Big 12 Fan Nation Week 2 Staff Predictions
The Big 12 season continues this weekend with all 10 teams in action, including the first Big 12 Conference game, with Kansas traveling to West Virginia. Kansas is seeking a 2-0 start. West Virginia is looking for a little redemption after losing to Pitt.
Meanwhile, Texas hosts Alabama and Iowa State travels to Iowa.
Staff members from Longhorns Country, Inside the Bears and Red Raider Review provide their picks for each of the other Big 12 games this week.
Missouri (1-0) at Kansas State (1-0), Saturday, 11 a.m. Central, ESPN2
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: Mizzou played well in the opener, but Deuce Vaughn will be too much for the Tiger defense on the road. Kansas State 42, Missouri 31
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: Kansas State ended last season with a dominant 42-20 win over another SEC Tigers team. What the Wildcats did to LSU might’ve been expected given the state of the program in Baton Rouge, but Kansas State’s underrated defense could bring the same edge against a Mizzou team that struggled to find any sort of consistency against Power 5 competition last season. Still, the Tigers head into this road game with plenty of momentum after their 52-24 season-opening win over Louisiana Tech but running back Deuce Vaughn and the Kansas State offense will be too much for Mizzou in what should be an entertaining game. Kansas State 31, Missouri 27
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: Look, K-State running back Deuce Vaughn is SO GOOD he just needs one tendency of one defender to take it to the house. Mizzou will learn that fast. Kansas State 37, Missouri 21
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: The Wildcats have one of the best duos in terms of rushing offense with Deuce Vaughn and Adrian Martinez. Missouri had one of the worst run defenses in the country last year and did little to improve it. Kansas State 38, Missouri 28
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: Kansas State is a dark horse Big 12 contender to some, but Missouri pulls off an early season upset win. Missouri 31, Kansas State 28
Houston (1-0) at Texas Tech (1-0), Saturday, 3 p.m. Central, FS1
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: This in-state battle should be a barn burner, but Texas Tech comes out on top. Texas Tech 49, Houston 35
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: Tech quarterback Donovan Smith has a tough test in front of him after having just a week to prepare as the starter following Tyler Shough’s injury. The Red Raiders have had a mini in-state rivalry going with the Cougars over the past couple of seasons. Many of Houston’s top players on both sides of the ball are former Texas Tech players, making this matchup all the more intriguing. For me, it comes down to if Tech’s defense can hold up against a Houston offense that returns many of the same key weapons from a season ago, weapons like Nathaniel Dell and Clayton Tune that propelled the Cougs to a triple-overtime win over UTSA on Saturday. Even on the road, I think the Cougs' added motivation from last season's loss gives them a slight edge. Houston 31, Texas Tech 27
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: Don’t read too much into Texas Tech blowing out Murray State. That was an average FCS team. Don’t ready too much into Houston needing three overtimes to beat UTSA last week. The Roadrunners won 12 games last year. Texas Tech won this game on the road last year. Turnabout is fair play, right? Houston 31, Texas Tech 24
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: The Cougars are coming off a grueling win against UTSA on the road. They'll be coming for blood in Lubbock against Donovan Smith and the Red Raiders' offensive line. Houston 38, Texas Tech 20
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: Houston looked beatable against UTSA in Week 1, but they shake off the rust and secure a road win over Texas Tech. Houston 35, Texas 28
Iowa State (1-0) at Iowa (1-0), Saturday, 3 p.m. Central, BTN
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: The battle for Iowa state supremacy is upon us, the Cyclones come home with the upset. Iowa State 21, Iowa 17
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: After the pandemic in 2020 ended a 22-year streak of head-to-head meetings, the Hawkeyes and Cyclones are renewing their rivalry for the second-straight year. But despite 1-0 starts, both these teams got off on a different foots in Week 1. Iowa’s offense failed to do anything in an abysmal 7-3 win over South Dakota State, while Iowa State handled its inferior competition of South Eastern Missouri State much more soundly in a 42-10 win. Despite being at home, the Iowa offense isn’t going to be fixed in a week, though the defense will likely keep it close. Iowa State 21, Iowa 13
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: Sooooooo … I mean, Iowa is bound to score more than seven points, right? Let’s lean more on the concept that Iowa has won the last six meetings and hasn’t lost in Iowa City since 2014. That feels more comfortable. Iowa 27, Iowa State 21
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: Iowa's offense was only able to muster 168 yards against FCS South Dakota. The problem for the Cyclones is they allowed over 300 yards of offense to Southeast Missouri State. The Hawkeyes prevail thanks to a late field goal. Iowa 24, Iowa State 21
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: Iowa will bludgeon Iowa State with their slow, defensive brand of football in another low-scoring game. Iowa 21, Iowa State 10
Kansas (1-0) at West Virginia (0-1), Saturday, 5 p.m. Central, Big 12/ESPN+
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: The Mountaineers had Pitt on the ropes last week and should handle Kansas in this one. West Virginia 30, Kansas 13
