Stormin' Around the Big XII: Time to Play Real Games Edition

We finally have conference games this week. Granted, it's TCU going on the road to be unceremoniously welcomed to Lawrence, but it's the start of something more serious and the first look at TCU's team playing against BCS level competition week in and week out.

Still there's three games against I-AA foes and New Mexico... again. Plus a North Texas team fronted by our ole ball coach Dan McCarney going against a guy who enjoyed running up the score on him in the past. I'm quite serious when I say that it's possible Texas may be the only Big XII team to score under 40 points this week. Onward and upward we go.

Last Week: 5-3

Overall: 14-3

EA Sports Last Week: 7-1

Overall: 14-3

TCU vs Kansas - 11:00 AM CDT - FX

Say what you will about the SEC but they welcomed Missouri and Texas A&M into their league with marquee match ups that saw Georgia visiting Columbia and Florida visiting College Station. The Big XII? They decide to send the Horned Frogs up to a stadium with a track around it.

Much press has been given to Dayne Crist and his struggles but he swears he'll go out and have more fun from here on out. MOAR FUN GUYZ. It won't work against a Gary Patterson-led defense that may not be what it was in the past but is still talented and consistent in its scheme enough to dispatch a team who couldn't do anything right in the 2nd half against Rice last week. Kansas puts up a fight early but succumbs to Casey Pachall and company.

TCU 42, Kansas 17

Louisiana-Lafayette vs Oklahoma State - 11:00 AM CDT - FSN

This could be a dangerous game for the Cowboys after their upset in the desert. The Ragin' Cajuns are 50th in the country in rushing offense and go against an Oklahoma State defense that was abused by every player on Arizona's offense and the men in stripes last week. The saving grace for the Cowboys though will be the fact that Louisiana-Lafayette allowed 588 yards passing in a victory over Troy last weekend. Who knew that the MACtion moved down to the Sun Belt this year?

Wes Lunt again has a superior game and the offense keeps rolling strong. Oklahoma State's defense takes away the run and forced a lesser athletic team to try to beat them through the air. Cowboys start slow put just pull away away away.

Oklahoma State 49, Louisiana-Lafayette 10

James Madison vs West Virginia - 3:30 PM CDT - Root Sports/MSN

This game was moved to Washington D.C. at the request of James Madison but will pay the Mountaineers $2M to participate in it. James Madison was the team that derailed Virginia Tech at home a year ago but a similar upset won't happen here. Despite the week off Geno Smith and company continue to fire on all cylinders. We'll see how the bye week works out for West Virginia's defense and if they can look that part of a defense that can dominate inferior competition.

West Virginia 56, James Madison 14

Sam Houston State vs Baylor - 6:00 PM CDT - FCS

Sam Houston State is the defending runner up (does that exist) in I-AA and travels to Waco to face a Baylor squad that surprised many with their rout of SMU two weeks ago. Nick Florence is likely to continue developing his passing skills and it will be interesting to see if Baylor continues their attempt to run the ball on the backs of Jared Salubi and Lache Seastrunk.

Baylor 45, Sam Houston State 14

North Texas vs Kansas State - 6:00 PM CDT - FSN

Dan McCarney comes to Manhattan where he's won only once in his career. The debate here will be whether or not Snyder runs the score up on his old friend like he used to when the Wildcats were capable of out classing the Cyclones. My vote is yes.

Kansas State 52, North Texas 7

New Mexico vs Texas Tech - 6:00 PM CDT - FCS

Tech beats down New Mexico just as badly as Texas did last week but does it with offense doing more than the Longhorns did. David Ubben continues to rank Tech ahead of Iowa State and will cite Iowa State's win over Western Illinois as the Cyclones having yet to prove themselves against better competition compared to Tech.

Texas Tech 49, New Mexico 6

Western Illinois vs Iowa State - 7:00 PM CDT - Cyclones.TV

Click here to see my preview from Thursday.

Texas vs Ole Miss - 8:15 PM CDT - ESPN

Does the Big XII go on the road for a night game against a BCS conference opponent and lose two weeks in a row? It's possible, but unlikely. Ole Miss may have shot itself up to #9 nationally in rush offense but that was against Central Arkansas and UTEP. The Longhorns are aggressive and fast enough to make up for missed assignments. On the flip side, Ole Miss' defense isn't terrible and David Ash has yet to prove himself against a team with a pulse. This one is low scoring, but Texas eventually comes out on top with a strong run game.

Texas 20, Ole Miss 10

EA Sports NCAA Football 13 Predictions

TCU vs Kansas: A late touchdown by Kansas' James Sims makes this one closer than it should be as TCU holds on to win 31-24. TCU holds Kansas to 81 rushing yards while racking up 219 on the ground themselves. Dayne Crist has a mediocre game going 14-29 for 234 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Louisiana-Lafayette vs Oklahoma State: For the second week in a row the Cowboys' defense lets them down as they surrender 14 points in the fourth quarter to fall down 28-24 to the Ragin' Cajuns. A touchdown pass from Wes Lunt to Joseph Randle with 1:07 remaining bails out the Pokes as they win 31-28. Oklahoma State allows 198 yards on the ground and 50% 3rd down conversions but Wes Lunt's 260 yards passing and three touchdowns prevail in the end.

James Madison vs West Virginia: Setting a theme for the Big XII vs I-AA opponents on Saturday, the Mountaineers whip James Madison 51-14. West Virginia racks up 658 total yards with 237 on the ground and 421 through the air. Geno Smith contributes 337 of those passing yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Tavon Austin continues his tear with eight receptions for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

Sam Houston State vs Baylor: Baylor wins 56-7 behind 322 yards on the ground with three touchdowns. Nick Florence only attempts 14 passes but completes 10 with five of them for touchdowns before sitting the rest of the game. Jarred Salubi and Lache Seastrunk both top 100 yards rushing.

North Texas vs Kansas State: Bill Snyder continues his dominance of Dan McCarney with a 35-7 win. Collin Klein passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns but once again the Wildcats rack up over 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Angelo Pease powers the running attack with 103 yards on the ground.

New Mexico vs Texas Tech: Texas Tech wins 49-10 and amasses 344 yards through the air and 147 on the ground. Seth Doege passes for six touchdowns.

Western Illinois vs Iowa State: Cyclones dominate this one with a 52-0 win. 658 yards of total offense for the Cyclones including 278 on the ground and 380 through the air. Jantz has four touchdowns and one interception while Jared Barnett adds one through the air late. Shontrelle Johnson and James White both add touchdowns on the ground and the benefactors of the passing touchdowns were Hammerschmidt (twice), Lenz, and West (twice).

Texas vs Ole Miss: Texas' defense continues their dominance by pitching a 23-0 shutout. They rack up 209 yards on the ground and 163 through the air while forcing three Rebels' turnovers. The concerning part is David Ash's 15-34 performance.