Sooners Picked Over K-State; Michigan, LSU favored; Louisville upset special at Fla.St; Bama, Aggies (end of article)?

Above Photo: Baker Mayfield, OU (Photo: Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports)

Four games this Saturday in the Big 12 with Oklahoma/Kansas State and West Virginia/Baylor the only two that are worth taking a look.

The Sooners have lost to Texas and come back the next week and won at Manhattan.  Again that is a must if OU wants any chance to win the Big 12 Championship.  Still having the opportunity to determine their destiny, the Big Red has to win out and it starts with a hurt Wildcat team that has suffered two gut wrenching losses in conference.  Can KSU run on the Sooner defense and if that answer is yes, look for a nail biter till the end.  Bill Snyder will bring the house on OU’s Baker Mayfield (as did Texas) and if the Sooner line does not hold up, look for a KSU win.  OU seems to have more issues than K-State but I will give the southern visitors the nod as talent should hold out. Final:  OU 37, Kansas State 34

West Virginia, also tagged with two conference losses, has to go to Baylor and the Bears finally face a team with a very good defense.  No love lost here and if Baylor can get it going early the Mountaineers will get that third conference loss.  Turnovers by West Virginia is key and if ball protection is as bad as it has been the past two weeks West Virginia has little chance.  The Baylor defense is not as good as O-State or OU so they should score some points. Just not enough.  Final:  Baylor 45, West Virginia 34

Texas Tech will rout Kansas 60 to 13. (at Lawrence)

TCU will rout Iowa State 51-10  (at Ames)

Texas and Oklahoma State do not play Saturday

Key National Games:

UCLA at Stanford:  Take Stanford as the freshman quarterback for the Bruins won’t have enough in this one.  The Cardinal is gaining confidence every week,  Home field is also key.  Stanford 24, UCLA 21  ESPN, 10:30

Iowa at Northwestern:  I haven’t been high on the Wildcats this year and the Hawkeyes will edge out a nice win on the road. Iowa 28, Northwestern 24  ABC/ESPN2, noon

Louisville at Florida State:  Upset here with FSU falling 27 to 24.  Have not been impressed with the Seminoles and this week their first of nine lives fails them. ESPN, noon

Ole Miss at Memphis:  Another undefeated is gone with the Rebels in a walk.  Ole Miss 42, Memphis 17 ABC/ESPN2, noon

Michigan State at Michigan:  A really big one in the Big 10. Michigan continues to impress in a tight win. I was more impressed with Sparty after the Oregon win but we all know Oregon is just average. The new coach at Ann Arbor has the greatness of the maze and gold in tune this year.  Michigan 20, Michigan State 17  ESPN, 3:30

Florida at LSU:  Pick Les Miles’s Tigers here. The Gators won’t move the ball and can’t stop the Heisman hopeful.  LSU 17, Florida 7 ESPN, 7

USC at Notre Dame:  Traditional powers get after it in South Bend.  Take the Irish. USC has severe problems, on and off the field.  Notre Dame 34, USC 20  NBC, 7:30

Penn State at Ohio State:  Bucks put one together.  Ohio State 27, Penn State 10   ABC, 8

Arizona State at Utah:  Utes, my #1 hold on this week in a dogfight.  Upset is possible so stay away from this one if you want to put $$$ on this one.  Utah 31, Arizona State 24  ESPN, 10

Thursday, Oct. 15

Auburn 20  at Kentucky 21, ESPN, 7

Western Kentucky 46 at North Texas 17, CBSSN, 7:30

Friday, Oct. 16

Cincinnati 21 at BYU  26, ESPN, 8

Boise State 32 at Utah State  21, CBSSN, 9

Houston 31 at Tulane 34, ESPNU, 9

UNLV 23 at Fresno State 17, ESPN2, 10:30

Saturday, Oct. 17

Purdue 7 at Wisconsin 34, BTN, noon

Bucknell 15 at Army 17 , CBSSN, noon

Florida International 23 at Middle Tennessee 28, FSN, noon

Louisiana Tech 14 at Mississippi State  35, SEC, noon

South Florida 21 at Connecticut 17, ESPNU, noon

Tulsa 26 at East Carolina  24, ESPNews, noon

Air Force  24 at Colorado State  27, CBSSN, 2:30

Nebraska 24 at Minnesota 21, ESPN2, 3:30

Rutgers 21 at Indiana 31, BTN, 3:30

Virginia Tech 17 at Miami  16, ESPNU, 3:30

Oregon State 27 at Washington State  52, Pac-12, 4

Vanderbilt 10 at South Carolina 11, SEC, 4

Boston College 7 at Clemson 42, ESPNU, 7

Central Florida 21 at Temple  24, CBSSN, 7:30

Missouri 17 at Georgia 24, SEC, 7:30

Arizona 32 at Colorado  14, FS1, 9

Oregon  21 at Washington 27, ESPN2, 10:30

San Diego State  15 at San Jose State  31, ESPNU, 10:30

and finally