Big 12 Report: Week 3 Previews

Game: Oklahoma State vs. Pittsburgh
Last Week: Oklahoma State 44, South Alabama 7
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 11:00 am
Location: Heinz Field
Television: ABC/ESPN2
Line: Oklahoma State -14
Expert Commentary: So far in 2017, Oklahoma State has looked ridiculous against at home against Tulsa & on the road at South Alabama. This week, they’ll be headed to Pittsburgh to face a Panther squad that put up quite a fight against #4 Penn State & Heisman hopeful Saquon Barkley last Saturday. Last year, the Cowboys were able to throw all over Pitt, with James Washington notching a ridiculous 296 yards receiving on only 8 catches. The Pokes receiving corps is just as dangerous this year, and Rudolph has looked sharp, but the running backs seem to be just as potent as the other offensive units. This will be the first real test for OSU, I like to think Pitt has a chance, but with the power of OSU’s offense & the lack of good QB play for the Panthers, I’ll take the Pokes & and lay the points. –Brian
Game: Delaware State vs. West Virginia
Last Week: West Virginia 56, East Carolina 20
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 11:00 a.m.
Location: Milan Puskar Stadium
Television: ATSN
Line: No line.
Expert Commentary: West Virginia rolled Eastern Carolina last week, and the score makes it seem closer than it was. Will Grier looks completely different in Holgorsen’s offense than he did at Florida, and earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors last weekend. They are also playing Delaware State this Saturday, and naturally there’s no line. nor too much else I can say other than “West Virginia is playing Delaware State.” Look to see the ‘Eers liquify the Hornets before heading into conference play next weekend against Kansas –Brian
Game: Iowa State vs. Akron
Last Week: Iowa 44, Iowa state 41
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 11:00 a.m.
Location: Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium
Television: CBSS
Line: Iowa State -9.5
Expert Commentary: Iowa State lost an overtime heart-breaker last week against Iowa. Jacob Park (and his weird haircut) looked good, even with some drops by his receivers, but the real standout for me was RB David Montgomery. The Zips, meanwhile, were blown out by Penn State in week 1 and then proceeded to pay it forward against Arkansas-Pine Bluff to the tune of 52-3. Akron’s strength lies in RB Warren Ball, but the ISU defense should be more than ready to answer the call. The Cyclones are giving 10, and I’d lay the facts. FUN FACT: Terry Bowden is apparently still coaching and currently heads up the Zips. –Brian
Game: Baylor vs. Duke
Last Week: UTSA 17, Baylor 10
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 11:30 a.m.
Location: Wallace Wade Stadium
Television: ACCN
Line: Duke -14
Expert Commentary: You know what they say, you best not step to the UTSA Roadrunners without a plan & the will to fight, and Baylor clearly lacked both of those things. Now the Bears are finally playing a real live Power 5 school, and one that has blown out their past two opponents. Duke QB Daniel Jones has been stellar so far this year, and his offensive line has managed to keep him incredibly clean. The Bear defense has been hard to get a read on, but if you give up 48 points to Liberty, I don’t hold high hopes for what you can do against a good ACC offense. I’d go ahead and lay the 14 points the Blue Devils are giving. That being said, the most Baylor thing Baylor could do is actually cover the 14 point spread, if not win outright, though I believe I’ll still take Duke. –Brian
Game: Kansas vs. Ohio
Last Week: Central Michigan 45, Kansas 27
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 1:00 pm
Location: Peden Stadium
Television: ESPN3
Line: Ohio -7.5
Expert Commentary: The Jayhawks pulled an Oklahoma State and got Chipped last week. Rather convincingly. From all accounts, it seemed like KU just started to fall apart at the seams in pretty much all facets, particularly on the offensive & defensive lines.The Bobcats, meanwhile, lost to a usually middling Purdue squad, but looked incredibly sharp in their opener against FCS Hampton. The Bobcat running attack can be potent, and if the KU line plays like it did last Saturday, it’s easy to imagine them covering the 10 point spread. –Brian
Game: SMU vs. TCU
Last Week: TCU 28, Arkansas 7
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 2:30 p.m.
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium
Television: ESPNU
Line: TCU -18.5
Expert Commentary: I think TCU wins this game and I’m thinking that I’ll take those points. Regardless, the Battle for the Iron Skillet is based on oen of two origin stories. The first is that a SMU fan was frying up some frog legs, a TCU fan takes offense and whoever won the game won the skillet. The other origin story is much more boring and the story goes that it was decided on by the student councils. I’m guessing you fell asleep reading that last sentence. –Seth
Game: Tulane vs. Oklahoma
Last Week: Oklahoma 31, Ohio State 16
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 5:00 p.m.
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Television: OKPV
Line: Oklahoma -34.5
Expert Commentary: Hell yes I’m taking those points and Oklahoma. I didn’t like Mayfield planting of the flag episode, but I’m not like that at all, I don’t celebrate, I just ask who’s got next. Anyway, I expect the Fighting Mayfields to whollop Tulane. And maybe the only thing of interest is that Corey Dauphine is playing for Tulane, but I think he’s sitting out this year as part of the transfer. –Seth
Game: Kansas State vs. Vanderbilt
Last Week: Kansas State 55, Charlotte 7
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium
Television: ESPNU
Line: Kansas State -4
Expert Commentary: I’ve been impressed by how Derrick Mason has transformed this program, he’s done a heck of a job and these two teams are more similar than not. I think I like K-State just a bit more even though they’re on the road. I think that defense is going to play pretty well on the road and Ertz is very underrated as a quarterback who just wins. –Seth
Game: Texas vs. USC
Last Week: Texas 56, San Jose State 0
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th @ 7:30 p.m.
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Television: FOX
Line: USC -16
Expert Commentary: I was not expecting USC to demolish Stanford. I wasn’t expecting that sort of dominance. Darnold was terrific, but the running game was unstoppable, 309 yards on 32 carries and that was your ball game. You’t think that USC will utilize some of that running game for Texas. I’ll take the Trojans, but 16 seems like a lot of points, especially after what they did to Stanford last week. I’ll still take USC. –Seth
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