USC TO GO DOWN? Predictions, rankings, and my thoughts on the upcoming games of the week…..OU will roll….. and so will the Tide as they will run Texas in the ground…………….

SOUTHERN CAL ON UPSET SPECIAL……STANFORD OVER TROJANS?

9-8-2022

   TAKE YOUR CHANCES ON TEXAS IF YOU WANT….I HAVE ALABAMA IN A WALK

Saturday night in Austin at DKR, the Crimson Tide come to play the “WE ARE BACK” Texas Longhorns for a early noon kickoff.  The heat on the field will warm all afternoon as the visitors, for the first time in a 100 years to play the Horns at their stadium, will smother the cattle more than the 37-20 prediction by my Youtube friend Jesse Clark has predicted.  I expect no less than a 40 spot for Bama and my take is 40-13.  Texas is a run of the mill Big 12 team currently and Alabama is the best team in the country, and that includes an outstanding Georgia Bulldog team. 

Alabama 40 and Texas 13

Big 12 Predictions for the week:

TCU hosts Tarleton and I expect another easy win for the Frogs. Not much to say except that these two teams are not close in abilities.  Frogs win 52 to 14.

Missouri comes back to Big 12 country and the Wildcats of KSU will be a tough cookie to swallow in the Little Apple.  This SEC Big 12 match-up goes to the home team.  Kansas State wins 31 to 24.

Alabama at Texas    40-13 for the men in the crimson.  Texas is not back Saturday.

Texas Tech hosts Houston and this one should be close.  I like home teams when all things are even and with this Cougar team, I was not impressed with their win last Saturday over a rather highly respected UTSA, 37-35.  But the starting QB for Tech out, go with Houston in Lubbock in an exciting game 42 to 31.

Iowa State travels down the road to home state rival Iowa and this could be a really close game if the Hawkeyes get their offense going.  I do not think they will and the Cyclones win this one, 24 to 10.  This is a year where ISU needs to win this game and I think they will.

A Big 12 conference game opener for both Kansas and West Virginia at Morgantown.  The Hillbillies get over their loss to the Pitt Panthers and will ruin the trip for the Jayhawks 38 to 20.  Kansas is making improvements but a win this week in not happening.

Kent State visits Norman and the Sooners will dismantle the Golden Flashes with ease 52 to 13.  Coach Venables seems to understand that giving up late scores by the defense do the team a disservice so look for OU to work at impressing the world by keeping the opponents scores at a minimum.   It will be another outstanding performance for OU against a very substandard visitor.

Oklahoma State has the Sun Devils coming to Stillwater and do not expect a close game.  Arizona State will take the shellacking as the Poke defense gets their assignments (on the back end) in order.  Sanders again puts up big statistics as this one will be over by the end of the 3rd quarter.  OSU 68 and Arizona State 24.

Baylor plays future Big 12 newcomer BYU in Utah in the best game of the week for the conference.   Baylor is a well coached and that defense is “mean” to say the least.  BYU is a very good team and will give the Bears all they want.  I like BYU but this game can go either way.  BYU 24 and Baylor 21.

This week’s Big 12 Ranking

1.  Oklahoma
2.  Baylor
3.  Oklahoma State
4.  Kansas State
5.  TCU
6.  Texas
7.  Iowa State
8.  West Virginia
9.  Texas Tech
10.  Kansas

My Top 25

1.  Alabama
2.  Georgia
3.  Michigan
4.  Ohio State
5.  Oklahoma
6.  Clemson
7.  Florida
8.  Notre Dame
9.  aTm
10.  Baylor
11.  Utah
12.  Mississippi State
13.  Arkansas
14.  Miami Fla
15.  USC
16.  Tennessee
17.  Wisconsin
18.  Oklahoma State
19.  Penn State
20.  Michigan State
21.  Kentucky
22.  Houston
23.  TCU
24.  Kansas State
25.  Texas

National Predictions:

Oklahoma 52  and Kent State 13

Oklahoma State 64 and Arizona State 24

Alabama 40 at Texas 13

Kansas State 31 and Missouri 24

Houston 42 at Texas Tech 31

Iowa State 24 at Iowa 10

West Virginia 38 and Kansas 20

BYU 24 and Baylor 21

Florida 22 and Kentucky 20

Pittsburgh 30 and Tennessee 27

Arkansas 28 and South Carolina 17

Mississippi State 38 at Arizona 24

Oregon State 39 at Fresno State 38

Stanford 32 and USC 29

Illinois 21 and Virginia 10

Boston College 18 and Virginia Tech 17

Central Florida 42 and Louisville 14

Tulsa 35 and N. Illinois 29

Liberty 22 and UAB 17

UTSA 42 at Army 21

Last Week 12-4 (games are the same as the Oklahoman as published every Wednesday) 

Feature Photo:  Senior kicked Gavin Baechele kicks a 54-yard field goal, a career-high, in the 13-45 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners Sept. 3 in Norman, Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of UTEP Athletics.