Big 12 Report: Week 8

Another week has passed and Texas continues to impress as the No. 2 team in the nation and a legitimate contender for BCS Bowl play to play USC, but dates with Texas Tech and Texas A&M are high on the schedule. The Longhorns get Tech at home this week in what should be a high-scoring game, and they put up 16 points in that one. If there are less than 80 points scored, I’d be surprised, and this is the first stretch offense Texas has really faced and Tech comes here undefeated with little respect as far as the punters go. It should be wild in Austin on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Oklahoma continues to struggle, but covered the number against Kansas, one of our winning picks last week in the Big 12, as we’re at 6-3 ATS on the season with Big 12 Plays. Here are my thoughts on some key games this week in this conference. Iowa State continues its downward spiral with 3 straight losses and it looks like the Nebraska and Missouri game will be crucial this Saturday for the North’s run, along with Colorado, which has Kansas at home this week. It’s getting interesting in the north, the south division is almost decided after Saturday.

Baylor at Oklahoma (-14)

Aside from taking down Kansas St in Norman, the Sooners have been less than stellar at home this season, and less than stellar overall, as it’s a down year for OU as they struggle on offense with a rookie QB in Rhett Bomar. Baylor gave Nebraska everything they wanted, but Nebraska has great defense this season and had already seen the offense spread out a week before Texas Tech, so they adjusted very well, something I don’t think the young, inexperienced secondary from Oklahoma can do here completely. However, I don’t see Baylor getting a win here, but I do see them keeping them closer to 2 TD with their offense. The offense is even in point production here, and Baylor’s defense only allows 16 points per game. Or get the win by 12.

Nebraska @ Missouri (-2.5) My featured game of the week

Oklahoma State @ Iowa State (-14.5)

Last year the Cowboys gave ISU an old fashioned thrashing in Stillwater 36-7, but I see a reverse fate for the Cowboys this season in Ames as Iowa State is coming off 3 straight losses, 2 of them in overtime. against Nebraska and Missouri last week, and Baylor beat him 2 weeks ago. The number is big in this game but I think the Cyclones could cover it given that OSU has no defense as evidenced by their last 3 games where they gave up a whopping 545 yards of offense per game and 62 points last week to an angry team. Texas A&M. I’m not comfortable going over 14 points with any team that has 3 straight losses and I feel like the number here is too close to call, but an OSU coverage wouldn’t surprise me either, as Iowa State has deflated after so many did. promoted, myself included, to win the Big 12 North this season. With a gun to my head, I’d lean towards the dog on this one, they scored 31 against Missouri two weeks ago in a home loss, that’s more than ISU mustered against them last week.

Texas A&M (-5) at the state of Kansas

Back in the saddle after a 62-23 blowout by Okie State last week, the Aggies’ offense was back on track. By contrast, the Wildcats were pummeled at Texas Tech allowing 59 points. This is an interesting game, as Kansas State is tough to beat at home, and the line has jumped from the A&M opener by 2.5 to 5 points as of Wednesday, as the trebles are all over the Aggies here. I’m not sold on Kansas State as they have lost to every good team that played in the conference this season and struggled against Marshall and Kansas. The only team KSU hit was humble North Texas, and I think QB McNeal will make the difference, but this is a bad number to leave by the wayside, but I can’t defend Kansas State right now, and A&M has an offense hit fast, so we look at it that way in this case.

Texas Tech @ Texas (-16.5)

A 3.5-point jump over the Longhorns from the opening line here, and both teams are 6-0 and ranked in the Top Ten. Both offenses have been off the map and QB Hodges for the Red Raiders has thrown 22 TD passes against 5 innings. this season, and both defenses are allowing fewer than 16 points per game. The KEY in this game is Texas’ running game, which puts up 264 rushing yards per game, and Tech is respectable stopping the run at 117 yards allowed per game. I think Texas will find success on the ground here, and their best defense against this high-octane offense is their own offense, being able to polish it on the ground and eat up the clock. Last year, Texas defeated the Red Raiders 51-21, and while I don’t think the difference would be that big, I expect a high-scoring game here and a total of 71 here isn’t out of reach.

Those are my shots for this weekend’s action and games of interest, the picture in the North should be decided in the next few weeks, and after the showdown in Austin this weekend, Texas just has to deal with an A&M regular. at the end of the season. , but that game is in College Station.