Pokes to Take West Virginia; Sooners over Horns; K-State to pull shocker in the Little Apple over Frogs

Above Photo:  Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (10) looks downfield against Baylor in the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune Herald)

Kansas State hosts TCU this week and it will be a long night for Frog fans. The Wildcats will throw a monkey wrench into TCU’s plans for a National Title as they are swept away in a stunning 28-17 upset in the Little Apple.  Reeling off a tough loss last week in Stillwater, look for a 300lb quarterback to damage the Frog’s interior defense if starter Joe Hubener can’t go.  Coach Bill Snyder’s magic upends Gary Patterson’s revamped defense. This day will belong to K-State in my Big 12 upset special.  Note:  This pick goes against all odds as KSU has not been good stopping the pass. But only an 8 1/2 favorite, some in Vegas think this one will be a closer game than the public thinks.

Oklahoma will get it going Sooner than later in the Cotton Bowl as it won’t be close with Texas. Baker Mayfield and the Sooner pass catchers will have a big game. Look for multiple Sooners to catch touchdown passes and Joe Mixon to have a big run or two. Texas won’t have much to show after the day on offense but a worn out quarterback and another embarrassing loss. OU 48 and Texas around 13 or 14.  Note:  If you are looking for an upset, don’t.  A close game? Not expected. Texas is in an a bad way with players at each others throats and a coach that is trying to get through another tough week.

Oklahoma State goes to Morgantown and most all expect the Mountaineers to hold serve and win a home Big 12 opener.  I don’t, as the Cowboys will finally show they belong in the Big 12 hunt.  As demonstrated last week West Virginia has problems with their offensive line in pass blocking and they go against another great defense that gets to the quarterback. The Pokes have the superior passing game, a better defensive line, and with Karl Joseph out-for-the-season, a much better secondary. Put it all together you have Okla. State taking this one 30 to 20 or so.  Note:  For West Virginia to win they will need to dominate OSU with a consistent ground game that will chew up the clock, which until this season, was uncharacteristic of a Dana Holgorsen team. It almost worked last week in Norman except for the quarterback’s turnovers. Okla. State, in my opinion, is as good or better than OU on defense. West Virginia is not the better team here.  I have not seen OSU head coach Mike Gundy as confident in going into a road game in a long time. The Pokes have been great away from Stillwater lately and that will neutralize the home field advantage that West Virginia has in spades.

Other Big 12 Games:

Baylor plays at Kansas and that gives the Bears another opportunity to rack up 70 or more points.  Baylor does get to play its entire traveling squad and that is not bad. Otherwise, the boys on the Brazos need to avoid injuries and if they come back to Waco without losing any significant players it will be a good day for the men in green and gold.

Final:  Baylor 84, Kansas 26

Texas Tech gets a step down in competition with Iowa State coming to  Jones Stadium.  Iowa State might hang with the Red Raiders longer than expected but in the end a Big 12 win for one of the better offensive teams of the conference so far.Final:  Texas Tech 38, Iowa State 28

In major contests that might be tight fits:

Tennessee 24 and Georgia 22

Missouri 26 and Florida 21

All times Eastern

ACC
NC State  24 at Virginia Tech  17 – 8pm, ESPN (Friday)
Duke 34 at Army  – Noon, CBSSN
Virginia at Pittsburgh – 12:307 pm, ACCN
Wake Forest 21 at Boston College 24 – 3pm, ACC RSN
Syracuse 27 at USF  28 – 3:30pm, CBSSN
Georgia Tech 17 at Clemson 23 – TBA*
Miami (FL) 14 at Florida State 24 – TBA*

Off: Louisville, North Carolina

American
SMU 22 at Houston  31 – 8pm, ESPN2 (Thursday)
Tulane 26 at Temple 14 – Noon, ESPNU or ESPNews*
Navy 10 at Notre Dame 21 – 3:30pm, NBC
Syracuse 27 at USF 28 – 3:30pm, CBSSN
UConn 19at UCF 31 – 3:45pm, ESPNU
ULM 21 at Tulsa 35 – 6pm, ESPN3
East Carolina 17 at BYU 37 – 7:30pm, ESPNU

Off: Cincinnati, Memphis

Big 12
Oklahoma 48 vs. Texas 15  – Noon, ABC (at Dallas, TX)
Baylor 84 at Kansas 26 – Noon, FS1
Iowa State 28 at Texas Tech 38 – 3:30pm, FSN
Oklahoma State 30 at West Virginia 24 – 3:30, 7 or 7:30pm*
TCU 17 at Kansas State 28 – 3:30, 7 or 7:30pm*

Big Ten
Illinois  21 at Iowa  27 – Noon, ESPN2/U/News TBA*
Indiana 28 at Penn State  10 – Noon, ESPN2/U/News TBA*
Maryland 7at Ohio State  38 – Noon, BTN
Minnesota 17 at Purdue 21 – 3:30pm, ESPN network TBA*
Northwestern 24  at Michigan 25 – 3:30pm, BTN
Wisconsin 20 at Nebraska 19 – 3:30pm, ABC
Michigan State 25 at Rutgers 7 – 8pm, BTN

Pac-12
Washington  17 at USC 27 – 9pm, ESPN (Thursday)
Oregon State 21 at Arizona 31 – 4pm, FS1
Washington State  28 at Oregon  35 – 6pm, Pac-12N
California 21 at Utah 45 – 10:15pm, ESPN
Colorado 10 at Arizona State 43 – 10pm, Pac-12N

Off: Stanford, UCLA

SEC
LSU 17 at South Carolina  7– Noon, ESPN
New Mexico State 7at Ole Miss  53 – Noon, SECN
Georgia 22 at Tennessee  24 – 3:30pm, CBS
Troy  13 at Mississippi State  37 – 4pm, SECN
Arkansas 9 at Alabama 24 – 7pm, ESPN
Florida 21at Missouri 26 – 7:30pm, SECN