The Big 12 Report: Week 6
A huge weekend in the Big 12 this week, with the Red River Shootoutbetween Texas and Oklahoma taking center stage in Dallas at theCotton Bowl at the Texas State fair this Saturday. Texas is installedas a 14-point favorite, and Mac Brown as head coach of the Longhornshas never beaten OU, which may change this year. Texas destroyedMissou last week, and Oklahoma got healthy against an overratedKansas State team in Norman. All world running back Adrian Petersenis questionable for this game for the Sooners, and it would bea major hit if he does not play for OU, as he is their main weaponon offense, he has a sprained ankle.
There are plenty of key games this week as Texas AM travelsto Colorado in what should be a shootout, and the Aggies struggledlast week in OT before beating a pesky Baylor team who has proventhey are a good opponent for anyone at 3-1 on the year. Most surprisingto me was Nebraska beating Iowa St. in OT in Lincoln, my top play,which did not cover. Iowa St blew so many chances to put thisgame away, and while Nebraska's offense was in the bottom 10 inDivision I football, JUCO transfer Zach Taylor broke Nebraska'sall time passing yardage record of over 400 yards through theair, set by long time ex-Raider David Humm in 1974. Before thisgame QB Taylor hadpassed for 207 yards in 2 games versus DivisionI opponents. Nebraska takes on Texas Tech this week in Lincoln.Here are some breakdowns on what is going on this Saturday inthe Big 12.
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Texas AM @ Colorado (-3)
Defense is KEY for the Buffalos off a blowoutwin in Stillwater last week against Oklahoma State. They rankedin the top 20 in the nation on defense allowing only 292 yardsper game and 12 ppg, while allowing only 78 yards per rush, andremember they played Miami in Miami 2 weeks ago in a 20 pointloss. Both teams at 3-1 here, but I have a feeling Aggie QB ReggieMcNeal may have a big day, since the Buffalos have yet to seeanyone of his caliber yet this season. An excellent passer with8 TD passes, look for AM to keep it close in a hard fought battlehere, last year AM won in College Station by 3, too close to callhere, but Joel Klatt from Colorado should find some success throughthe air. should be a good one in Boulder.
Kansas @ Kansas State (-6.5)
Until last years win by Kansas at home, KansasSt had won 9 straight in the series out of the last 10, and hadoutscored KU 302-40, in what was little more than an afternoontriscut for the Wildcats, as they feasted on KU time and timeagain in a glorified scrimmage, but times have changed. Both schoolslost road games last week, but it was Kansas in their loss thatwas much more impressive than K State getting hammered by Oklahoma,as the Jayhawks held the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock to30 points, and losing by 13. Defense is the strength of Kansas,and they are getting play out of their QB and the running game.In what should be a lower scoring game than the norm in this series,I'll take the dog here to make it interesting.
Baylor @ Iowa State (-8.5)
The Bears have some claws this year folks, witha spread offense that is hard to defend and a 3-1 record, comingoff an impressive OT lost to high powered Texas AM last week.If they could contain Reggie McNeal of the Aggies, then Bret Meyershould be an easy task. The highly touted QB of the Cyclones struggledagainst mixed blitzes from the Huskers last week, and was ineffectiverunning the ball. Also running back Hicks is questionable forthe Cyclones as well, and will not be 100%. One common opponent,they both played Army, with Baylor winning 20-10 and ISU winning27-20, both played at Army on the road. When you allow Nebraskaof all people to throw for over 400 yards against you, and arefacing a spread attack after a double OT loss, laying over 8 points,one must side with Baylor here to keep it close against a deflatedISU team that failed to win a HUGE game they had pointed to allseason.
Oklahoma vs. Texas (-13.5) and Missouri (-5.5)@ Oklahoma St.
My Featured Plays of the Week
All in all, a terrific week in the Big 12 witha key games at Nebraska, in Dallas, and in Boulder Colorado, alongwith the battle for bragging rights in the state of Kansas. Offa 1-2 week last week in the Big 12 with my selections, I havefound some REAL opportunity this week and may in fact make a moveon Texas Tech and Nebraska as well. Injury reports will decidewhich way I lean and what games at week's end I take. There willbe a ton of questions answered this week as far as pretendersand contenders go, so stay tuned! |
