By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports activities
Wise is the fan who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense predictions earlier than watching this weekend’s video games.
All through the 2025 school soccer season, I offer you my just-for-fun picks for contests involving the perfect groups within the West throughout 5 conferences.
These groups embody Arizona, ASU, BYU, Colorado, and Utah within the Huge 12; Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington within the Huge Ten; Cal and Stanford within the ACC; Oregon State and WSU within the Pac-12; and all the Mountain West.
I went 6-4 within the 10 Week 1 video games, lacking on Colorado, San Jose State, Oregon State, and UCLA. That brings my general file to 8-5 on the season, good for 62%.
This week, I make picks for the next 10 video games:
- San Jose State at Texas
- Oklahoma State at Oregon
- Delaware at Colorado
- Fresno State at Oregon State
- Arizona State at Mississippi State
- Georgia Southern at USC
- UCLA at UNLV
- San Diego State at Washington State
- Stanford at BYU
- Sam Houston State at Hawaii
Additionally, you will wish to learn my previews of ACC and Pac-12 video games, Stephen Vilardo’s preview of the Mountain West and Huge Ten matchups, and Dane Miller’s previews of the Huge 12 contests.
As all the time, my alternatives include my finest game-score guesses and simply sufficient commentary to maintain me from consuming an excessive amount of espresso right here within the South Shore District of Seattle.
I’m already on my second cup, so let’s get on with the picks!
San Jose State at No. 7 Texas
Saturday, September 6
9:00 AM PT, ABC
San Jose State might need had probably the most disappointing lack of all West Coast groups in Week One. The Spartans entered 2025 as outdoors favorites to win the Mountain West, however that feels misplaced now.
SJSU opened up their season with a loss to Central Michigan at residence. The loss snapped a 10-game highway shedding streak for the Chippewas.
The upset could also be attributed to Matt Drinkall’s familiarity with Ken Niumatalolo’s schemes. Drinkall spent the earlier six years in a wide range of offensive roles at Military, whereas Niumatalolo was beforehand at Navy.
No matter it’s, Walker Eget wants to guard the ball higher. Eget threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns within the opener, however he additionally had three turnovers. Two of them left CMU with good discipline place.
One standout in opposition to Central Michigan was Danny Scudero, who completed with 9 receptions, 189 yards, and one landing. He may show essential in serving to to switch a number of the manufacturing misplaced by Nick Nash.
The Spartans aren’t gonna win in Austin, however they should play higher.
Even when they do, they’re gonna get booted in Texas.
Texas 52, SJSU 14
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon 
Saturday, September 6
12:30 AM PT, CBS
This matchup acquired extra attention-grabbing as a result of Mike Gundy poked the Duck. Gundy made just a few feedback about how a lot cash Oregon spends on gamers.
“Oregon is paying rather a lot, some huge cash for his or her workforce.” He stated, including that, “from a non-conference standpoint, there’s coaches saying they need to play groups with comparable budgets.”
These feedback make sense however they don’t. By his logic, Oklahoma State most likely shouldn’t play UT Martin or Tulsa within the non-conference.
Anyway, Oregon is favored by 28 factors on this matchup, and the Geese have much more expertise than the Cowboys. This isn’t the identical OSU squad that we’re accustomed to seeing. They completed 3-9 in 2024.
UO regarded phenomenal within the opener, routing a well-coached Montana State workforce. Dante Moore had a formidable debut throwing for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
The Pokes didn’t have an offensive standout in opposition to UT Martin. In addition they gained’t have one in opposition to Oregon.
Gundy shouldn’t have poked the Duck.
Oregon 49, Oklahoma State 17
Delaware at Colorado
Saturday, September 6
12:30 pm PT, FOX
Colorado didn’t play effectively in opposition to Georgia Tech, however the Yellow Jackets have been favored. The extra regarding factor is how they misplaced.
The Buffaloes have been thought to have an improved protection line, however they acquired decimated on the bottom by Tech.
CU allowed 320 dashing yards in opposition to the Yellow Jackets. GT’s quarterback Haynes King ran for 156, and added three touchdowns on the bottom.
With the uncertainty of Colorado’s offense as a result of losses of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, that is one thing to concentrate to going ahead.
