Frogs O' War Thanksgiving Staff Picks: November 26, 2014

Iowa State vs. West Virginia

Jamie Plunkett

West Virginia 35, Iowa State 20 - West Virginia has been on a nosedive since losing to TCU, dropping games to Texas and Kansas State. However, Iowa State is the worst team in the conference, so expect the Mountaineers to win this one easily, even if Clint Trickett isn't that great.

Hawkeyed Frog

West Virginia 40, Iowa State 13 -  West Virginia is a very weird team this year, able to take the best team in the Big 12 to the wire (and beat the second best team), but equally capable of being run over and embarrassed by Texas.  You never know what Mountaineer squad you're going to get, but after last year's triple overtime loss to the Cyclones, I think West Virginia comes out focused and motivated to drive Iowa State into the dirt.

Marshall Weber

West Virginia 38, Iowa State 24 - The Mountaineers snap their losing streak in this one and finish the season at a very respectable 7-5. As for Iowa State, you gotta feel for them a little bit. They lost the Texas, Kansas State, and Texas Tech games by a total of 10 points.

coachmelissa

West Virginia 35, Iowa State 17 - The Eers bounce back after a heart breaker against K State, taking care of business at home against the conferences worst team. WVU turns to Skylar Howard to snap their three game losing streak, and the JuCo transfer, who stepped in admirably for Clint Trickett when the latter went out with a concussion, won't give up the job this week, or I predict, in the bowl game.

Baylor 52, Texas Tech 38 - I want to do it. I really want to do it. And if this game was in Lubbock, I probably would. But alas, it's a Jerry World special, and while the Bears just aren't that good on the road, they are good enough to beat Tech, even as the Red Raiders seem to have found something offensively that works. Baylor will try to pour it on, but Tech will be able to run against them, making Pat Mahomes job a little easier. It will be an old fashioned shootout, and the Bears just bring a lot more ammo to the party.

Kansas State 50, Kansas 17 - Another rough loss is on the docket for the Jayhawks, which will make the AD's job interesting when it come time to decide whether or not to keep Clint Bowen at the end of the year.  Having quit once against Oklahoma, the Jayhawks will do it once more when things start to go bad against the wildcats, who will try to use this week to sort out some of the issues in their ground game.

Kansas State 42, Kansas 17 - Thanks for going back to being Kansas, Kansas. Couldn't have done that a couple weeks earlier for us? K State and Jake Waters, who has been incredible of late, put away the Jayhawks early, allowing them to rest up and get ready for the upset of the year in the Big 12 next week. :)

Texas vs. No. 5 TCU

Jamie Plunkett

TCU 38, Texas 17 - This game is going to go well for the Frogs, but the question is, will it go well enough for the committee? TCU finally had a breather, and now they're coming back a little healthier and a little pissed off after their close win over Kansas. They know what has to be done.

Hawkeyed Frog

TCU 66, Texas 13 - The worst loss that Texas has ever had to TCU in Austin was a 28-0 shutout in 1935 at the hands of TCU's first national championship team.  This one is going to be worse, as TCU has finally gotten a week off- and while Texas is coming off of  great with that secured them a bowl spot and has had the media patting them on the backs all week, talking about how dangerous they are for TCU this week, TCU has been stewing- hearing about how they'll be passed in the polls and how disappointing their performance against Kansas was.  TCU will make Tyrone Swoopes beat them through the air, and the young quarterback is not consistent or developed enough to threaten the Frogs through the air.  I think Patterson wants to make a statement in this one, and with consistently good field position provided by the defense, he will.

Marshall Weber

TCU 35, Texas 20 - Even with Catalon's status still looming, TCU will have Deante' Gray back for the first time since West Virginia--and despite the great Texas defense, another weapon for Boykin may be too much to handle. Offensively for the Horns, Tyrone Swoopes has made significant improvements this season. But his inability to hit his men deep on big plays, which is TCU's Achilles' heel, will keep Texas from winning this game. Their plethora of running backs, not unlike TCU have themselves, will keep them competitive--but we also know what TCU's run defense is capable of. It's a fun one in Austin, and Boykin should punch his ticket to New York. That being said, it won't be as easy against Texas next year in Fort Worth.

coachmelissa

TCU 38, Texas 27 - The narrative all week has been "Texas is MUCH improved, TCU struggled against Kansas, the Frogs better watch out!" And while those things are true, I believe that GP's crew finally getting a chance to catch their breath after an absolute blender of a two months will render them refreshed and ready to take care of business in Austin. Texas presents a great challenge for the offense, as they are aggressive and attacking, and have done a good job limiting big play offenses. But the return of Deante' Gray, the return to health of Josh Doctson, and the emergence of Aaron Green as a go to guy - along with the outstanding play of Trevone Boykin who wraps up his ticket to NYC with a big performance - will be too much for the Longhorns to keep up with. While the final score may be close, after the half, the outcome will never be in doubt.

Around the Country

No. 3 Florida State vs. Florida

Jamie Plunkett - Florida State 35, Florida 27

Hawkeyed Frog - Florida 27, Florida State 17

Marshall Weber - Florida 24, Florida State 20

coachmelissa - Florida 34, Florida State 31