Big 12 WEek 3 picks
Bye: TCU
Oklahoma @ Nebraska (OU -11.0)
This is the first game after the firing of Scott Frost. Frost was in his fifth season at Nebraska when he was fired and had a measly 16-31 record. He could never put everything together and was shown in the one-possession games in which he had a 5-22 record. The offense or the defense would play well but not the other in games. The team may get a bump with all the media speculation about Frost’s possible firing now gone. Nebraska will be playing at home against a team they have a long-time rivalry with, but the home crowd hasn’t seen OU in more than 10 years. Oklahoma didn’t look good in the first half against Kent State last week by only having a 7-3 lead at halftime. The touchdown was scored with 0:18 left in the first half. Oklahoma will need a cleaner game on the road in which I think the Big Red can play the Sooners tough and keep the game close enough to cover the spread, but OU will win the game.
Pick: Nebraska +11.0
Texas State @ Baylor (BAY -30.0)
Baylor is coming off a tough loss in double overtime to BYU and there seems to be some concern on how much Quarterback Blake Shapen can do to lead the Bears in big games when the offense will be needed to win. Baylor has a strong defense and a good running game, but if there is no passing threat, then teams can load up on the run. Texas State is not the team that will give Baylor much trouble, but they can keep the game under four TDs.
Pick: Texas State +30.0
Towson @ West Virginia (no line listed)
West Virginia has two losses in their first two games and will need a win badly, especially with upcoming road games against Virginia Tech and Texas. WVU will get the win, but it won’t stop the hot seat under Neal Brown.
Pick: West Virginia
Ohio @ Iowa State (ISU -18.0)
Iowa State got a big win against Iowa last week even though they only scored 10 points. ISU could have a letdown or be looking ahead to hosting Baylor next week. Ohio has allowed 42.0 pts and over 500 yards per game, but they are 1-1 on the season. ISU's offense has struggled, averaging 26.0 pts per game, but their defense has been stout, only allowing 8.5 pts per game. When Ohio played Penn State last week, they were only able to get 10 points. The Cyclone's defense should be able to shut down the Bobcats and allow their offense to figure out some things before Big 12 play.
Pick: ISU -18.0
Tulane @ Kansas State (KSU -14.0)
Tulane is 2-0 on the season but the opponents they have faced are a combined 0-4. This will be a big test for the Green Wave. The stats are skewed due to the teams they have played but the rush defense is allowing nearly 100 yards more than the pass defense and KSU heavily relies on the run. The Wildcats should win and cover the spread in the game.
Pick: Kansas State -14.0
Kansas @ Houston (HOU -9.0)
Kansas is 2-0 on the season after getting a huge road win in Morgantown and will have to go back on the road against a team that has played back to back games. I think the line is reflecting the change that is happening in Lawrence. Kansas doesn’t have a great passing offense which is a weakness in the Houston defense but the Jayhawks are more balanced and will be able to hold the Cougars down. Kansas to get the win and cover.
Pick: Kansas +9.0
Texas Tech @ NC State (NCSt -10.0)
Texas Tech is back to the air raid offense although their defense may be slightly better this time around. No one has really run the ball on the Tech’s defense but could see a good test against the Wolfpack. North Carolina State has a good offense that is more balanced compared to Tech and relies on their defense to win games. Tech will make it close but NCSU will pull the game out.
Pick: Texas Tech +10.0
Arkansas Pine Bluff @ Oklahoma State (no line listed)
This is an easy pick and should be a glorified scrimmage for OSU to get a lot of players some time on the field and to work on different aspects before the bye week, and they start Big 12 play against Baylor.
Pick: Oklahoma State
UTSA @ Texas (TEX -12.5)
UTSA is coming off back to back overtime games to begin the season and are 1-1 in those games and have played nearly another half of a game compared to Texas but Quinn Ewers will miss this game and Hudson Card did look to have a limp against Alabama. Texas can give the ball to Bijan Robinson but defense will be able to load up against him to not allow him to beat them. Texas-San Antonio can move the ball but they will also allow the ball to be moved on them with both sides of the ball averaging over 400 yards and over 35 pts. I will take the Roadrunners to give Texas a test especially without Ewers and a possible letdown game for the Longhorns.
Pick: UTSA +12.5
