The Big 12 Report: Week 9 Previews

All lines are opening lines. Click the link for current spread.

Kansas State Wildcats (4-3, 2-2) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (1-6, 0-4)
What Happened Last Week for Kansas State: Kansas State 24, Texas 21
What Happened Last Week for Iowa State: BYE
Location: Jack Trice Stadium | Ames, IA
Date and Time: Saturday, October 29th at 11:00 am
Television: FSN Affiliates
Line: Kansas State -6
Brian: FARMAGEDDON!!! Did you know that these two teams have played every year since 1917? It’s true! And this marks the 100th anniversary of the game, so if ever there was a time for corn to rise up and drown the masses, now would be it. Last week, Kansas State did their typical thing with Texas (putting them under a boot), and are pretty much the same KSU you expect: pretty sound, great on defense, and run the danged ball. History aside, this game is notable because we’ll get to see what first year Iowa State HC Matt Campbell does out of a bye week against a tough opponent. Will we continue to see the Lanning-Park tandem at QB? Will Mike Warren actually be given the ball? Will the ISU defense prey on what are sure to be awful Ertz passes? We’ll find out soon! For my money, I think the Cyclones have been waiting all season to jump on somebody, and excel at winning the first 3 quarters of a game. I think this game might be the one where they win the 4th quarter as well.

West Virginia Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-2, 3-1)
What Happened Last Week for West Virginia: West Virginia 34, TCU 10
What Happened Last Week for Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State 44, Kansas 20
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium | Stillwater, OK
Date and Time: Saturday, October 29th at 11:00 am
Television: FOX
Line: West Virginia -3
Seth: It would seem that West Virginia is really on a roll and the 3 point spread doesn’t seem like enough. I don’t think teams are really giving Oklahoma State enough credit. Mason Rudolph has been very good, maybe not spectacular, and there’s a chance that the Oklahoma State running game is starting to come on a bit. I’d also add that the Oklahoma State advantage on defense is that they have a talented and deep defensive line and that somewhat plays into what WVU likes to do on offense. To counter that, WVU’s best defensive trait is getting after the passer and that’s something that Rudolph struggles a bit with.  I like West Virginia to win, but Oklahoma State to cover.

Baylor Bears (6-0, 3-0) vs. Texas Longhorns (3-4, 1-3)
What Happened Last Week for Baylor: BYE
What Happened Last Week for Texas: Kansas State 24, Texas 21
Location: Royal Texas Memorial Stadium | Austin, TX
Date and Time: Saturday, October 29th at 2:30 pm
Television: ABC
Line: Baylor -3.5
Ah yes, the I-35 showdown, sponsored by H.E.B. Don’t ask H.E.B. about this, but you’ll have to trust me.  In any event, Texas has not been able to get over the hump, much like Texas Tech. Their lone conference win was against Iowa State and last week’s struggles against Kansas State has not helped a bad situation become worse. Meanwhile, Baylor has played the easiest schedule to date (I don’t remember where I read that, but I’m going with it). The conference games on their schedule isn’t their fault, but now they get a test. I do think that D’Onta Foreman is a terrific player and each game that Shane Buchele plays is helping him.  Still though, I don’t see how Texas will be able to keep pace with Baylor offensively.  Seth Russell has been very good and the Texas defense hasn’t shown the ability to stop much of anything.  I’ll take Baylor.

Kansas Jayhawks (1-6, 0-4) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (5-2, 4-0)
What Happened Last Week for Kansas: Oklahoma State 44, Kansas 20
What Happened Last Week for Oklahoma: Oklahoma 66, Texas Tech 59
Location: Memorial Stadium | Norman, OK
Date and Time: Saturday, October 29th at 6:00 pm
Television: FS1
Line: Oklahoma -38
Brian: The funniest/best outcome of this game is that OU is worn out from last Saturday and Kansas sneaks up on them in Norman. Two flies in the ointment on this theory: 1) it’s in Norman, and 2) it’s Kansas. The Kansas defensive front is very, very real, and I’m certain they’ll give OU more of a fight than Tech did Saturday night. However, more pressure just means that Baker will do one of the things he excels at, which is escape the pocket and make a play. There’s also the slight problem of Joe Mixon as well. And even if the Kansas defense stands tall, the Jayhawk  offense is so, so bad. So even if they’re in a game, like the were for a decent bit against OSU, they’re really not. However, Oklahoma giving 38 seems like way too much given how that defense plays.

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