Predicting the 2024 Big 12 Season: Week 7
The preseason series predicting every single Big 12 game of the 2024 season continues today with week No. 7
Previous Weeks: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
Friday October 11th
Utah 34 at Arizona State 14
Too much Utah this week for the Sun Devils as they continue to struggle in the first season in the Big 12. Sam Leavitt is sacked six times and turns it over twice. Utah wins the time of possession battle 40 minutes to 20 minutes as they just dominate the game on 3rd down and with ball control. The Utes offense piles up over 400 yards, and Dorian Singer comes down with two touchdown receptions. This is a battle of two teams trending in very different directions.
Saturday October 12th
Kansas State 37 at Colorado 23
This is a good matchup of contrasting styles as Kansas State is going to look to win up front, and Colorado is going to try to attack with speed in the passing game. Unfortunately, this story typically goes the way of the more physical team, and I expect that to be the Wildcats. Avery Johnson, DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards run wild for over 200 yards on the ground as they control the line of scrimmage and time of possession. The Buffs passing attack moves the ball up and down the field, but in five trips to the red zone, they score just 13 points. That is the difference between whether this one is close or not. The Wildcats run over the Buffs.
Arizona 28 at BYU 27
The Cougars continue to be much better at home than on the road as they give Arizona all they can handle. The defense forces three turnovers in the first half as they build a 20-7 lead at half. But things flip in the second half as Noah Fifita starts to attack the Cougars' secondary for explosive plays and guides the Wildcats up and down the field in the second half. He gets the ball down 27-21 with three minutes left and has to score a touchdown. Fifita hits Tetairoa McMillan three times on the drive. They get down inside the 10-yard line with 45 seconds left. He takes a fade shot to the corner of the end zone, and Reymello Murphy comes down with it to give the Wildcats the lead and, ultimately, the win as they stun a sold-out crowd in Provo.
Cincinnati 27 at UCF 38
This will be a bit of a battle, but Cincy is starting to hit a really tough point on its schedule, so running into the Knights on the road is not ideal. KJ Jefferson and this rushing attack continue to push this team forward as they pile up over 200 yards in this game. Jefferson also hits on two deep shot touchdowns taking advantage of the Bearcats secondary. Corey Kiner and Xzavier Henderson make enough plays to keep the game close at half but they don’t have enough firepower to keep up.
Iowa State 30 at West Virginia 33
The Cyclones go into Morgantown, and they are ready to play in this one. The defense holds West Virginia to just 100 total yards in the first half as Iowa State jumps out to a 20-10 lead. But things flip in the second half as Garrett Greene piles on 200 total yards of offense and three touchdowns as he brings West Virginia back. In the final five minutes, he drives the Mountaineers down the field and hits a field goal with just a minute left. Rocco Becht gets the Cyclones into field goal range after a deep throw to Jayden Higgins. Kicker Kyle Konrady lines up a 45-yard attempt to tie the game up. It goes wide right!
Big 12 Standings
1. Kansas State — 6-0 (3-0)
1. UCF — 5-1 (3-0)
3. Iowa State — 4-2 (2-1)
3. Texas Tech — 5-1 (2-1)
3. Oklahoma State — 5-1 (2-1)
3. Kansas — 5-1 (2-1)
3. Baylor — 4-2 (2-1)
3. Utah — 5-1 (2-1)
3. West Virginia — 4-2 (2-1)
3. Arizona — 4-2 (2-1)
11. Cincinnati — 4-2 (1-2)
11. TCU — 4-2 (1-2)
13. Arizona State — 1-5 (0-3)
13. Colorado — 3-3 (0-3)
13. BYU — 2-4 (0-3)
16. Houston — 2-4 (0-3)