Here’s to another great week of Big 12 football predictions!
Heading into week six, there are just a few games this week with five Big 12 teams off with byes (BYU, Utah, Cincinnati, Colorado and Kansas State). Up until now, two teams had byes each week, but now we’re at the point of the season where that number changes each and every week. Of those weeks, two of those has six teams with byes, including next week.
Rest up while you can because the Big 12 championship race is going to come down to the last game of the season with so many contenders right now.
Some of the most exciting matchups this week include Texas Tech (4-1, 2-0) traveling to Arizona (3-1, 1-0) as both schools look to stay in the Big 12 race and keep that momentum going. Meanwhile, UCF will be playing a non-conference game against Florida (2-2). The Knights, who got blown out last week to Colorado, look to bounce back and make a statement against the SEC.
Big 12 Football Power Rankings: BYU, Colorado Rise — Utah, UCF Fall (Week 6)
So far on the year I’m 44-15, after going 4-3 last week thanks to losses by Utah, Kansas and UCF. Hopefully this week will be better as the perfect week still evades me.
With regards to poll implications, the Big 12 now has 4 ranked teams: No. 16 Iowa State, No. 17 BYU, No. 18 Utah and No. 20 Kansas State. The Big 12 has 3 teams receiving votes (Arizona, Oklahoma State and Colorado), with Arizona just missing out as they currently sit at No. 26 after a big road win last week at Utah.
Speaking of Utah, both teams from the Beehive State have byes. The Cougars look to rest up after suffering a number of injuries in the win over Baylor. Meanwhile, Utah looks to bounce back after surprisingly losing a home game to Arizona in which they were highly favored. The loss snapped Utah’s 31-game home winning streak against unranked opponents.
Now without further ado, here’s a look at the predictions this week.
Houston (1-4, 0-2) @ TCU (3-2, 1-1)
Date: Friday, October 4
Time: 5:30 p.m. (MT)
TV: ESPN
Houston hasn’t scored in two games! Will the Cougars finally score some points in Big 12 play? For the sake of the conference, let’s sure hope so.
Luckily the Cougars are facing a TCU defense that is giving up more than 30 points a game. I expect Houston to finally score some points, but the game won’t be close. TCU’s offense is the real deal and I expect the Horned Frogs to roll to victory on Friday night.
Prediction: TCU 30, Houston 10
West Virginia (2-2, 1-0) @ Oklahoma State (3-2, 0-2)
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 2:00 p.m. (MT)
TV: ESPN
To me, this game is a toss up. Both teams have underperformed so far this season and nobody is sure what you are going to get from the both of them. At least for the Cowboys, both losses have come against ranked teams, however, they were blown out in both of those games.
Will Oklahoma State bounce back or will West Virginia pull of an upset?
The Cowboys entered the week as six-point favorites, however, that is now down to three at the moment. I think the game will come down to the wire, but with Oklahoma State playing at home, I think the home field advantage will be the difference.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 27, West Virginia 24
Big 12 Football Power Rankings: BYU, Colorado Rise — Utah, UCF Fall (Week 6)
Baylor (2-3, 0-2) @ No. 16 Iowa State (4-0, 1-0)
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 5:30 p.m. (MT)
TV: FOX
No. 16 Iowa State is nearly a two-touchdown favorite at home this weekend, but don’t expect Baylor to roll over. The Bears seemed to how found their offense and with an aggressive defense — 8 sacks against Colorado two weeks ago — you never know what could happen.
I think Iowa State will win, but Baylor will beat the spread. will I expect Baylor to keep it close and cover the
Prediction: No. 16 Iowa State 24, Baylor 17
UCF (3-1, 1-0) @ Florida (2-2, 1-1)
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 5:45 p.m. (MT)
TV: SEC Network
After a blowout loss to Colorado at home, UCF looks to bounce back as they go in the road to face Florida in a non-conference matchup. Florida leads the series 2-1, however, UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson — who played at Arkansas last year — has a chance to do something unprecedented, beating the Gators two years in a row in “The Swamp.”
Oddsmakers have UCF as a slight favorite (-2.5), however, ESPN’s FPI matchup predictor gives UCF just a 49% chance of winning. I expect it to be a close one, but I think the Knights bounce back and get the win.
Prediction: UCF 28, Florida 27
Big 12 Football Power Rankings: BYU, Colorado Rise — Utah, UCF Fall (Week 6)
Kansas (1-4, 0-2) @ Arizona State (3-1, 0-1)
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 6:00 p.m. (MT)
TV: ESPN2
I know the records say otherwise, but I feel this game is a toss up.
Arizona State started the season strong with three consecutive victories but suffered a setback, losing 30-22 to Texas Tech on Sept. 21. With two weeks to prepare, they now face a struggling Kansas team that’s on a four-game losing streak. The Jayhawks’ fall has been notable; they started the season ranked No. 19 but have since lost to Illinois, UNLV, West Virginia, and TCU. Notably, three of those defeats came by a margin of less than a touchdown and two of those were against teams that are now ranked (No. 24 Illinois and No. 25 UNLV).
I’m still not sold on Arizona State yet as they haven’t won against a good team yet, but I also don’t have confidence in a Kansas team that has lost four consecutive games. With the Sun Devils playing at home, I’ll go with them in a close one.
Prediction: Arizona State 27, Kansas 24
Texas Tech (4-1, 2-0) @ Arizona (3-1, 1-0)
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 9:00 p.m. (MT)
TV: FOX
Both teams moved up in the Big 12 Power rankings this week and a win by either team will keep them in solid contention for the Big 12 title. Arizona is favored by nearly a touchdown after beating Utah lost week. The Utes were without Cam Rising again, but that didn’t impact them two weeks ago in the win over Oklahoma State.
The key matchup will be Arizona’s run defense against Texas Tech’s rushing attack led by Tahj Brooks. The running back ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the win last week. Arizona’s defense was good against Utah, but the Wildcats are ninth in the Big 12 against the run, allowing just over 150 yards per game. Brooks has gone over 100 yards rushing in four straight games, so the Wildcats will have their hands full.
Texas Tech has been playing really well but playing on the road against a good Arizona will likely be too much for them. The Raid Raiders have played well at home, but not on the road.
Prediction: Arizona 34, Texas Tech 27
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