Predicting the Big 12 Season: Week four features some key Big 12 matchups
A rivalry game and a couple of conference showdowns highlight week four.
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Week 4
Oklahoma 38 at Army 10 (West Point)
The Black Knights will be a bowl team this year and playing on the road won’t be fun for the Sooners. They come out of the gates slow, scoring just one touchdown in the first quarter but everything changes once Spencer Rattler hits Charleston Rambo for a 70-yard touchdown to go up 17-3. From that point on it the Sooners don’t look back. They run for 250 yards and throw for 300 yards as they pull away.
TCU 30 at SMU 20 (Dallas)
The Iron Skillet should be interesting this year after SMU ended the Horned Frogs seven-game rivalry win streak last season. Max Duggan leads a couple of good touchdown drives in the first half capped off by a Pro Wells touchdown reception and a Daimarqua Foster rushing touchdown. But Shane Buechele keeps the Mustangs close at half as he hits Reggie Roberson for a couple of scores to make it 17-14 at the half. In the second half it becomes more of a defensive game as both teams add just a field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth, Shane Buechele misreads a zone coverage and Trevon Moehrig gets an interception. The Horned Frogs capitalize with a Duggan five-yard touchdown run to give them the lead with five minutes left. Then Buechele is sacked by Garrett Wallow on the next drive and fumbles. The Frogs add a field goal to put the game away.
Kansas 30 at Coastal Carolina 24
The Jayhawks lost last year in Lawrence 12-7, so they will be looking for redemption.But this will be a closer-than-expected game on the road. Thomas MacVittie throws two touchdowns in the first half to Stephon Robinson Jr. and Andrew Parchment. Coastal Carolina scores late in the half to make it 17-10 at intermission. In the second half, the Jayhawks rely on Pooka Williams and Velton Gardner rush for 150 yards and a touchdown to give the Jayhawks the edge late.
Kansas State 16 at West Virginia 20 (Morgantown)
The Wildcats head to Morgantown for what looks to be an absolute defensive battle. Both teams struggle early on offense and turn it over twice and combine for less than 200 yards. WVU takes a 10-6 lead into the half. In the second half it is still ugly football but both team connect on deep shots to their star wide receivers. First Malik Knowles goes 50-yards on a pass from Skylar Thompson; then Sam James catches a 45-yard touchdown on a pass from Jarrett Doege. West Virginia is up 17-16 with six minutes left when Jarrett Doege finds Sean Ryan for a major gain inside the 10-yard line, but the Wildcats force a field goal. Thompson and the Wildcats get the ball back down by four points with three minutes left. He hits Briley Moore and Knowles for solid gains. He also has 20 yards rushing on the drive to get the Wildcats inside the 20 with a minute left. Unfortunately, his next pass is tipped and picked off by Tykee Smith to seal the win for the Mountaineers.
Texas Tech 28 at Iowa State 48 (Ames)
Iowa State is looking to take a big leap this year to the top of the Big 12 standings, so winning a game like this is imperative. Brock Purdy starts the game off with touchdown passes to Charlie Kolar and Tarique Milton. Alan Bowman responds with a couple of touchdown drives as he hits TJ Vasher and Erik Ezukanma. In the second quarter it is more of the same, as Breece Hall and SaRodorick Thompson each score a rushing touchdown. The score at the half is 24-21 with the Cyclones in the lead. The third quarter is where the home field advantage really starts to get the Cyclones defense going, as it sacks Bowman three times, forces a fumble and gets an interception. Purdy keeps humming, as he throws two touchdown passes and runs for another. Tech scores a late touchdown but the second half isn’t close.
Louisiana Tech 20 at Baylor 48 (Waco)
Charlie Brewer leads the offense to four scoring drives in the first half as he totals 200-plus yards at intermission. Louisiana Tech is able to hit on a few big plays to get points on the board. Baylor has a 24-10 lead at the half. In the second half Trestan Ebner takes a simple swing pass for a 40-yard gain. John Lovett finishes that drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. Kalon Barnes comes down with an interception on the next drive and Charlie Brewer hits Yusuf Terry for a 30-yard touchdown on the very next play. Louisiana Tech is able to score on consecutive drives to cut the lead 38-20 going into the fourth quarter. Once that quarter starts the Baylor defense gets into a groove as it sacks the Louisiana Tech quarterback three times. The Bears’ offense controls the tempo the rest of the way.
Big 12 Standings
1. Baylor — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Iowa State — 4-0 (1-0)
3. West Virginia — 3-1 (1-0)
4. Oklahoma State — 3-0 (0-0)
4. Oklahoma — 3-0 (0-0)
4. TCU — 3-0 (0-0)
7. Texas — 2-1 (0-0)
8. Texas Tech — 3-1 (0-1)
8. Kansas State — 3-1 (0-1)
10. Kansas — 2-2 (0-1)