3 games to watch in the Big 12: Oklahoma, TCU look to stay perfect
According to the oddsmakers, this isn’t the best week to be watching Big 12 football. Only one game has a single-digit point spread, the Oklahoma State-West Virginia game. But with the high -octane offenses we see throughout the conference, never discount the chances for an upset.
With that in mind, here are this week's Big Three in the Big 12.
2 TCU at Kansas State
Saturday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Purple on purple crime. If for no other reason, this one could get dicey due to the Horned Frogs' penchant for playing rather mediocre on the road so far this season. Raucous Snyder Stadium lives for night games against nationally ranked opponents like this. Don't be surprised if this is another whiteknuckler in the Little Apple.
All things being equal though, this should be TCU's game. What the Frogs showed last week versus Texas was scary. The offense was clicking on all cylinders and the defense ... well, the defense finally showed up and dominated a previously slick Longhorn offense.
After the first quarter of that game, the Frogs had a 221 advantage in total yards. But the Cats have a much better defense than Texas and rank third nationally allowing just 71 yards a game on the ground. Not that Trevone Boykin will mind throwing the ball, but he'll need to be on top of his game for the Frogs to pull the W here.
Josh Doctson and KaVontae Turpin must be licking their chops knowing they'll face a Wildcat secondary that gives up an average of 288 passing yards per game against teams like South Dakota, Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio. But if K-State quarterback Joe Hubener is back from injury he is expected to be and he can mix up the Frogs D with adept scrambling and pop passes to the flat, this one could be close for three quarters.
2 Oklahoma State at West Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Will the lucky rabbit’s foot finally stop working for the Cowboys?
They have had good fortune on their side, that’s for sure, as they’ve escaped with last- second wins at Texas and vs. Kansas State in back to back weeks. The other thing they’ve had on their side is a great kicker in Ben Grogan, who is so calm he might want to be checked for a pulse. But it’s not all luck for OSU because these guys can play some defense, surrendering an average of just 310 yards per game, best in the Big 12.
They’ll need to be at their best here too as Mountaineers quarterback Skyler Howard looks to shake off a five turnover performance at Oklahoma (three interceptions, two fumbles). The biggest key will be if the WVU line can stave off the pass rush of the Pokes. Oklahoma was able to pepper Howard with pressure, especially in the second half where they pulled away from the ‘Neers. The Cowboys lead the country in sacks with 22 through five games.
Look for WVU to lean on a more balanced attack as Wendell Smallwood and Rushel Shell establish the ground game and control the clock more. OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph can be hot and cold at times, but look for him to test the Mountaineer defense with deep routes on Saturday as WVU will miss All American safety Karl Joseph, who was lost for the year with a knee injury in practice this week.
3 Oklahoma at Texas
Saturday, Oct. 10, Noon ET (ABC)
It’s hard to believe this traditional rivalry would not be the biggest game in the Big 12, if not the entire country. But these are the times we are living in.
This one is pretty simple, will OU quarterback Baker Mayfield sling the ball unabated through what has been a porous Texas defense? And will UT quarterback Jerrod Heard get solid playcalling from Offensive coordinator Jay Norvell and keep the Sooner defense on its heels and give the Burnt Orange a chance in this one?
Mayfield, who ranks third in the Big 12 in total offense with 380 yards per game and second in efficiency with a 178.5 rating, will be facing the Longhorns for the second time. In 2013 he was the starting quarterback for Texas Tech in a 4113 loss on Thanksgiving Day.
Keep a keen eye on the fourth quarter because that is where the Sooners hit their stride. OU has outscored the opposition 347 in the fourth quarter of its games so far this year. If Texas can keep it close and make it a nipandtuck game, win or lose it will bring some relief to a team that is in selfturmoil going into the game.