:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40788604/FridayPicksBIG.0.jpg)
Current Standings
1. tylervr11 (33-1)
2. Marshall Weber (32-2)
3. coachmelissa (31-3)
4. Hawkeyed Frog (30-3)
5. Jamie Plunkett (29-5)
No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State
Jamie Plunkett
Oklahoma State 38, Iowa State 20 - Oklahoma State is hitting their stride with Daxx Garman, and Iowa State proved its ineptitude in last week's loss to Baylor. This one looks closer than it really is, which is funny because it doesn't look close.
Marshall Weber
Oklahoma State 35, Iowa State 24 - Oklahoma State looks solid thus far, but hasn't proven to be better than either TCU or West Virginia. The Tech game last week was one of the sloppiest games I've seen in a minute. (Granted, they were without Clint Chelf). Playing in Ames is a chore too. The Pokes pull it out. But it's not pretty.
Hawkeyed Frog
Oklahoma State 46, Iowa State 18 - The Cowboys go deep early and often like against Tech, but unlike Tech, Iowa State's offense doesn't have anything to hang its hat on. OSU fans continue to grumble about 2011.
coachmelissa
Oklahoma State 42, Iowa State 20 - I don't think Iowa State in a bad team, but they can't keep up with the lightning fast offenses of the Big 12, so it will be a long season for the Clones. Oklahoma State is beat up, but they still have enough to handle their business at home. Daxx Gorman continues to improve, just in time to lose his position again.
tylervr11
Oklahoma State 41, Iowa State 24 - The Cowboys did not provide me with a ton of confidence defeating an average Texas Tech team. The offense is starting to click with Daxx Garman running the show. I think that Iowa State will keep the score close in the first half, but they will not be able to prevent OSU from scoring in the second.
Texas vs. No. 7 Baylor
Jamie Plunkett
Baylor 42, Texas 20 - Baylor dominates, everyone yawns, people move on with their lives.
Marshall Weber
Baylor 38, Texas 17 - I really want to say that Quandre Diggs goes off and Texas denies Waco a win. This game is almost as hard to predict as Texas/OU or the Texas/Texas A&M game, which is still unfortunately on layaway. The Longhorns will be a military style force to be reckoned with in a few years, but for now, there's too much space between these teams. Even if they plays it close to the bone, which their defense is capable of, Tyrone Swoopes is just too inexperienced to give Texas the edge. As TCU fans, all we can hope for is that the Texas defense wears down Baylor for next week.
Hawkeyed Frog
Baylor 34, Texas 28 - Baylor knows its been in a fight for the first time as the Texas defense keeps things tight throughout, holding the Bears to just two scores in the first half before starting to crack in the second. Tyrone Swoopes has a chance to win the game at the end, but throws a pick.
coachmelissa
No. 7 Baylor 49, Texas 21 - Texas players have been talking lot of smack about Baylor still being Baylor and Texas still being Texas. I am all for proving you can be successful year in and year out before handing off the crown, and Baylor has a long way to go before being in the discussion for best programs in the state. That being said, Texas is going to get whooped this weekend. Baylor is by far the better team, and the Horns won't catch up for a few more years. As much as I love seeing the Longhorns lose, the sweetness is tempered by the fact it's to the Bears.
tylervr11
Baylor 38, Texas 27 - Baylor will encounter their toughest test this week, but Texas is still trying to play a complete game in all areas (including the coin toss). UT's defense is very solid and only gave up 20 points to UCLA and shutout a Big 12 on the road last week. Baylor's offense will struggle for the first time this season, but they will hand the Longhorns their third loss of the year.
West Virginia vs. Kansas
Jamie Plunkett
West Virginia 41, Kansas 0 - Kansas is so, so, so bad. They couldn't score on Texas despite like 40+ plays in Texas territory. West Virginia is better than Texas, so this will be even worse for Kansas.
Marshall Weber
West Virginia 45, Kansas 10 - Poor Kansas. But hey, GO ROYALS!
Hawkeyed Frog
West Virginia 48, Kansas 13 - Last year Kansas beat West Virginia. This is not last year's West Virginia team, and this is also not last year's Kansas team. Mountaineers ugly it up.
coachmelissa
West Virginia 56, Kansas 3 - This one is bound to get ugly and fast. I can see Kansas coming out strong and scoring on their first drive as a show of support for their interim coach. But once WVU has the ball, it will be a parade of touchdowns. Kansas will have an interesting opportunity this off-season... the names they are floating around to replace Charlie could be solid hires. But that won't do them any good in 2014. I can't see the Jayhawks finding a win anywhere in the Big 12.
tylervr11
West Virginia 49, Kansas 10 - West Virginia may be the best 2-2 team in the entire country, with close losses to 2 of the top 4 ranked teams in the country. The offense is averaging over 400 yards per game, which is really impressive. Turnovers and lack of defense are the key issues for the Mountaineers. The news news is they are playing a now "coachless" Kansas team, so they do not have to worry about points being scored on them. This game will be over halfway through the 1st quarter.
