Sooners, Cowboys, Bears Are my Big 12 Picks this Week; Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss, aTm in National Games

The national pollsters have Oklahoma and West Virginia in the Top 25, with the Sooners slightly ahead.  15th for OU and 23rd for the Mountaineers currently and with a bullet.  I think more of both teams, just having them knocking on the Top Ten with OU at 11th and WVU at 12th.  The question going into the game Saturday in Norman is if either has a decided advantage over either and what do you really know about each squad.  In looking at West Virginia, their smashing of three mundane and lower echelon teams say they take care of business without showing any inherent weakness and a superior way of avoiding the turnover. They have not been in any tight game and their  reaction to adversity is not known.  We haven’t a clue how they will react to a road game where 82k of the 85k fans will be screaming bloody murder at them for 60 minutes. Dana, this is not Morgantown and not Kansas either. WV might be the real deal and continue to play productive and effective football, or they might crack and get buried against a team that has, on the whole, higher recruited players.

As for the Sooners, they have shown to be a team that has issues on defense and tend to be susceptible to giving up yards to passing teams.  West Virginia will need to on Saturday as yards on the ground won’t come easy.  OU will display the best collective set of weapons on offense this side of Fort Worth, but they don’t click for a full game. They will need to (click) against WV and the ever improving (if you believe their stats against inferior offenses) defense of the visitors should disrupt them with some three-and-outs.  With OU, West Virginia will be severely tested and we shall see if that “superior” defense holds or is just a “house of  cards.”  In my opinion, both teams will win some battles an lose others.

Final:  Baker Mayfield and Sterling Shepard will make the big plays as OU’s defense plays acceptable defense, forcing West Virginia to take gambles and turn it over for the first times this year.  OU 41, West Virginia 31

Kansas at Iowa State:  A win here for the Cyclones.  Kansas will have problems on both sides of the ball.  If KU wants to avoid a season of total disappointment they must win this game.  The won’t win against any of the other conference teams. Final, Iowa State 41 and Kansas 19.

Texas at TCU:  Only if Texas had an answer for Trevone Boykin. UT will score but not enough.  TCU 48, Texas 24

Baylor at Texas Tech:  Could and should be another Big 12 shootout,  If Tech qb Patrick Mahomes II is well, this could come down to the final possession.  Baylor has not played a lick of good defense and if Tech could get some turnovers and a lead, Tech might pull this one out.  Final:  Baylor 56, Tech 49

Kansas State at Oklahoma State:  A defensive game in the Big12?  This is as close as you are going to get this year.  KSU will again play hard and avoid mistakes. OSU will match the effort and will take this one. The Pokes are better on both sides of the ball. Final:  Okla. State 30, Kansas State 17

Big National Games:

Alabama at Georgia:  Georgia will win this one.  They are the better team and have a home field advantage.  Georgia 31, Alabama 17

Ole Miss at Florida:  My Top team will shut down Florida enough to get the win.  Line play and the Ole Miss passing game too much for the Gators.  Rebels 38, Florida 17

Mississippi State at Texas A&M:  A great match-up and two teams that I have a lot of respect for.  Go with the visitor in this one.  Bulldogs 34, Aggies 28

Notre Dame at Clemson:  Irish lose in a close one.  Clemson 25, Notre Dame 21

Top Photo Credit:  http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com

ursday, Oct. 1, 2015

Friday, Oct. 2, 2015

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015