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Stormin' Around the Big XII: Twilight Edition

The Big XII season is entering its twilight this week as the conference championship chase becomes clearer and the teams in the middle fight for bowl positioning, and in Iowa State's case, a spot at the table.

Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Last Week: 5-0

Overall: 47-16

EA Sports Last Week: 3-2

Overall: 39-24

Last Week's Picks

Without having a chance to write an article last week you'll just have to trust the picks I made last Friday morning before realizing I had no time to get them up.

Texas Tech 42, Kansas 17

Texas 38, Iowa State 17

Oklahoma State 41, West Virginia 35

Oklahoma 45, Baylor 21

Kansas State 21, TCU 14

This Week's Picks

Texas Tech vs Oklahoma State - 2:30 PM CST - FSN

Two teams headed in opposite directions meet in Stillwater in this game. Texas Tech has cooled off significantly after a 6-1 start and are only 1-2 in their past three games. Their last two victories have both come in overtime and the previously dominant defense has surrendered over 30 points in each of the past four games.

On the other hand Oklahoma State may be out of the conference championship discussion but has put together a solid winning streak in October, save for the loss to Kansas State, and are beginning to round into form despite having three different starting quarterbacks this season.

Neither defense is going to go out and dominate in this one but Oklahoma State's balance is beginning to stress defenses immensely as the season wears on. Tech's lack of balance is going to be an issue in this one and I expect them to have to rally late to stay close but will fail to do so in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State 42, Texas Tech 37

Oklahoma vs West Virginia - 6:00 PM CST - Fox

At the beginning of the season this looked like it would be the de facto conference championship game with the winner going to the national championship. My how times have changed.

Geno Smith is no longer a Heisman candidate and West Virginia is fighting for its sixth win and a likely date in New York City on December 29th. Oklahoma had its national championship hopes dashed earlier in the season by Kansas State but can still earn a split of the conference title with a little help from either Baylor or Texas these next three weeks. Needless to say this match up has lost a lot of its luster.

The Landry Jones-led offense has quietly turned into a well oiled machine and given West Virginia's problems on defense (124th vs the pass, 32nd vs the run, and 112th overall) this game could very well be another thumping in Morgantown. Except the home team is the receiver of it... again. West Virginia is looking more and more like the Texas Tech squad from 2011 and this does not bode well for their quick turnaround for a Black Friday match up in Ames for Riot Bowl I.

Oklahoma 56, West Virginia 28

Iowa State vs Kansas - 6:00 PM CST - FSN

Click here to read yesterday's preview.

Kansas State vs Baylor - 7:00 PM CST - ABC

Does Baylor have enough in the tank to upset the #1 team in the nation? In a word: no.

Despite Lache Seastrunk becoming the feature back this is a Baylor offense that still struggles when Nick Florence is pressured and can't get the ball out of his hands quickly. TCU and Iowa State both flummoxed the senior quarterback and both defenses have less of a pass rush than this Kansas State squad. Despite Kansas State's injuries on defense I still expect them to dare Florence to beat them with his arm and he won't be able to do it.

Even if he could the Baylor defense will still need to man up and slow down the punishing rushing attack of Kansas State. With Collin Klein arguably healthy again I fail to see any result other than Klein punching another notch on his ticket to New York, and eventually Miami. Kansas State takes this one going away and sets up a key December 1st match up against Texas in Manhattan.

Kansas State 49, Baylor 31

EA Sports NCAA Football 13 Predictions

Last Week

Texas 21, Iowa State 16 - Texas maintains their #1 ranking and immediately behind them? Iowa. That is until they lose at Michigan the following week.

Kansas 38, Texas Tech 30

Kansas State 21, TCU 17

West Virginia 28, Oklahoma State 25

Oklahoma 38, Baylor 24

This Week

Texas Tech 35, Oklahoma State 28

West Virginia 34, Oklahoma 27

Iowa State 30, Kansas 24 (OT) - Shontrelle Johnson scores in overtime after Iowa State rallies for a touchdown in the final minute.

Kansas State 35, Baylor 0