Kaidon Salter performed effectively within the opener, however this is a chance to search out himself in opposition to a weaker opponent. Salter threw for 159 yards, one landing, and no interceptions in opposition to Tech.
He additionally added 43 yards and one landing together with his toes.
This needs to be a “get proper” recreation for CU’s protection, a contest the Buffaloes have to win, however they gotta do it in fashion.
Buffs in a stampede.
Colorado 42, Delaware 14
Fresno State at Oregon State
Saturday, September 6
12:30 PM PT, The CW
This ought to find yourself being one of many extra intriguing matchups of the week.
Oregon State is determined for a victory after their opening-week debacle. The Beavers made numerous errors that price them the sport in opposition to Cal.
In opposition to Fresno State, Maalik Murphy must carry out. If OSU loses this contest, their season may grow to be unmanageable, with the following two video games in opposition to Texas Tech and Oregon.
There’s not rather a lot to remove from the Beavs’ opening contest, however their protection regarded first rate sufficient in opposition to the Golden Bears.
The Bulldogs bounced again with a trouncing of Georgia Southern final week. E.J. Warner nonetheless hasn’t discovered himself at quarterback but.
Warner has thrown for 355 yards, zero touchdowns, and 4 interceptions of their first two matchups.
However the Bulldogs crushed the Eagles due to the halfback tandem of Bryson Donelson and Rayshon Luke. The duo mixed for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns on the bottom.
Fresno is sweet, however Oregon State isn’t prepared to surrender but.
OSU scoots by.
Oregon State 31, Fresno State 27
No. 12 Arizona State at Mississippi State
Saturday, September 6
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2
Arizona State had an especially profitable marketing campaign final 12 months, however they’re about to search out out who they’re in 2025.
The Solar Devils regarded first rate within the opener, however they by no means killshotted Northern Arizona as anticipated from a Prime 15 workforce. In addition they dedicated 12 penalties in opposition to the Lumberjacks.
The competition at Mississippi State this week is a rematch from final season. Sparky was led by Cameron Skattebo, who had a mixed 298 yards within the matchup.
If ASU goes to get one other victory, they’ll have to have a balanced assault on offense. The Bulldogs held Southern Miss to three.0 yards per carry within the opener.
In final 12 months’s matchup in Tempe, Arizona State took a 24-point lead into the break.
Blake Shapen and the remainder of the dawgs are gonna keep in mind this. Shapen carried out effectively statistically, however his squad acquired rocked.
Though Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson are most likely the perfect gamers on the sector, SEC highway video games are totally different.
The Solar Devils might need a 79 % complete manufacturing retention, however they’d want 80 to beat Miss State.
Bust out the cowbells.
Mississippi State 28, ASU 24
Georgia Southern at USC 
Saturday, September 6
4:30 PM PT, Huge Ten Community
We’re a bit gradual out West if this recreation is being previewed, however the L.A. lights all the time win.
USC enters this contest after throttling Missouri State final week. The Trojans beat the Bears by sixty factors. Jayden Maiava threw for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions within the matchup.
SC featured a balanced assault with 4 totally different gamers dashing for no less than 30 yards. In addition they had three receivers go for over 70.
If USC can proceed this steadiness they’ll be a tricky offense to include.
That is gonna be significantly tough for Georgia Southern as a result of their finest defensive again, Marques Watson-Trent, is gone, and Fresno ran throughout them final week.
4 years in the past Clay Helton was fired because the Head Coach of USC. In 2025, he makes his return to the Coliseum.
However Lincoln Riley isn’t shedding to Georgia Southern, as a result of if he does, he’ll be subsequent up.
Trojans stab the Eagles.
USC 45, Georgia Southern 10
UCLA at UNLV
Saturday, September 6
5:00 PM PT, CBSSN
I don’t know if anybody anticipated UCLA to get whipped the way in which they did final week. If Utah’s actually that good, the loss might be forgiven.
The important thing to the Bruins season going ahead is successful their subsequent three contests. Nico Iamaleava didn’t come to L.A. to lose, and he’ll be trying to rebound in opposition to UNLV.
