Big 12 Week 8 Preview

By FieldinOfDreams@FieldinOfDreams Oct 20, 2017, 9:30am CDT

#10 Oklahoma State @ Texas

Saturday, October 21st 11:00 AM CT, ABC

This ought to be a good, early morning game. Texas (3-3) is reeling after a hard fought, close loss to Oklahoma. #10 Oklahoma State (5-1) is fighting to prove they are the better team from Oklahoma, coming off of a dominating win over Baylor. I expect this to be a close game, with good defense and some explosive plays making the difference. I’ll take the Cowboys in a close one.

Iowa State @ Texas Tech

Saturday, October 21st 11:00 AM CT, FS1

Iowa State (4-2) is trying to prove they belong in the conversation of which teams will make it to the Big 12 Championship. They are currently tied for second in the conference after a 45-0 blowout win over Kansas. Texas Tech (4-2) is trying to regain its footing after giving up a large lead over West Virginia in a loss. Texas Tech also ought to have revenge on the mind this weekend, as Iowa State annihilated them last year, 66-10. I expect Joel Lanning to put out another crazy performance on both sides of the ball, while Kyle Kempt will continue getting the ball to play makers like Allen Lazard and David Montgomery. I’ll go with an Iowa State win in a back and forth offensive game.

#9 Oklahoma @ Kansas State

Saturday, October 21st 3:00 PM CT, FOX

#9 Oklahoma (5-1) kept its season from coming completely off the tracks with a close win over Texas last week. Their offense is starting to become notorious for jumping on teams early and then letting off the gas. Kansas State (3-3) is rebounding from a tough loss to TCU, where their offense couldn’t do much of anything. I think this could be a game where Oklahoma’s ability to jump ahead early might be enough to win them the game. KState’s offense just hasn’t looked very good throughout the season. I’ll go with a Sooners win.

Kansas @ #4 TCU

Saturday, October 21st 7:00 PM CT, FOX

NCAA Football: Texas Christian at Kansas

Everything in me is screaming to put #4 TCU (6-0) on upset alert against Kansas (1-5). Kansas always plays TCU close, Kansas’ offensive coordinator, Doug Meacham, was TCU’s co-offensive coordinator last year, and this is a classic mid-season trap game. But I just can’t figure out how it would happen. Kansas looks REALLY bad this year, coming off of a 45-0 beat down loss to Iowa State. TCU, on the other hand, looks very good, with a strong defense and solid offense. I’ll take the Horned Frogs even though this game will probably end up close, as is tradition.

#23 West Virginia @ Baylor

Saturday, October 21st 7:00 PM CT, FS1

Baylor (0-6) looks like it’s starting to get desperate for a win. After a well fought effort against OU, the team seems to have digressed some on the road against Kansas State and Oklahoma State. The team very much needs to return home for a game. Luckily, homecoming will provide just that respite with what should be a strong crowd. West Virginia (4-2) will be a tough out for the Bears, however. They’re coming off of a really good late game rally against Texas Tech. I expect Baylor to fight behind the energy of a good home crowd and make this a close game. While I ultimately think West Virginia will win this game, Baylor is going to find a way to get a win sooner or later. If they find a way to do it against West Virginia, it will need to be by taking advantage of the offensive lulls which have become characteristic for this Mountaineers team. Sic ‘em!