time better spent during this one. Pick: Redskins
Vikings at Bears -2 — Rivalry games are always tough to pick, but the Bears are home. Pick: Bears
MATT MOSLEY
Last week: 8-4
Season: 26-20-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Les Miles has a competitive team, but Gary Patterson is seeing red. And he may take it out on the TCU student body. Maybe just maybe Max Duggan came of age in that loss last Saturday Pick: TCU
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — There’s an inevitable letdown that will occur after the big upset. And the Bulls can be stingy at home. Pick: South Florida
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — The Coogs have garnered a lot of attention for shutting down two of their star players. The Mean Green will be ready to pounce. Pick: North Texas
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — These teams are so evenly matched. The Bears are coming off a lackluster effort vs Rice. But BU has more horses than the Cyclones. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Hard to believe this Ags offense could be a three-touchdown favorite over anyone. But betting the Hogs feels irresponsible. Pick: Texas A&M
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Matt Wells is playing it coy on who will play QB, but it won’t matter. Sooners will roll, but a late backdoor cover from the Red Raiders. Pick: Texas Tech
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — I am shocked to see the Wildcats ranked. I like the new coach just fine, but Mike Gundy is about to wipe them out. Do it for T. Boone! Pick: Oklahoma State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — The ACC is such a joke that UVA is the second-best team. The Irish will roll. Then we can obsess some more over that great loss ND had at Georgia. Pick: Notre Dame
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — The Utes offense is difficult to watch. The Cougs can put up huge numbers. Give me Leach to cover. Pick: Washington State
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — This will be a raucous Superdome. The Cowboys will have to recalibrate quickly after playing the dregs of the NFL. Pick: New Orleans
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — Ain’t no reins on Danny Dimes. Redskins may not win another game. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — I don’t trust Trubisky to do it two straight games. Zim will confuse him mightily. Pick: Vikings
RICHIE WHITT
Last week: 5-7
Season: 25-21-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Despite the Patterson-Cumbie rift and last week’s disappointment, Frogs find resilience to exact revenge from last year. Pick: TCU
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — Don’t look now, but Shane Buechele and the Mustangs will be ranked come Monday. Pick: SMU
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — With star QB D’Eriq King out for the season and redshirting, Cougs now the equivalent of tanking. Pick: North Texas
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Bears looked punchless against a horrible Rice team. Cyclones a different animal. Pick: Iowa State
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Hogs’ two-year downward spiral bottomed out with last week’s home loss to San Jose State. But Aggies shouldn’t lay three touchdowns to anyone. Pick: Arkansas
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Back when they averaged 30 ppg, Tech used to lose to Sooners by 30. Now? Yikes. Pick: Oklahoma.
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — Cowboys are young and feisty, and frosh quarterback Spencer Sanders is amazingly slippery. Pick: Oklahoma State.
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Cavaliers are overrated and Irish built confidence in last week’s close loss between hedges. Pick: Notre Dame.
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Both coming off crushing losses, but not sure how a team recovers psychologically after coughing up a 32-point, third-quarter lead at home. Pick: Utah.
