There would be some more clarity in the Big 12 after this week with two matchups featuring the top four teams in the conference standings. It is interesting that first-place and undefeated Texas Christian is listed as an underdog.
The loser of the Baylor-Kansas State will have plenty of work to do in order to make it to the Big 12 championship game, while Kansas will be looking to add another victory in a surprising season.
TCU (+3300) is sixth in the odds to win the national title.
The Horned Frogs moved up three spots to No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and American Football Coaches Association poll. Texas jumped all the way to 18th in both polls after not being ranked last week.
Per the college football playoffs odds, the Horned Frogs’ odds to win the national title moved from +8000 to +3300 in the last two weeks. TCU went from seventh to fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings. Texas and Kansas State coming in at No. 18 and 19.
Texas Christian (even money) is favored at odds to win the Big 12 title, according to the sportsbook. Next are Texas (+165), Baylor (+500), and Kansas St. (+750).
Let’s check the latest NCAAF picks, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF predictions. We’ve plenty of NCAAF expert picks for you to consider.
Game of the Week
TCU vs Texas
- Game, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 12th, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Line: Texas -7
This game features the only two 1,000-yard rushers in the Big 12.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson is coming off a season-high 209 rushing yards in last week’s win over Kansas State. He has seven straight 100-yard rushing games and leads the conference with 1,129 yards.
Just another day at the office for @Bijan5Robinson ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/weI4UFGI9d
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 7, 2022
TCU is in the middle of the Big 12 in rushing defense, allowing 146.6 yards per game.
TCU also has a 1,000-yard rusher in Kendre Miller. He has 1,009 yards and his average of 6.59 yards per carry is the highest among Big 12 players with at least 100 carries.
Max Duggan has completed less than 60% of his passes in three of the last four games for Texas Christian (9-0, 6-0 Big 12)
Quarterback Quinn Ewers bounced back from his three-interception game in a loss to Oklahoma State to throw a pair of touchdowns for Texas (6-3, 4-2) in a win over Kansas State.
TCU’s Dee Winters is tied for second in the conference with 9.5 tackles for loss.
TCU has won six of the last eight games against the Longhorns and covered against the Las Vegas odds in each of those victories.
Rest of the Schedule
Oklahoma vs West Virginia
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 12th, Noon ET (FS1)
- Line: Oklahoma -8
Could the Oklahoma offense get rolling?
West Virginia (3-6, 1-5) is the only team in the Big 12 to allow more than six yards per play, while only Kansas and Oklahoma State allow more yards per game than Oklahoma (5-4, 2-4).
The Sooners have the most rushing yards in the conference with senior Eric Gray (902 yards) leading the way.
Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims is second in the conference with 678 receiving yards.
West Virginia quarterback J.T. Daniels has six interceptions in the last four games.
Oklahoma has won the last nine matchups with West Virginia, with six of the last seven games finishing over the college football odds total. The 67½-point total is the highest among this week’s Big 12 games.
Iowa State vs Oklahoma State
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 12th, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
- Line: Iowa State -1½
Oklahoma State (6-3, 3-3) has won all five of its home games while dropping its last three games on road.
Iowa State (4-5, 1-5) is led by Xavier Hutchinson, who leads the Big 12 with 87 catches and 953 receiving yards. He’s had 10 catches in each of the last three games.
Iowa State has allowed the fewest rushing and passing yards in the Big 12. The Cyclones allowed just 200 yards while beating West Virginia for their first conference win of the season. The Cyclones are last in the Big 12 in total offense.
It’s hard to know what to expect from Oklahoma State. The Cowboys topped defending Big 12 champion Baylor and gave TCU its toughest game. However, the Cowboys have been outscored 85-16 in losing to Kansas State and Kansas over the last two weeks.
Oklahoma State had won eight of the last nine matchups in the series before Iowa State’s 24-21 win last season when listed by the college football lines as a seven-point favorite.
Kansas State vs Baylor
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 12th, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Line: Baylor -2½
Unless Texas hands TCU its first loss, the winner of this game will have sole possession of second place in the Big 12.
Three of the top seven rushers in the conference are in this game. Kansas State (6-3, 4-2) is led by running back Deuce Vaughn’s 975 rushing yards with quarterback Adrian Martinez adding 617 yards and 10 TD runs. Baylor (6-3, 4-2) features freshman Richard Reese (798 yards and a conference-best 13 scoring runs.
Baylor’s Christian Morgan is tied for the conference lead with three interceptions.
Baylor has won the last four games against Kansas State, with three of those matchups being decided by 10 points or less.
Kansas vs Texas Tech
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 12th, 7 p.m. ET (Big 12 Now/ESPN+)
- Line: Texas Tech -3½
Kansas hasn’t had a winning conference season since the Big 12 began play in 1996. A win on Saturday would move the Jayhawks a step closer to that feat.
Kansas (6-3, 3-2) is second in the conference with an average of 7.24 yards per play after managing just 5.16 yards a season ago. The numbers might be even more impressive if starting quarterback Jalon Daniels hadn’t missed the last three games.
Texas Tech (4-5, 2-4) is second in the Big 12 in total offense. However, the Red Raiders have averaged just 330 yards over the last two games. Texas Tech is -5 in turnover margin over those two contests.
The Red Raiders are led on defense by Tyree Wilson, the Big 12 leader with 14 tackles for loss.
Something to consider for those who bet online: Texas Tech has won 14 of the last 15 contests with Kansas, although the Jayhawks have covered in two of the last three years.
