The Big 12 conference race isn’t quite clear yet but there’s a definite frontrunner. A 61-58 shootout win over TCU last weekend placed the Baylor Bears as the odds on favorite to win the conference, but could another shakeup be coming? The top three teams in the conference take to the road this weekend which put the possibility of more chaos at a high probability.
No.4 Baylor (6-0, 3-0) at West Virginia (4-2, 2-1)
Kickoff: 12:00 PM (ET) Line: Baylor -7.5 O/U: 79
This is the fourth road trip for Baylor in their last five games and it sets them up for a final stretch where they’ll play four of their last five games at home. The Big 12 is running out of opportunities to get Baylor to stumble on the road.
Key Matchup: Baylor passing attack vs. West Virginia secondary. The last time the Bears were on the road, Bryce Petty was held to a career low by Texas. The Longhorns may quietly have the best defense in the conference but West Virginia may still be able to mimic some of the things they did against Baylor just a couple of weeks ago.
Score Prediction: Baylor 40 – West Virginia 28
No.14 Kansas State (4-1, 2-0) at No.11 Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1)
Kickoff: 12:00 PM (ET) Line: OU -7 O/U: 54
Kansas State brings the Big 12’s top-ranked run defense to Norman and will face Oklahoma’s struggling offense. This game has all kinds of danger written on it for the Sooners.
Key Matchup: Oklahoma’s running game vs. the Wildcats defense. Here’s where this game will be won or lost. The Sooners are second in the conference in rushing, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and K-State leads the Big 12 in run defense, allowing opponents just 2.8 yards per carry.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 31 – Kansas State 30
Kansas (2-4, 0-3) at Texas Tech (2-4, 0-3)
Kickoff: 2:30 PM (ET) Line: Texas Tech -13 O/U: 58.5
The good news here is that one of these teams will add a W to their schedule. The Jayhawks have shown a bit more life since Charlie Weis was let go and the Red Raiders can’t seem to stop pressing the self-destruct button.
Key Matchup: Corey Avery and De’Andre Mann vs. the Texas Tech defense. You win on the road by controlling the clock and protecting the football. Texas Tech is dead last in rush defense (256 YPG) and Kansas is averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Score Prediction: Texas Tech 28 – Kansas 27
No.15 Oklahoma State (5-1, 3-0) at No.12 TCU (4-1, 1-1)
Kickoff: 3:00 Line: TCU -10.5 O/U: 62
The Horned Frogs had first place in their grasp last week and let it slip away late in the game. Now they return home to face an Oklahoma State team whose only loss this season was to the defending national champions.
Key Matchup: Daxx Garman vs. the TCU defense. Baylor’s Bryce Petty shredded TCU last week in Waco and Garman struggled on the road at Kansas. One of the two will rebound this week and it’ll be the key to victory.
Prediction: TCU 35 – OSU 31
Iowa State (2-4, 0-3) at Texas (2-4, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7:00 PM (ET) Line: Texas -12 O/U: 44.5
Iowa State is coming off a bye week and the Longhorns are coming off back-to-back losses. Both schools have reached a point where they have to go at least 4-2 through the last half of the season to have a shot at reaching a bowl.
Key Matchup: Tyrone Swoopes vs. the Iowa State defense. The Texas sophomore quarterback had a career day against Oklahoma in a losing effort last week and now takes to the road against one of the Big 12’s worst defenses.
Score Prediction: Texas 27 – Iowa State 21
*Section Photo credit to Ed Zurga, Getty Images; Featured Photo credit to Tim Heitman, USA Today Sports.