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 –– Cowboys riding magical formula of playing well + facing bottom-feeding quarterbacks. Pick: Cowboys
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — Yuck. In the scum of the NFC East, Daniel Jones is the less horrible quarterback. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — As it displayed Monday night in Washington, Chicago’s defense can still win games by itself. Pick: Bears
JIMMY BURCH
Last week: 7-5
Season: 24-22-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Despite the annual talent disparity, the Horned Frogs rarely beat Kansas by more than two TDs. It won’t happen Saturday, either. Pick: Kansas
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — USF’s Charlie Strong enjoys this reunion of former Longhorns’ coach and QB a lot more than SMU’s Shane Buechele. Pick: South Florida
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — The Cougars’ top two offense threats have shut it down for the season in hope of better things in 2020. Give me the Mean Green. Pick: UNT
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Toughest call on this list. Logic says to take the home team and the points when all else seems equal. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — These teams rarely separate by more than 20 points in any season, regardless of which team is favored, going back to SWC days. I love the Pigs and the points. Pick: Arkansas
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Oklahoma is rolling and it’s hard to trust Tech to play well on the road after falling flat in Arizona against Kevin Sumlin’s Mildcats. Pick: Oklahoma
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — Oklahoma State freshman QB Spencer Sanders is a soon-to-be star who gets better each week. Pick: Oklahoma State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Yes, Virginia, your nationally-ranked college football team is for real. Pick: Virginia
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Utah should rebound better from last week’s dueling disappointments by two of the Pac-12’s “best” (least average?) teams. Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — The Cowboys can’t win them all … can they? Pick: Saints
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — The Redskins, two weeks away from their first win of the season (Oct. 13 at Miami), help fuel the hype train for Giants’ rookie QB Daniel Jones. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — With RB Dalvin Cook in the lineup, the Vikings are much better than the Bears on offense and not that far behind on defense. Pick: Vikings
ANTHONY ANDRO
Last week: 5-7
Season: 24-22-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Kansas isn’t as bad as it’s been in the last couple of decades. Pick: Kansas
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — Maybe the road will be a little tougher for the high-flying Mustangs. Pick: South Florida
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — The Cougars are looking for a redshirt season. Pick: North Texas
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Wait Baylor has to play a real team? Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — When bad team plays disappointing team spread is too big. Pick: Arkansas
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Texas Tech can’t keep it close without Bowman. Pick: Oklahoma
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — Oklahoma State has a really good young QB. Pick: Oklahoma State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — It says here Notre Dame has enough in the tank to bounce back from Georgia game. Pick: Notre Dame
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Washington State still feeling impact of bad loss to bad UCLA team. Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — The Cowboys are built up by wins over teams with one win total. Pick: Saints
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — The Daniel Jones coming out party continues. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — Neither of these teams will be confused with the Chiefs offensively. Pick: Bears
GIL LeBRETON
Last week: 5-7
Season: 24-22-2
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — I think everyone got the message last week . . . right, Frogs? Right, coaches? Pick: TCU
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — Ponies much improved, but not yet ready to cover spread as a road favorite. Pick: USF
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — Tanking? Quarterback redshirting? Houston is a mess. Pick: UNT
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Bears have been playing a C-USA schedule. Cyclones have a defense. Pick: Iowa State
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Hogs lost to San Jose State. At home. They’re the SEC’s worst. Aggies will roll. Pick: A&M
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Pointspread is scary large, but this is just the kind of game where OU talent gap will show. Pick: Oklahoma
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — I think I’ve picked K-State wrong every week. I’ll go with the home team to cover. Pick: Oklahoma State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Thoroughly impressed with the Irish defense last week. Pick: Notre Dame
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Utes just can’t win in LA. But they can at home. Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — Saints haven’t lost back-to-back games to Dallas in 28 years. Sean Payton will figure something out. Pick: Saints
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — Simply a pick for the home team and the new QB in this battle of struggling teams. Pick: Giants
Vikings at Bears -2 — Chicago defense and the home advantage make the Bears a slightly better choice. Pick: Da Bears
Last week: 5-7
Kansas at TCU -15 1/2 — Quarterback is taking a little longer than I thought. The defensive problems may have been a one-week thing. Let’s find out. Pick: Kansas
SMU at South Florida +7 1/2 — So now the Mustangs must deal with the aftermath of an emotional victory. Pick: SMU
Houston at North Texas -7 1/2 — Lot of distractions at Houston these days, and North Texas has some punch. Still … a touchdown plus? Pick: Houston
Iowa State at Baylor +3 — Quarterback vs quarterback. So which one has the better OL and skill guys around him. My hunch is the home team. Pick: Baylor
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium) -23 1/2 — Keep thinking the Ags are better than they’ve shown. Pick: Arkansas
Texas Tech at Oklahoma -27 1/2 — Tech needs a quarterback. This is just the kind of game with lots of possessions where one can organically emerge. Pick: Texas Tech
Kansas State at Oklahoma State -4 1/2 — I know the OSU quarterback is good, but these Wildcats have a tough look about them. Pick: Kansas State
Virginia at Notre Dame -12 1/2 — Still a path, you say? Pick: Virginia
Washington State at Utah -5 1/2 — Hate that I missed that Washington State game last week. Think they’re over it? Pick: Utah
Cowboys at Saints +2 1/2 — Gotta start fast and make the new QB catch you. Last time they were on the road, Week 2 at Washington, the Cowboys started punt, interception, punt. Pick: Cowboys
Redskins at Giants -2 1/2 — New QB who dis. Pick: Redskins
Vikings at Bears -2 — Did you know the Vikings have the leading rusher in the NFL? Pick: Bears
