OU DEFENSE HAS TO GET IT TOGETHER OR IT WILL BE A LONG DAY
After three straight weeks of getting it handed to them, the Oklahoma Sooners host Kansas and hope to ride the play of quarterback Dillon Gabriel to get a victory. As of this posting, Gabriel is still in concussion protocol but he is expected to play Saturday in Norman. With his leadership and overall play, the Sooners are a one touchdown favorite. If he does not play, Kansas should do just what Kansas State, Texas, and TCU have done, beat the Big Red to submission. With Gabriel, I still have Kansas winning, 48 to 34. Without the quarterback, Kansas will get their 48 but can OU score ten? Maybe, but probably not.
From the AP wire, “Oklahoma has won 17 straight against Kansas. The Jayhawks last beat the Sooners in 1997. … This will be the first time since 1992 that the teams have met when Kansas is ranked and Oklahoma is not. … Kansas is ranked heading into the matchup for the first time since 2009. … This will be just the sixth game since the start of the 2010 season that Oklahoma is unranked. … Oklahoma has scored at least 34 points in its past 13 games against Kansas.”
Prediction: Kansas 48 and OU 34
Oklahoma State visits Fort Worth to play TCU as the two unbeaten teams go at it at Almond Carter. Both teams continue to improve and this game will give the winner one game up on making the conference title game. Should be a close with TCU nipping the Pokes 36 to 34. The key to the game is which quarterback had the better day. And with that, a re-match could be on order in December.
TCU 36 and OSU 34
Baylor heads to Morgantown tonight and in my estimation the Bears win in a 31 to 17 score. The Bears defense will be a little much for the Mountaineers.
Baylor 31 at West Virginia 17
UPSET ALERT IN AUSTIN
Iowa State at DKR and this could be an upset. The Cyclones can play defense and Texas is going to be down after their big win in the Cotton Bowl last Saturday. Mistakes could take the Horns down. I have Iowa State 18 and UT 17.
Iowa State 18 at Texas 17
Big 12 rankings for the week
- TCU
- Oklahoma State
- Baylor
- Texas
- Kansas State
- Kansas
- Texas Tech
- Iowa State
- Oklahoma
- West Virginia
National Rankings
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Clemson
- Oklahoma State
- TCU
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- USC
- Mississippi State
- Penn State
- UCLA
- Oregon
- Kansas State
- Kansas
- North Carolina State
- Wake Forest
- Syracuse
- Texas
- Utah
- James Madison
- Kentucky
- Baylor
- North Carolina
Weekly Predictions
Tennessee 27 and Alabama 24
Ole Miss 38 and Auburn 21
Arkansas 34 at BYU 26
Florida 27 and LSU 21
Kentucky 28 and Mississippi State 21
Michigan 41 and Penn State 26
Illinois 31 and Minnesota 23
Wisconsin 17 at Michigan State 10
Purdue 53 and Nebraska 29
Maryland 51 at Indiana 16
Utah 43 and USC 32
Washington State 38 at Oregon State 32
Florida State 20 and Clemson 17
Syracuse 30 and N. C. State 28
Miami Fla 39 at Virginia 14
North Carolina 23 at Duke 12
Last Week: 13-7
Feature Photo: Kansas quarterback Jason Bean looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan. TCU won 38-31. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Charlie Riedel AP
