Stormin' Around the Big XII: Let's Go Bowlin' Edition

Last Week: 3-2

Overall: 39-14

EA Sports Last Week: 2-3

Overall: 33-20

Oklahoma vs Iowa State - 11:00 AM CDT - ABC

Click here to read yesterday's preview.

TCU vs West Virginia - 2:00 PM CDT - Fox

Gary Patterson admitted this week that TCU was not ready for the grind of playing BCS teams each and every week and now go on the road against a rested and pissed off West Virginia team. Until last week I would have picked TCU in this game by virtue of their defense, but after a slow start Wes Lunt shredded them in Stillwater last weekend.

With two weeks to prepare and refine his offense I have no doubt that Dana Holgorsen has done what he needs to do to get the Mountaineers back on track to maintain their outside shot at the Big XII title. This game is going to likely be a shootout since West Virginia still won't play defense and TCU is beginning to breakdown but West Virginia will pull this one out to get back on the right track.

West Virginia 45, TCU 34

Texas vs Texas Tech - 2:30 PM CDT - ABC

This is a rough spot for Texas. A quarterback controversy began last week in Lawrence and they will be traveling to Lubbock to face a Texas Tech defense bruised and battered from last week's game against Kansas State. Texas is in immediate danger of becoming one dimensional as Joe Bergeron has found his way to the doghouse and Jonathan Gray will get his first start in the backfield.

Add in Texas' inability to stop anyone and this could be the start of a very long month for Texas and Mack Brown.

Texas Tech 41, Texas 17

Kansas vs Baylor - 2:30 PM CDT - FSN

Really want to pick the upset here but I have a hard time seeing Kansas getting their first Big XII win since 2010 on the road. Their defense is not made of world beaters but Dave Campo's scheme and motivation is clearly working with this team as they have slowed the bleeding against Texas and Oklahoma State. The only problem there is both games were at home.

Baylor looked downright pedestrian in Ames last weekend but the #3 scoring defense in the Big XII will do that to an offense. The Bears are still loaded with guys like Terrance Williams and I have a hard time seeing the Jayhawks putting anyone on the field that can slow him down. Iowa State has one of the better secondaries in the league and still gave him over 190 yards last week.

Baylor may not play defense but Kansas has no one to match up with their weapons. If the Bears can get over their 2nd half woes they'll run away from this one late.

Baylor 35, Kansas 20

Oklahoma State vs Kansas State - 7:00 PM CDT - ABC

Kansas State is trying to win a national championship and Oklahoma State is trying to defend their Big XII Championship and gain control over the conference with a win on Saturday. Despite a slow start last week the Kansas State defense came on strong against Texas Tech and ended up shutting down Seth Doege and company in a game that turned into a rout.

Lucky for Kansas State is they face an Oklahoma State offense lead by a still inexperienced freshman in Wes Lunt who is not a threat to do damage with his feet. This will allow the Wildcats to focus on containing Joseph Randle and not allowing Lunt to beat them with his arm deep.

On the flip side, the Wildcats should have a field day against a defense ranked 42nd nationally but one who has not faced an explosive offense since Arizona in early September. Collin Klein will have ample opportunity to be himself in this game and I expect Kansas State to once again explode in the second half and wear down this Cowboys defense.

Kansas State 55, Oklahoma State 31

EA Sports NCAA Football 13 Predictions

Iowa State 38, Oklahoma 21: Behind 231 yards and two touchdowns from Steel Jantz the Cyclones come out and surprise Oklahoma. Landry Jones passes for less than 200 yards and the vaunted rushing game of Oklahoma is held to 55 yards in total. James White, Shontrelle Johnson, and Jeff Woody combine for 157 yards and three touchdowns on 36 attempts.

I will wet myself in glee if this actually happens.

TCU 28, West Virginia 21: A big 2nd and 3rd quarter from TCU is all they need in this one. Despite a late touchdown by West Virginia the Horned Frogs escape from Morgantown with a win. Both teams are under 400 yards of total offense and Geno Smith adds only 222 yards through the air.

Texas 16, Texas Tech 14: A late Texas field goal allows them to escape Lubbock with a win and preserve their predicted perfect season and set up a #1 vs #23 match up with Iowa State on November 10th.

Kansas 31, Baylor 27: A late TD run by Kansas puts them over Baylor and gives them their first conference win in almost two years. Nick Florence is awful in this one only throwing for 167 yards but Lache Seastruck goes for 133 on the ground with three touchdowns. Not to be outdone, James Sims adds 115 yards and a touchdown himself.

Kansas State 23, Oklahoma State 0: No one expects Oklahoma State to actually get shutout, or Collin Klein to not light up the scoreboard, but both happen here. Despite 11 of 19 passing for 219 yards and a touchdown and 110 yards rushing, Klein can only get the Wildcats in the end zone twice. The West Lunt-led offense only musters 202 total yards in an embarrassment in Manhattan.