Last week’s batch of bold calls landed more often than not, and this week’s slate offers a fresh round of swings. Three of the four predictions from the first weekend of October came through: Missouri rolled Florida, Jeremiah Smith went off for 11 catches, 206 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa, and Minnesota took back the Little Brown Jug. BYU also got the win, though not by the blowout margin that was forecast.
Now comes another crack at the weekend ahead, with the same no-safety-net approach.
Start with the two road favorites sitting at 7.5 points: Indiana at Nebraska and Texas in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma. Both matchups carry just enough wiggle room for a weird result, and both opponents are unranked, which only sharpens the upset watch.
Nebraska’s case is built on the idea that Matt Rhule’s team keeps getting underrated; ESPN’s Bill Connelly has the Cornhuskers at No. 12 in SP+. Oklahoma’s argument comes from the other side of the ball, with a defense ranked No. 2 in the SEC by yardage ready to bother a Texas offense that sits No. 12 in the league by that same measure.
Penn State gets the White Out treatment, but the bigger question is whether the Nittany Lions have actually shown their best version yet in year one under Matt Campbell. The defense, in particular, still feels like it has more to give.
Yes, the 413 yards allowed to Northwestern last Friday made noise, but Penn State also held Wisconsin to 120, and that’s the number worth leaning on. If the Wildcats outing really was the outlier, the Nittany Lions should be able to handle Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava well enough to keep control.
That sets up a much-needed rebound chance for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht against a USC defense that should be vulnerable. Becht has had two rough weeks, but this looks like the kind of spot where he can reset. The call here is three touchdown passes, plus an interception and a fumble, with Penn State surviving a messy one 35-21.
One prediction doesn’t try to hide what it is: a record is in real danger. Sheppard enters the week as the nation’s third-leading rusher, and he draws the ACC’s worst run defense in Georgia Tech, which is giving up 189 yards a game on the ground.
The weather only adds to the setup, with remnants of Hurricane Isaias expected to bring rain to Atlanta and make the passing game harder to lean on. Duke running back Mataeo Durant owns the school’s single-game rushing record at 255 yards against Charlotte in 2021, but that mark is in jeopardy here.
The forecast is Sheppard topping it and becoming part of FBS’s 10th 300-yard rushing game of the decade.
The final call goes to NC State, a team that has already taken the long road back from two brutal early losses - a blowout at Virginia on Aug. 29 and a last-second collapse against Vanderbilt on Sept. 19.
That kind of start can flatten a season, but the Wolfpack’s win over Louisville last Saturday was enough to register as a surprise and shift the mood. Against Wake Forest, that momentum should matter.
NC State’s defense is still a mess - 89th in scoring - but the offenses in this rivalry matchup are close enough that the game could come down to details, and the weather should help keep things tight. Quarterback CJ Bailey has thrown an interception in three straight games, but this time the prediction is that he avoids the turnover.
The Wolfpack also lean on backup quarterback Will Wilson, who has six rushing touchdowns, as a useful complement. Put it together and NC State walks away with a 24-17 win.
In Other News...
Indiana Faces A Road Test That Could Shake Its Top 10 Rise
Indianas climb into the top 10 has brought a new kind of pressure, and Saturdays trip to Nebraska looks like a good test of how real this rise is. The No. 7 Hoosiers are headed into their second Big Ten road game of the season, this time against an undefeated Cornhuskers team that has handled business at home and figures to make this one uncomfortable from the start.
The matchup gives Indiana a chance to lean on its rushing attack, with Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. leading the way, but the Hoosiers will also have to deal with Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the way he can stress a defense with his legs and arm. Just as important, Indianas defense has to win on third down and keep Nebraska from extending drives, because thats where a road game like this can start to slip away quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana May Be Unleashing A Perimeter Weapon Fans Didn't See Coming
Darren Harris arrived at Indiana with a rsum that already hinted at real upside, but the bigger opportunity now seems to be tied to how quickly he can expand his role in Darian DeVries offense. The former Duke guard and top-40 recruit is expected to be more than just a depth piece for the Hoosiers, and the early tone from the staff has been encouraging for anyone looking for a perimeter threat to emerge.
DeVries has been especially confident in Harris three-point shooting, enough to give him a clear green light from long range, and that belief has been echoed by teammate Markus Burton as Indiana prepared for the season at Big Ten Media Days. With an exhibition against Butler and then a regular-season opener against Eastern Illinois on deck, Harris has a chance to turn that praise into an early storyline the Hoosiers can actually build on. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Finally Looks Deeper Than Ever But Two Jobs Are Still Open
Indianas mens basketball roster has been rebuilt in a major way for 2026-27, with 11 newcomers arriving to give Darian DeVries a group that looks bigger, longer and far more versatile than the one it is replacing. The transfer haul alone brought in familiar names from major programs, including Aiden Sherrell from Alabama, Samet Yigitoglu from SMU and Markus Burton from Notre Dame, while a wave of freshmen adds even more layers to a roster that should be deeper on both ends of the floor.
What stands out most is how many different combinations DeVries can now consider. The Hoosiers believe they have improved their size and rebounding, and the backcourt has a different look with Burton in the mix, but the next step is figuring out how all of those pieces fit together once practice and lineup decisions begin. For a team that spent the offseason loading up, the biggest question now is not who Indiana has, but which two roles are still waiting to be claimed. [Read more 🡒]