{"id":3548,"date":"2016-10-20T16:41:47","date_gmt":"2016-10-20T21:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=3548"},"modified":"2017-01-27T15:44:39","modified_gmt":"2017-01-27T21:44:39","slug":"nationalbig-twelve-predictions-sooners-horns-and-cowboys-playoffs-hold-key-to-conference-survivial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=3548","title":{"rendered":"National\/Big Twelve Predictions; Sooners, Horns and Cowboys……. Playoffs hold key to Conference survivial"},"content":{"rendered":"

OU, Alabama, West Virginia and Ohio State are picked to win this week<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield attempts a pass against Kansas State during their game at Gaylord-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Saturday, October 15, 2016. IAN MAULE\/Tulsa World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Oklahoma State should manhandle Kansas in Lawrence for in their roster start Saturday.\u00a0 The Jayhawks have proved tough for the Pokes in the short time history but this one should be a blowout.\u00a0 Kansas is spent and look for the Cowboys to make the big play, especially with Mason Rudolph and his excellent pass catchers.\u00a0 Final:\u00a0 OSU 55-20<\/h6>\n

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OSU\u2019s Mason Rudolph (photo: http:\/\/www.scout.com\/college\/oklahoma-state)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Texas visits Manhattan and this could be the game of the day in the conference.\u00a0 I like the Horns here.\u00a0 Charlie Strong lives for another day.\u00a0\u00a0Texas will tackle better against\u00a0Kansas State.\u00a0\u00a0 UT 30-27<\/h6>\n

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The Mountaineers find out if they are a first line Big Twelve team in 2016 when they host TCU.\u00a0 Another strong competitive game in the conference.\u00a0 Don\u2019t look for a scoring fest as West Virginia is better on defense than they have been in some time and the Frogs are getting better on that side of the ball.\u00a0 If the turnover doesn\u2019t come and bite Dana Holgorsen\u2019s team in the ass, go with the home team.\u00a0 West Virginia 27 and TCU 24.<\/h6>\n

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Oklahoma has the potential to score 80 in Lubbock Saturday night in the Conference nightcap.\u00a0 Texas Tech will suffer another big score loss.\u00a0 Final:\u00a0 OU 80-35<\/h6>\n

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BIG TWELVE FUTURE<\/h4>\n

As for the decision the Big Twelve made this week in not expanding, it really doesn\u2019t matter as long as the College Playoff system continues to be a four team party.\u00a0 If the Big Twelve would push for all Power Five conferences championship game winners a place in the system, well and good for the longevity of the Twelve.\u00a0 Without that, it is a matter of time (2024 or earlier) before Oklahoma bolts for a greener pasture.\u00a0 Currently the\u00a0 Conference is the weakest of the Power Five and that can\u2019t be a few years down the road.\u00a0 If the league gets an automatic birth in the playoffs, everything will be fine with the Sooners and the Big Twelve.\u00a0 With that, look for Arizona and Arizona State to move to the Big Twelve in 2025. If not, OU and Okla. State to the SEC. For a great look at what could save the Big Twelve\u00a0 (http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/news\/the-one-move-that-could-save-the-big-12-)\u00a0 Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports:<\/span><\/h6>\n

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It was a waste of time and energy and will be, for a moment, embarrassing, but in the end the Big 12 Conference\u2019s decision to not expand its membership<\/span><\/u><\/a> was a wise one.<\/p>\n

Now the question is whether it\u2019s smart enough to take an even more sage path and push for something that can help hold the league together \u2013 a guaranteed automatic bid to an expanded college football playoff.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s dubious to think the league will. After all, a conference with strong leadership would\u2019ve been able to realize that 15 months ago and tuned out Oklahoma president David Boren who claimed, apparently in need of a campus safe space, that having just 10 schools left the league \u201cpsychologically disadvantaged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each of the parade of desperate candidate schools brought something to the table. None brought enough, however.<\/p>\n

So the league chose not to expand, which if it values its long-term survival, or contains a measure of forward thinking, better not be considered the same as the league choosing to do \u201cnothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Last week Big Twelve predictions:\u00a0 4-0;\u00a0 Season 32-8<\/h6>\n

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National Predictions for the week<\/h6>\n
Thursday Night, Oct 20<\/h6>\n

Virginia Tech 27 over Miami Fla 21<\/p>\n

Boise State 32 over BYU 24<\/p>\n

Friday Night, Oct 21<\/h6>\n

California 42 over Oregon 35<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct 22<\/h6>\n

North Texas 26 at Army 21<\/p>\n

South Carolina 27 over UMass 0<\/p>\n

Indiana 32 at Northwestern 29<\/p>\n

Wisconsin 22 at Iowa 13<\/p>\n

Louisville 35 over NC State 21<\/p>\n

Minnesota 27 over Rutgers 12<\/p>\n

Syracuse 28 at Boston College 24<\/p>\n

Colorado 26 at Stanford 20<\/p>\n

North Carolina 41 at Virginia 31<\/p>\n

Memphis 25 at Navy 24<\/p>\n

Michigan 56 and Illinois 6<\/p>\n

Nebraska 45 and Purdue 14<\/p>\n

Alabama 45 and Texas A&M 13<\/em><\/p>\n

Western Michigan 46 and Eastern Michigan 18<\/p>\n

UCLA 37 and Utah 27<\/p>\n

Missouri 30 and Middle Tennessee 7<\/p>\n

Auburn 39 and Arkansas 34<\/p>\n

Washington 54 and Oregon State 10<\/p>\n

Cininnitti 23 and East Carolina 21<\/p>\n

Houston 47 at SMU 22<\/p>\n

Maryland 30 and Michigan State 19<\/p>\n

Kentucky 20 and Mississippi State 17<\/p>\n

Ohio State 38 and Penn State 9<\/em><\/p>\n

Ole Miss 28 at LSU 20<\/em><\/p>\n

Arizona State 51 and Washington State 49<\/p>\n

Utah State 27 and Fresno State 20<\/p>\n

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OU, Alabama, West Virginia and Ohio State are picked to win this week \u00a0 \u00a0…<\/p>\n

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