No. 23 Kansas State vs. Texas Tech
Jamie Plunkett
Kansas State 31, Texas Tech 13 - This game is defined by Kansas State's stellar defense, which shuts down Tech and their Davis Webb-less ofense.
Marshall Weber
Kansas State 56, Texas Tech 35 - How many plays are going to be run in this game? A lot. Tech has some inward looking to do if it wants to be bowl eligible this year. Their defense is going to take some time to fix. They need to start with the excessive penalties. On the other side, Bill Snyder will do 7 windbreaker wardrobe changes--one for each of his bowl wins.
Hawkeyed Frog
coachmelissa
23 Kansas State 31, Texas Tech 24 - Tech is on the precipice of disaster, and this is the game that could do them in. Their offense is still good enough to score on a good D like K-State, but turnovers will be the story here late. The Wildcats will have their way with the Tech "defense", and Tyler Lockett will feast.
tylervr11
Kansas State 48, Texas Tech 27 - Kansas State put an absolute beating on UTEP last week. The Wildcats are a scary team and Texas Tech is not playing them at a good time. A banged up Davis Webb and a defense that gives up an average of 28 points per game will struggle in Manhattan. I see the Red Raiders scoring points late to make this game look closer than it is.
No. 25 TCU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
Jamie Plunkett
TCU 27, Oklahoma 17 - TCU's defense shuts down Samaje Perine and Trevor Knight, and Boykin has 250 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Frogs win, students storm the field, drinks all around.
Marshall Weber
TCU 24, Oklahoma 21 - Could it finally happen? Could TCU begin the "the for 2014 Auburn" narrative that was painted by Phil Steele in Preseason and was resurrected again this week? Yes.
There's a reason I've voted Oklahoma Number 1 for a few weeks now. They're the most complete team in the country. They've covered every spread. So for the Frogs to win, they'll have to be perfect, and that means eliminating the foolish penalties that hurt them in the last two match-ups against the Sooners. They'll also have to come out firing on offense like they did against Minnesota, and then suffocate the Oklahoma on defense in the second half. It's actually what the Sooners did against West Virginia two weeks ago.
We know the defense is more than capable. It's the best defense in the Big 12 right now, and up there with the best in the country. The offensive line is also improved, but they won't see many d-lines as good as Oklahoma's.
But the real key to this game is Trevone Boykin. The good news is that the glitch in Oklahoma is Death Star is that they're vulnerable to big plays, so I'm hoping he and Listenbee pull a Luke Skywalker and get that killshot down. But that's just one thing. Boykin will have to play like he did against Baylor in 2012 and then some. With a win Saturday, Boykin has the chance to silence his doubters for good.
As for existential factors, Oklahoma plays TCU sandwiched between a bye week and a their biggest game of the year against Texas in Dallas. Despite the state that Texas is in this year, Oklahoma won't sleep on that game. It's still their most important game of the year. Sorry, Bedlam. GMFP hasn't had any trouble keeping his players focused on this game. And, with what I assume and hope will be the best crowd at the Carter since Utah 2009, the home team will have a lot of noise on their side.
Oberkrom hits the game winner and fulfills the prophecy I gave him.
Hawkeyed Frog
TCU 24, Oklahoma 23 - A bit of a back and forth affair, but TCU's defense keeps OU out of the end zone on three red zone trips and the TCU offense runs just well enough for a Trevone Boykin run to clinch the game in the waning moments. Frogs win at home.
coachmelissa
TCU 27, Oklahoma 24 - Hoo boy, I cannot wait for Saturday. The last time I was this excited for a game was Grambling when we re-opened Tha Carter, and I fully expect Saturday to be an even better memory for those in purple. I am really starting to believe in this team and believe in Boykin, and I think the rest of the country will too come Saturday. This is a statement game, and as good as OU may be, I haven't seen a Patterson team miss many opportunities to make a statement in my years as a Frog. The Frog D can slow down the OU O and their running game, and the secondary will ball hawk their way in to a pick or two. Boykin will play within himself, and the O-Line will open up enough holes to let BJ and co do their thing. Oberkrom bounces back from a weak performance against SMU to leg out a long game winner, and we all go home happy.
tylervr11
TCU 27, Oklahoma 24 - Wow this is going to be a heck of a game! The last 2 years the TCU and OU games have been separated by a total of 10 points. This is obviously a homer pick, but I do not think my prediction is that far of a stretch. TCU matches up with the Sooners strengths really well. One of the top offenses in the country will go against one of the top defenses in the Frogs. Oklahoma has not faced a dual-threat quarterback like Trevone so far this year, and he will be the key to the Frogs beating the predicted Big 12 champions.