BIG 12 WEEK 9 PICKS

Bye: Kansas & Texas

Oklahoma @ Iowa St (OU -1.0)

This game matches up each team’s strength vs strength and weakness vs weakness. Can Iowa St defense slow down Dillion Gabriel and the Sooner's offense enough so their offense can score? I think that is asking too much, and with the line being so small, the Sooners win and cover.

Pick: Oklahoma -1.0

TCU @ West Virginia (TCU -7.5)

This has the makings of a prototypical trap game. TCU is coming off four straight wins over ranked opponents and possibly looking ahead to Texas Tech in a rivalry game. West Virginia lost to Tech on the road by 38 points and will want to make a good showing for their homecoming crowd. WVU will keep it close, but the line is too small. I think it will be a 10-14 point game.
Pick: TCU -7.5

Oklahoma St @ Kansas St (KSU -1.5)

This will be another tight game that will be decided late. The status of Adrian Martinez is unknown, but Will Howard looked good in the first half against TCU last week. He led the Wildcats on four touchdown drives but could not get any points in the second half. Spencer Sanders seems to be banged up but can play through it and has the experience of playing hurt on the road. Cowboys win.

Pick: Oklahoma St +1.5

Baylor @ Texas Tech (TTU -2.5)

This is a night game in Lubbock with a Texas Tech team coming off a dominating win over West Virginia. Baylor looked better in the first half last week against Kansas, but they allowed the Jayhawks back in the game in the second half and had it down to a 5-pt lead. Crazy things tend to happen late in Lubbock, and Patrick Mahomes will be inducted into the Texas Tech Ring of Honor. Tech can’t lose on a night honoring Mahomes, so I will take the Red Raiders to win and cover.

Pick: Texas Tech -2.5