Big 12 Review of Week 3: Sooner’s Defense Struggles; Pokes Show Strong Potential; Tech Becomes a Player With Win Over Hogs

Texas Tech became a player Saturday in the Big 12 with their win in Fayetteville over the Razorbacks, OU and TCU seem to be in the same situation with Baylor with their defensive problems, and Oklahoma State proved it can blow someone out and stop with the underwhelming production on offense and lack of turnovers.  Here is a brief look at the week.

Oklahoma:  Pass defense is still a concern and if OU wants to win the conference they will need to outscore their opponents.  Baylor, TCU, West Virginia Texas Tech and Okla.State will provide exciting nail-biting games for the Sooners and to win three of these five would be acceptable.  Win all five and hello Oklahoma to the Final Four. Sooners have the offensive to hog the ball with a run game but games like 56-49 are on their way.  With Baker Mayfield the Sooners have the best quarterback in the league north of Fort Worth.

Texas Tech:  They surprised me by playing winning defense.  Kliff Kingsbury proved to be every bit the better coach than the Hog’s Bret Bielema as Patrick Mahomes II played an outstanding game.  Tech is back enough to be a player in the conference. And yes, Kingsbury “kicked Bielema’s ass” with regard to what the Arkansas coach said to the Texas High School Coaches.  Good job Red Raiders.

Texas:  Improvement on offense with Jay Norville running the system.  A game that could have been a win.  California must be living a good life.  Good luck Texas as you are going to get run over in conference.  Three wins?

Kansas State:  Another win. But wait, The Big 12 in here and three conference wins might be the level of success.  Still not impressed with K-State on offense.  How can they keep up with the Baylor’s, TCU’s,,,,,,,,

Oklahoma State:  A sleeper in Stillwater, the Pokes are still developing.  If Texas turns it over in Austin next week look for an OSU blowout.  Man-for-man OSU has been much the better team than their opponents and Texas will have to deal with that.

Iowa State:  Toledo is not a bad football team whatsoever. Yet, Iowa State might have one or two wins in their basket for the remainder of the season. OT losses to a MAC team is not good.  I think the powers to be will let ISU Coach Paul Rhoads finish the season.

TCU:  Defense is an issue.  Losing a front line starter in the defensive backfield hurts big time.  TCU falls into the Baylor and OU group. They will have to outscore those two to win.

Kansas, Baylor, and West Virginia did not play.

Most Impressive Team of the Week:  Texas Tech

Least Impressive Team of the Week:  Texas

Player of the Week:  Baker Mayfield, OU

Final reflection:  If a Big 12 team goes undefeated they will  make the Final Four.  The league seems to be significantly better after three weeks.   West Virginia and Texas Tech are in the mix to be significant players in the league.  Kansas, Kansas State, Texas and Iowa State are going to have problems in 2015.

https://youtu.be/OFoLSia0mK4

Photo at the top:  Arkansas’ Dre Greenlaw (23) grabs Texas Tech’s DeAndre Washington (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Samantha Baker) (Samantha Baker)