Predicting the Big 12 Season: Former Pac-12 Opponents Face Off and Big 12 Slate Delivers

Another year of "Predicting the Big 12 Season" is here! SicEm365's Grayson Grundhoefer predicts each game in the Big 12 season week by week in this yearly feature.

Previous: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Colorado 16 at Baylor 27

The Buffs are going to be pretty one-dimensional against certain opponents this season while putting too much on Julian Lewis’ plate. That is exactly what happens in this one. Colorado is held under 100 yards rushing and Lewis is sacked three times. On the flip side Baylor gets over 200 yards on the ground thanks to a big day by Dawson Pendergrass who scores once and hits the century mark. Baylor controls this game at home to start Big 12 play on the right foot.

Kansas State 23 at Cincinnati 25

This is the classic case of a weakness vs. a strength plus the game is on the road. Cincy has one of the better offensive lines in the league while Kansas State is completely rebuilding its defensive line. This is a problem as Cincy controls the time of possession The mixture of Zion Johnson and Zylan Perry go for over 175 yards to give the Bearcats 22-10 lead. The Wildcats storm back with Avery Johnson and cut into the lead substantially. Then Johnson hits Linkon Cure for a touchdown with six minutes left but they don’t convert the two-point attempt to try to go up by three. JC French leads the Bearcats on a massive drive down the field before lining up a 38-yard field goal. It’s good!

TCU 23 at UCF 20

A defensive battle comes to The Bounce House between the Knights and the Frogs. Both teams score a defensive touchdown, turn it over twice and run for loss than 100 yards. The winner creates a few more explosive plays and I lean the Frogs in this category. Jaden Craig hits Jordan Dwyer on a big play touchdown and Jeremy Payne breaks a big touchdown off a screen pass. Alonza Barnett struggles in this one as the UCF offensive line just isn’t good enough against TCU’s front.

Utah 31 at Iowa State 20

The Cyclones defense frustrates Devon Dampier and the Utes as they force two turnovers while keeping them out of the end zone. Iowa State has a 13-9 lead at half. Things change in a big way in the second half. Dampier expands the offense with two shots down the filed that hit to Tobias Merriweather and Braden Pegan, this get the offense rolling. Utah finds some room to run the ball as well and dominate time of possession in the second half. Utes roll.

Oklahoma State 30 at West Virginia 37

Shootout in Morgantown! Drew Mestemaker vs. the Mountaineers rushing attack. All the studs show up in this one. Cam Cook goes for 150 yards and two scores, Michael Hawkins scores one on the ground and two through the air, Mestemaker throws for 300 yards and three scores and Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young both score. This is a fun game between two bad defenses and two offenses that roll in this one. Zeke Durham-Campbell strips Mestemaker late to seal a huge home win for Rich Rod.

Arizona 27 at Washington State 23

Ugly game for the Wildcats against a former Pac 12 opponent. The Cougars defense really ratchets things up keeping it close throughout. This is a back and forth game but Noah Fifita is able to lift his team with a 300-yard performance that gives the Wildcats just enough juice on offense to win this one. Not a fun one on the road but Zona survives.

Rest of the Slate

Sam Houston 6 at Texas Tech 54

Houston 35 at Georgia Southern 14

Big 12 Standings

1. Texas Tech — 4-0 (1-0)

1. Utah – 4-0 (1-0)

1. TCU — 4-0 (1-0)

1. Cincinnati — 4-0 (1-0)

1. BYU — 3-0 (1-0)

1. West Virginia — 3-1 (1-0)

1. Baylor — 3-1 (1-0)

1. Arizona State – 2-1 (1-0)

9. Kansas State — 3-1 (0-1)

9. Houston — 3-1 (0-1)

9. Arizona – 3-1 (0-1)

9. UCF — 2-2 (0-1)

9. Iowa State — 2-2 (0-1)

9. Oklahoma State — 2-2 (0-1)

9. Colorado – 2-2 (0-1)

9. Kansas — 1-2 (0-1)