Kansas State @ #12 Kansas

Saturday, January 13th 11:00 AM CT, ESPN

Kansas State (12-4, 2-2) travels to #12 Kansas (13-3, 3-1) for an early tipoff between instate rivals. After surviving a scare from Iowa State at home, Kansas will be looking for a better performance, particularly from Devonte Graham. Kansas State will need big games from Dean Wade and Barry Brown if they want to score the instate upset. I think the Jayhawks win this one, but a KState victory isn’t out of the question.

86-80 Kansas.

#16 TCU @ #9 Oklahoma

Saturday, January 13th 12:00 PM CT, ESPNU

This seems to be an odd quirk in Big 12 scheduling. #16 TCU (13-3, 1-3) is taking on #9 Oklahoma (13-2, 3-1) for the second time in just two weeks. The Horned Frogs lost by one at home last time the two teams met, thanks in large part to a 39 point performance by Trae Young. If TCU can hold Young to a little less than that they might have a shot. But going on the road isn’t going to help, in combination with trying to recover from a painful double OT loss to Texas. I like the Sooners to sweep the Horned Frogs.

79-75 Oklahoma.

#2 West Virginia @ #8 Texas Tech

Saturday, January 13th 1:00 PM CT, ESPN

#2 West Virginia (15-1, 4-0) has been nearly flawless on the year, with their only loss coming overseas to Texas A&M. They survived a close game at home against Baylor where their offense really struggled. Similar things could happen when they travel to #8 Texas Tech (14-2, 3-1). Texas Tech boasts a stingy defense that has carried them to a strong start to Big 12 play. While that defense faltered some against Trae Young and Oklahoma, I suspect it will be in much better shape against a WVU offense that has to create turnovers to be successful. I’ll go with the upset in this one.

61-59 Texas Tech.

Baylor @ Iowa State

Saturday, January 13th 2:00 PM CT, ESPNN

This game scares me as a Bears fan. Iowa State (9-6, 0-4) has gotten off to a rocky start in Big 12 play. But every conference loss except their game against Kansas State has been very close. They took Kansas to the wire in Lawrence, and lost in OT to both Texas and Oklahoma State. This team is going to get wins in the Big 12, especially as their young talent matures. Look for Lindell Wigginton and Donovan Jackson to be key parts of this game. Baylor (11-5, 1-3) took WVU to the wire but came up just short. Manu Lecomte needs to have a big game against the Cyclones in order for the Bears to keep up with a team that likes to score a lot without much defense. I think the Bears win, but this is a dangerous road game at Hilton Coliseum.

82-79 Baylor.

Texas @ Oklahoma State

Saturday, January 13th 4:00 PM CT, ESPNN

Texas (11-5, 2-2) got an emotional double OT win over TCU in their last game shortly after news that guard Andrew Jones had been diagnosed with leukemia. The Longhorns will travel to Stillwater to battle Oklahoma State (11-5, 1-3). The Cowboys dropped a close loss to Kansas State in their last game. Both of these teams are still struggling to get a footing in conference play. I expect Texas to have the edge though, behind a strong array of slightly raw talent.

72-65 Texas.