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: Kansas’ hopes of going 2-0 will be quickly dashed against a West Virginia team that was on the brink of pulling off the road upset over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl in Week 1. The Mountaineers should be able to let out their frustrations from that loss on the Jayhawks. West Virginia 45, Kansas 24
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: What the hell? Someone has to do it. Gimme the Jayhawks on a last-second field goal (Kansas has a kicker, right?). Kansas 27, West Virginia 26
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: If not for a dropped pass by Mountaineers receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, J.T. Daniels would be a hero in Morgantown. West Virginia returns home and picks up a much-needed win. West Virginia 34, Kansas 14
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: West Virginia takes their frustrations from the PItt loss out on Kansas. West Virginia 49, Kansas 14
Kent State (0-1) at Oklahoma (1-0), Saturday, 6 p.m. Central, ESPN+
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: Oklahoma’s been known to disappoint, but probably not here. Oklahoma 40, Kent St 13
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: The Sooners will dominate Kent State to move to 2-0. Any other possibility is simply a pipe dream. Oklahoma 52, Kent State 10
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: Kent State is a solid Mid-American Conference team. But solid MAC team doesn’t cut it in Norman. Oklahoma 52, Kent State 14
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: Kent State's defense allowed Washington to put up 45 points and over 500 yards on offense last weekend. It'll be a similar story for the Sooners at home. Oklahoma 48, Kent State 17
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: The Sooners cruise past Kent State. Oklahoma 63, Kent State 10
Arizona State (1-0) at Oklahoma State (1-0), Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Central, ESPN2
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: The Cowboys should creep into the top ten with a win here. Oklahoma St. 31, Arizona St. 20
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: The Cowboys offense was explosive in Week 1, but their elite defense lacked the spark that it possessed last season. The unpredictability of this team headed into the second week of non-conference play makes a blowout win over the Sun Devils hard to predict, but it’s a win nonetheless. Oklahoma State 41, Arizona State 31
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: Dang, Spencer Sanders went off last week. And I don’t think that was a one-time only thing, either. Oklahoma State 35, Arizona State 21
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: The Sun Devils couldn't score a touchdown through the air with quarterback Emory Jones. If the Pokes take away their run game, it should be an easy win. Oklahoma State 30, Arizona State 20
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: In a battle of the states, the Cowboys look impressive in a victory over the Sun Devils. Oklahoma State 41, Arizona State 21
Tarleton (1-0) at TCU (1-0), Saturday, 7 p.m., Central, Big 12/ESPN+
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: TCU has to win this, there’s just no way they give this one up. TCU 35, Tarleton St 3
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: TCU easily handled Colorado on the road on Saturday. And as the Frogs head back to Fort Worth for their first home game of the season, they’ll do so with another blowout on their minds. TCU 47, Tarleton 6
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: This is not an ‘upset city’ situation for TCU, as Tarleton is still transitioning from FCS. TCU 42, Tarleton 10
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: The Horned Frogs will be without quarterback Chandler Morris in their home opener. Max Duggan should be enough to keep TCU ahead against Tarleton. TCU 38, Tarleton 7
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: Only one purple team starting with a "T" leaves with a victory, and it is the Horned Frogs. TCU 56, Tarleton 10
Baylor (1-0) at BYU (1-0), Saturday, 9:15 p.m., Central, ESPN
Logan Collier, Staff Writer: Maybe the best Big 12 game this week, Baylor should continue where they left off in 2022 and pummel the Cougars. The Bears are imposing on the front line, both offensively and defensively. BYU won’t be able to hang in the trenches here. Baylor 37, BYU 19
Zach Dimmitt, Staff Writer: BYU likely won't get enough credit for its potential ability to keep things close with the defending conference champs. But it's hard to see the Cougars coming out on top against a Dave Aranda-led defense that will only be more improved after last season's successful finish. Baylor 27, BYU 21
Matthew Postins, Staff Writer: BYU is out to prove its Big 12 ready. Baylor is out to prove it’s building on last year’s success, even though it lost plenty of personnel from its Big 12 Championship team. It’s a great opportunity for both teams. Both teams are going to be prepared. I just have this hunch that Baylor goes in and steals it late. Baylor 33, BYU 30
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer: In what could be the game of the week, the Bears will need to be perfect. Provo is one of the more underrated atmospheres in college football to date and the Cougars have the momentum in their home opener. The loss of players such as Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard is too much for the Bears to overcome. BYU 38, Baylor 27
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer: Baylor gets another win over BYU, this time doing so in a hostile road environment. Baylor 31, BYU 21
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