Predicting the Big 12 Season: Week 4
Week 4 is one of the most exciting weeks of the season in the conference as there are plenty of last-second finishes.
Previous Weeks: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
West Virginia 20 at Virginia Tech 24 (Thursday)
The Mountaineers' magical start to the season has been impressive…. then they run into “Enter Sandman” in Blacksburg. Va Tech is going to be a 6-6 type team this year but they are more than capable of getting a big home win, especially with this type of crowd. Both defenses play really well as the offenses struggle throughout so it is just about making enough plays. JT Daniels is sacked seven times and turns it over three times as things come unraveled for him on the road. He still ends up with 300 yards and two touchdowns but the turnovers and sacks along with the lack of a running game are too much to overcome. Daniels gets the ball back after a Va Tech field goal with three minutes left. But they get stopped at the 50-yard line as the perfect start to the season comes to an end.
TCU 40 at SMU 41
Fireworks are coming in this one as Sonny Dykes goes back to SMU after leaving the Mustangs this offseason which means I am expecting SMU fans to actually show up to this one for the revenge factor. I expect both of these offenses to put up points and pile up over 500 yards of offense. SMU’s secondary is mediocre so Chandler Morris is about to have a field day as he totals 350 yards. Quentin Johnston catches 11 passes for 200 yards and three scores as the Mustangs have no answer. Tanner Mordecai, Tre Siggers, Camar Wheaton, and Rashee Rice match that output though with big games themselves. The Horned Frogs go up 40-33 with just five minutes left which is too much time. Mordecai leads the Mustangs down the field and finds Roderick Daniels for a 5-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left. Head Coach Rhett Lashlee decides to go for the win and it pays off as Mordecai rolls right and finds Beau Corrales for the game-winning two-point conversion. WHAT A GAME.
Duke 23 at Kansas 27
The Blue Devils averaged 22.8 points per game last year but hung 52 points on the Jayhawks last season. But Duke loses a lot on the offensive side of the ball, they look like they are going to be in for a long rebuild, and the game is in Lawrence (I guess that is a home-field advantage). The Jayhawks find success running the football with Ky Thomas and Devin Neal as they combine for 150 yards which opens up the passing game just enough. Lawrence Arnold goes for 80 yards and a touchdown. The defense forces three turnovers as the Jayhawks win the turnover battle 3-1 which ends up being the difference in the game. The Blue Devils outgain Kansas 400 to 290 but the turnovers even things out. Kansas takes a 27-13 lead in the 3rd quarter but Duke rallies back with a field goal and a 50-yard touchdown pass. The Blue Devils get down to the 2-yard line. It’s 4th and goal. The Jayhawks make a stand as time expires. Lawrence goes crazy for the night.
Baylor 31 at Iowa State 17
The Bears get things going with three scoring drives on its first five possessions as Blake Shapen finds success with his tight end Ben Sims and the run game gets some solid production. Baylor goes up 14-3. Hunter Dekkers finds Xavier Hutchinson over the top of the defense for a 50-yard score to cut the lead to 14-10 at the half then Baylor goes on a run. Sqwirl Williams breaks off a 30-yard run to start the drive then Taye McWilliams punches it in later. Garmon Randolph gets a strip sack to get the Bears the ball back. Shapen then hits Monaray Baldwin for a 25-yard touchdown as Baylor goes up 28-10 and that pretty much ends things as the Bears keep a safe distance in the second half. This game is all about one on one matchups. Both defenses and offenses are stout up front but the one-on-one talent battles between QBs, LBs vs RBs, WRs vs DBs favors Baylor in a big way.
Kansas State 31 at Oklahoma 34
The past three games between these two teams have been extremely competitive and I expect more of the same. Dillon Gabriel and Adrian Martinez each have really good moments in this game as each throw for over 250 yards but each has two turnovers as well. Both defenses make some opportunistic plays which lead to touchdowns for their offenses. Deuce Vaughn totals 150 yards and two touchdowns as he is a problem all day long. Eric Gray totals 100 yards and a score for the Sooners. Adrian Martinez runs a QB sneak to tie the game at 31 with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Both offenses stall on their next drives so Oklahoma gets the ball back with 3 minutes left tied at 31. Gabriel hits Theo Wease down the sideline for 20 yards on 3rd down and 6. That gets the ball to midfield. The Sooners run a screen play to Eric Gray who scoots for 15 yards then Gabriel connects with Marvin Mims on another 3rd down conversion to get the Sooners inside the 25-yard line as they go for the win as time expires…the kick is up….it’s good. Sooners survive.
Texas 48 at Texas Tech 38
The Lubbock crowd is on an elite level for this game as it is Joey McGuire’s first conference home game of his career. Both of these defenses continue to hemorrhage points. Quinn Ewers continues his early season tear with three more touchdown passes while Bijan Robinson totals 200 yards and two scores. Xavier Worthy goes for 150 yards and two scores through the air. On the flip side, Tyler Shough throws for 400 yards and four touchdowns. The game is back and forth throughout but Texas keeps a lead from start to finish. Both of these defenses are struggling to keep the opponent from scoring at this point in the season.
Big 12 Standings
1. Baylor — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Oklahoma — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Texas — 3-1 (1-0)
1. West Virginia — 3-1 (1-0)
5. Oklahoma State — 3-0 (0-0)
5. TCU — 2-1 (0-0)
7. Kansas State — 3-1 (0-1)
7. Iowa State — 2-2 (0-1)
7. Texas Tech — 1-3 (0-1)
7. Kansas — 2-2 (0-1)