Iamaleava threw for 136 yards, one landing, and one interception within the opener. The restricted manufacturing isn’t actually his fault although, Utah pressured him your entire recreation.
He ought to have extra time in opposition to the Rebels as a result of their defensive position is inexperienced. UNLV hasn’t regarded superb of their first two outings, however they’re 2-0.
The Rebels have a brand new head coach, signal-caller, and misplaced most of their notable gamers on protection. Anthony Colandrea has been alright to date, throwing for 444 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Jai’Den Thomas is their finest participant on offense on the halfback place. UCLA acquired embarrassed in Week One, they usually have a ok rush protection to restrict Thomas.
The Bruins hit the jackpot.
UCLA 42, UNLV 21
San Diego State at Washington State
Saturday, September 6
7:15 PM PT, The CW
Washington State’s first recreation was fairly ugly, however hey, it was a win. The Cougar offense struggled by nearly everything of Week One.
WSU completed with a complete of 211 yards and solely three on the bottom. If the Cougs can’t discover a technique to generate extra offense this week, they’ll most likely lose in opposition to San Diego State.
The Aztecs scored 42 factors of their opener in opposition to Stony Brook.
However this isn’t a transparent reflection of SDSU’s offense, they scored 45 factors within the 2024 opener, however didn’t tally greater than 27 factors in a recreation the rest of the season.
A serious cause Sean Lewis was chosen as the top coach of San Diego State is due to his “AztecFAST” offense. The Aztecs solely averaged 21.3 factors per recreation in 2024, which was 116th within the nation.
Lewis has a brand new beginning quarterback in Jayden Denegal, who’s hoping to spark this unit. SDSU and WSU really feel like an ideal level-up for one another.
This can be a stylistic matchup between a gritty protection and a fast offense.
Life’s all the time been slower within the nation, the Cougs “Git-R-Achieved” on the Palouse.
Washington State 21, SDSU 17
Stanford at BYU
Saturday, September 6
7:15 pm PT, ESPN
Stanford’s most likely excited to get again on the sector after their Week Zero loss at Hawaii. They acquired a superbly timed bye week.
To compete in opposition to BYU, the Cardinal wants Ben Gulbranson to step up.
The senior quarterback posted a 7-1 file because the beginning quarterback at Oregon State in 2022, so we all know he can play higher than he did within the opener.
It could additionally assist if Micah Ford continues to make an affect. Ford rushed for 113 yards and one landing in opposition to Hawaii.
For the Cougars, all eyes will likely be on Bear Bachmeier. He and his brother Tiger transferred to Provo within the offseason from Stanford.
The Bachmeier brothers helped lead the Cougs to a 69-0 victory of their opener in opposition to Portland State. They have been up by 49 at halftime.
Bear was environment friendly within the outing, throwing for 97 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. LJ Martin added 131 yards on the bottom.
BYU ought to win this recreation simply, however Stanford could make issues occur in the event that they win the next two weeks.
The Bachmeier’s mild the tree.
BYU 38, Stanford 20
Sam Houston State at Hawai’i
Saturday, September 6
9:00 pm PT, Spectrum
The largest storyline surrounding this contest is the well being of Micah Alejado, who, by latest experiences, is in a strolling boot and listed as a recreation time choice.
He’s been coping with an ankle harm all season.
For the remainder of the Rainbow Warriors, this is a chance to get revenge for 2024. Sam Houston State beat Hawaii 31-13 final season.
The Bows escaped with a victory in opposition to Stanford in Week Zero, however they should get a cleaner end result for his or her fanbase. They’re solely averaging 14 factors per outing.
Exterior of Alejado, the one constant manufacturing on offense is Pofele Ashlock. Jackson Harris has additionally contributed at large receiver.
No matter who’s enjoying sign caller for UH, they need to be capable to exploit Sam Houston State’s protection. The BearKats are permitting 39.5 factors per recreation, which ranks 123rd nationally.
SHS looks like a workforce in transition whereas UH has a number of returning expertise. Hawaii’s expertise will make the distinction.
A tidal wave engulfs Sam Houston State.
Hawai’i 24, Sam Houston 20
Writes about soccer and basketball as a Senior Author and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Present” for SuperWest Sports activities.
