Big 12 Week 8 Picks
Bye: Iowa State & Oklahoma
Kansas @ Baylor (BAY -8.0)
The status of Blake Shapen and Jalon Daniels is unknown at this point, with Shapen leaving last week’s game against WVU with a head injury and Daniels not playing last week after suffering a shoulder injury the week before against TCU. Kansas could also be without one of their top defenders Cobee Bryant. I have seen more from the Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean, and will take the Jayhawks for a second week in a row.
Pick: Kansas +8.0
West Virginia @ Texas Tech (TTU -6.5)
This game matches two teams that are 3-3 and 1-2 in the conference. Tech has the Air Raid offense, while WVU is slightly more balanced. C.J. Donaldson has gone through the concussion protocol stages, but his status in the game is unknown. That would be a significant addition to the Mountaineer's offense. I will take Tech since they are playing at home and had a week off to rest for this game.
Pick: TTU -6.5
Texas @ Oklahoma State (TEX -6.5)
Another quarterback with an unknown status for the next game. Spencer Sanders reportedly played through a lingering shoulder injury last week against TCU. He looked good in the first quarter, but as the game got into the late stages, his performance trailed off and can best be seen in the interception he threw. He had a wide receiver one-on-one, and if he led him, there was a chance for a score, but the ball was severely underthrown, and the defensive back could make the pick. If Sanders can play, OSU has an excellent chance to win, especially if he can run the ball on called plays. Gunnar Gundy, son of head coach Mike Gundy, is listed as the backup and had the most playing time other than Sanders, but he is a redshirt freshman. The line says a lot of what Vegas thinks about Sanders's status. I am taking the Cowboys with Texas being a different team on the road compared to at home.
Pick: Oklahoma State +6.5
Kansas State @ TCU (TCU -3.5)
This is the best defense TCU will have faced in Kansas State. KSU’s defense has limited opponents to 16.7 points per game and will also have an extra week to rest up for this game. Adrian Martinez is one of two players that has not thrown an interception with over 100 attempts after averaging 7.5 a year in his four years at Nebraska. Martinez is only attempting 23 throws per game this year, so the Wildcats are trying to limit the opportunities for interceptions. He attempted just over 27 throws while at Nebraska. KSU Defense vs. TCU Offense is the matchup that may get the most notoriety, but the reverse matchup is where the game will be won. Can TCU force Martinez to throw more than he wants to? This is another tight TCU game that will be decided late. I think the Wildcats can slow TCU just enough to cover the spread.
Pick: Kansas State +3.5
