Big 12 Football: Week 6 Matchups and Predictions

It’s a rivalry that began in 1900 and has been renewed annually and uninterrupted since 1929 for 118 meetings. It’s the Red River Showdown/Red River Rivalry/Red River Shootout (whatever it is known as these days) between Texas and Oklahoma. Since 1996, the two teams have met as members of the Big 12 Conference. This year will be the last time they meet as Big 12 foes. The Showdown will continue in years to come but as SEC foes.

This year it’s No. 3 Texas (5-0, 2-0) vs. No. 12 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0). It’s the first time since 2011 that both teams enter the game with undefeated records.

Four other Big 12 games are on the Week 6 slate, including the BU-TT Bowl – the annual Baylor (BU) and Texas Tech (TT) game. TCU looks to rebound after losing last week as they hit the road for a night game in Ames. UCF returns to the Sunflower State for a matchup with Kansas. They were in the state two weeks ago and suffered their first Big 12 loss at K-State. And Oklahoma State hosts Kansas State on Friday night, with both teams coming off their bye week.

2023 Big 12 Predictions Results

On the season, I am 37-18 (.673) in predicting Big 12 games. Last week, I went 4-2. I had UCF defeating Baylor and TCU defeating West Virginia, neither of which happened.

Here are the previous predictions from earlier this season:

Big 12 Week 6 Matchups and Predictions

All times listed are Central Time.

Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1) vs. Kansas State (3-1, 1-0)

Friday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

It’s Friday Night Lights in Stillwater. Both teams are coming off bye weeks. A night game in Stillwater usually would be a nightmare for the opposing team. But instead, the nightmare of whatever is happening to the OSU program will continue to evolve. The Cats are healthy. They had several players out against UCF, and they are all back this week. Will Howard is back to 100%. K-State will be too much for the Pokes.

Pick: Kansas State

#3 Texas (5-0, 20) vs. #12 Oklahoma(5-0, 2-0)

Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC

Texas is facing a ranked opponent for the second consecutive week, having taken care of Kansas last week. However, they face a much-improved Sooners squad with a dynamic offense. Don’t look for a repeat of last year’s 49-0 blowout. This one will be explosive, but it will also be close. Shhh! Don’t tell my Sooner Momma, who will arrive at my house on Friday, most likely wearing her “I Hate Orange” t-shirt, but Texas will make it two in a row.

Pick: Texas

Kansas (4-1, 1-1) vs. UCF (3-2, 0-2)

Saturday, 3 p.m., Fox

This game is an interesting one. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels was out with a back injury last week and did not practice on Monday. His status for the game is uncertain. UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee has been out for a few weeks but could return for this game. Plumlee has been cleared to practice this week, but no announcement has been made if he will play. If Daniels were playing, I’d give the edge to the Jayhawks. We saw last week that a KU offense without Daniels is not the same. My guess is Daniels will not play, and Plumlee will. It will be close, but UCF brings some of that Orlando Magic with them and shocks the Jayhawks.

Pick: UCF

Baylor (2-3, 1-1) vs. Texas Tech (2-3, 1-1)

Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN2

After “Farmageddon” (the annual matchup between Kansas State and Iowa State), this game has my favorite name of any Big 12 game – the BU-TT Bowl. It’s been a tough season so far in Lubbock and Waco. You could say both teams have a crack in them. Early losses have brought on disbumfort at both schools. Fans of both have felt sick, almost constipated, and they are cheeky about it. Maybe they can get to the bottom of their woes soon. Both teams almost came away with early season wins from ranked opponents. They probably wish they could have changed a play or two here or there, but you know what they say – hindsight is 20/20.

Pick: Texas Tech

Iowa State (2-3, 1-1) vs. TCU (3-2, 1-1)

Saturday, 7 p.m., FS2

Both teams are coming off losses. Iowa State, though, lost on the road to a ranked Oklahoma team. TCU’s loss probably hurts more in that they lost at home to a team picked to be last in the conference. Both will be looking for a rebound from last week. The Frogs, though, will shake off whatever that was we saw in the second half last weekend and get the win on a cold night in Ames.

Read our complete preview of Iowa State here.

Pick: TCU

Big 12 Bye Weeks

BYU (4-1, 1-1)
Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2)
Houston (2-3, 0-2)
West Virginia (4-1, 2-0)

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