College football Week 9 picks: Iowa State vs. Baylor, Purdue vs. Nebraska, Oregon vs. Utah

The Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems panel has score predictions for three games every week during the college football season, including the Iowa and Iowa State games. Here are the picks for Saturday, Oct. 28 (this is the Hawkeyes’ bye week).

Iowa State (4-3, 3-1 Big 12) at Baylor (3-4, 2-2)

2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+ streaming)

Mike Hlas (0-3 last week, 13-11 overall) — The starting quarterbacks at Iowa State, UNI and Iowa are named Rocco, Theo and Deacon. Baylor 32, Iowa State 30

John Steppe (1-2, 14-10) — Dr Pepper was invented in Waco. Soda is overrated. And no, I won’t call it pop. Iowa State 28, Baylor 27

Jeff Johnson (1-2, 15-9) — My cohort Jeff Linder is one of the most genteel fellas I know. But if you want to see him flip an emotional switch, just bring up Baylor football. Or Art Briles. Yet again, I guess you could say this is true for a lot of people. Iowa State 28, Baylor 20

Rob Gray (2-1, 17-7) — The Cyclones have discovered a running game in Big 12 play and that trend must continue if they are to win at Baylor for the first time since 2017. If the Cyclones can bother Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen, expect a win. Iowa State 24, Baylor 17

Beth Malicki (1-2, 14-10) — My oldest is getting his substitute teaching license. The same kid who wound up in the principal’s office with every sub. Karma. Iowa State 31, Baylor 27

Todd Brommelkamp (2-1, 12-12) — There’s no Waco, Iowa, but there is a WACO Community School District. Discuss among yourselves. Iowa State 28, Baylor 20

Purdue (2-5, 1-3 Big Ten) at Nebraska (4-3, 2-2)

2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1)

Hlas — Was it ironic that I was doing a colonoscopy prep at the same time I made this pick? Nebraska 14, Purdue 13

Steppe — I hope Connor Stalions got some good tickets for this one. Nebraska 20, Purdue 14

Johnson — The other day, a man was out looking for his dog, which I had just seen running around the neighborhood. I pointed with my right hand to tell him the direction I last saw it, then I made a slight circular gesture with my left hand. Was that an invalid fair catch signal? Nebraska 31, Purdue 14

Gray — The Huskers (4-3) are on the cusp of forging their first winning season since — wait for it — 2016 and if they don’t turn the ball over much, they should get to five wins against the hapless Boilermakers. Nebraska 20, Purdue 10

Malicki — How old am I? I’m honored when people say I’m acting like my mom. That’s a new level of aging. Purdue 27, Nebraska 24

Brommelkamp — Just because the Hawks don’t play this weekend doesn’t mean you can’t watch a painfully boring Big Ten West football game. Nebraska 18, Purdue 13

No. 8 Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) at No. 13 Utah (6-1, 3-1)

2:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox)

Hlas — Iowa’s last three regular-season quarterbacks have been from the San Francisco Bay Area, Reno and Santa Barbara. Utah, which outscored USC last week, starts a QB who was a pig farmer and a high school wrestler. Iowa Needs Farmer. Oregon 31, Utah 24

Steppe — Going out on a limb here and predicting the losing team will have more than 12 total yards in the second half. Oregon 35, Utah 25

Johnson — These two schools are joining the SEC next season, right? Or is it the Big 12? Or Big Ten? I get that all mixed up. Oregon 21, Utah 20

Gray — ESPN’s College GameDay will cruise into Salt Lake City for this one, for what it’s worth. Who will be the “celebrity picker?” OK, truth be told, I don’t care, but this matchup between future Big Ten and Big 12 teams is very intriguing beyond that dumb gimmick. Oregon 31, Utah 28

Malicki — If you feel like you’re needing more sleep lately it could be due to the heaviness of world events. Take care. Oregon 35, Utah 30

Brommelkamp — Utah has been a great story this season but they can’t keep winning games, right? Oregon 30, Utah 27