Big 12 Football Predictions – Week 3

Last week I took a beating in my Big 12 picks. I went 5-3 with Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma State all losing. Here my picks for week 3.

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at Oklahoma State Cowboys, 11am Line: OSU -21

The Cowboys were ambushed in the desert last week against an upstart Arizona team and run off the field to the tune of 59-38. The Cowboys moved the ball effectively, but the defense of 2012 couldn’t get those timely turnovers like the Cowboy defense of 2011, which bailed out Oklahoma State so often. Look for the Cowboys to put this game away by the end of the 3^rd quarter.

Oklahoma State 45 Louisiana-Lafayette 20

#16 TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas Jayhawks, 11am Line: TCU -21

Kansas blew an 11-point lead to Rice in the 2^nd half and lost 25-24 in the second game of the Charlie Weis Era. Dayne Crist didn’t look like a 3-year starter as he threw a pick late in the game to give Rice a chance to win with a late field goal. TCU opened the season by beating hapless Grambling 56-0 and not being tested at all. This game could be close for a quarter before the Horned Frogs take control.

TCU 41 Kansas 10

#9 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. James Madison (game played at Landover, MD), 3:30pm no line

West Virginia had an early bye week to prepare for a neutral site game against James Madison. Geno Smith and crew dazzled in week 1 against Marshall and will shine again against an outmanned JMU squad.

West Virginia 66 James Madison 17

New Mexico Lobos at Texas Tech, 6pm Line: Tech -31

Bob Davie and New Mexico have a lot of growing to do to build up the Lobo program and that was evident in their 45-0 loss to Texas. Texas Tech rolled Texas State 58-10 on the road last week and put the game away by halftime. The Lobos run a triple option offense and won’t abandon it like Texas State did against Tech when they were down 28-0 midway through the 2^nd quarter. This game is historically a let down for Tech, but with a defense that 4^th in the country and an offense which found its stride against TSU, look for Tech to have this game in hand by the 2^nd half.

Texas Tech 41 New Mexico 14

North Texas Mean Green at #16 Kansas State Wildcats, 6pm Line: KSU -28

K-State 59 North Texas 14

Sam Houston State at Baylor, 6:05pm No line

Baylor 52 Sam Houston State 20

Western Illinois at Iowa State, 7pm No line

Iowa State 40 Western Illinois 13

#14 Texas at Mississippi, 8:15pm Line: UT - 10.5

Texas 27 Mississippi 17