Big 12 Rundown: Yet Another Test for Undefeated TCU
Defending Big 12 Champion Baylor Looks To Take Down TCU
Texas Christian continues to find ways to win, and now comes a showdown with defending conference champion Baylor. Since its eye-opening win over Oklahoma, the Horned Frogs have trailed in the second half in four of the six games, only to win each one.
Meanwhile, Kansas State will look to move a step closer to joining TCU in an improbable Big 12 championship game matchup. There are already six of the 10 teams in the conference that are bowl eligible. Texas Tech and Oklahoma can join the group with wins on Saturday.
TCU (+140) and Kansas State (+155) have the best odds of winning the Big 12 title.
The totals range from 48 for the Texas Tech-Iowa State matchup to 64.5 for the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma showdown.
According to the college football playoff odds, the Horned Frogs (+1400) are fifth in the odds to win the national championship. TCU remains fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings.
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
Texas Christian vs Baylor
- Game, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19, 12:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Line: Texas Christian -3 (Ev)
When the season started, it figured that defending champion Baylor would be the team in position to win the Big 12 title and perhaps even play for a national title instead of undefeated TCU.
Freshman Richard Reese leads the Big 12 with 13 scoring runs for Baylor (6-4, 4-3). However, he got just nine carries in last week’s 31-3 loss to Kansas State. Expect to see more from him this time around.
It hasn’t always been pretty, but TCU has passed every test to date. While the Horned Frogs have already earned a spot in the conference title game, they need to win out to remain in the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings.
After impressing while sharing carries in previous seasons, Kendre Miller has emerged as a star as the unquestioned No. 1 back for TCU (10-0, 7-0). He is second in the conference with 1,147 yards and tied for the conference lead with 13 TD runs.
With 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions, Max Duggan is the top-rated passer in the conference for TCU. He did not play in last year’s game against Baylor.
The defense stole the show against Texas, as the Horned Frogs held a conference opponent under 200 yards for the first time since 2019.
Defense played lights out 😤#GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team pic.twitter.com/MDB5aw788J
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 15, 2022
TCU is not only 10-0 but 8-1-1 against the college football predictions this season. The Horned Frogs have covered in the last five games at Baylor.
The line opened at 1½ and moved to 3, so keep an eye on more possible line moves.
Other Games to Watch
Kansas State vs West Virginia
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19, 12:00 noon ET (FOX)
- Line: Kansas State -7½ (-105)
It is pretty simple; if Kansas State (7-3, 5-2) beats West Virginia and Kansas, the Wildcats will appear in the Big 12 championship game for the first time since 2003. Things could get a little interesting with the tiebreakers if the Wildcats stub their toe.
Kansas State is the only Big 12 team to have more interceptions than touchdown passes allowed. Kobe Savage and Daniel Green lead the way with five interceptions, while Felix Anudike-Uzomah leads the conference with 7½ sacks.
West Virginia is coming off a 23-20 win over Oklahoma and beat Baylor earlier in the season. Backup quarterback Garrett Greene replaced an ineffective JT Daniels and accounted for three touchdowns against the Sooners.
The Mountaineers are the only team in the Big 12 with two players with more than 600 receiving yards as Bryce Ford-Wheaton has 641 yards on 58 catches and Sam James has recorded 41 receptions or 624 yards.
Kansas State’s second-leading tackler Kobe Savage is questionable for the game.
West Virginia is 4-1 over the last five meetings with Kansas State.
Texas vs Kansas
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Line: Texas -9
Texas (6-4, 4-3) can still play its way into the Big 12 title if Kansas State stumbles in one of its final two games.
The Longhorns played well enough defensively to take down first-place TCU last week. However, 28 yards on 22 carries and 199 yards of offense isn’t good enough.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson ran for just 70 yards in last year’s wild 57-56 loss to Kansas.
The Jayhawks (6-4, 3-4) are already bowl eligible, and a win would secure the program’s first winning season since 2008. A victory would be the fourth in conference play, matching the total from the previous six years combined.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is expected to play after missing the last four games. Kansas is undefeated this season when Daniels plays the entire game.
Kansas has covered against the Las Vegas odds in the last five games against Texas.
Texas Tech vs Iowa State
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Line: Iowa State -3½
Texas Tech (5-5, 3-4) can become bowl eligible with a win on Saturday when the Red Raiders take an offense that has the second most yards and most passing yards in the Big 12 against Iowa State (4-6, 1-6), the only Big 12 team to allow less than 300 yards per contest.
The Red Raiders have been held under 250 passing yards in the last three games, while Iowa State has given up 444 yards in the last two outings. Texas Tech’s second-leading receiver Jerand Bradley is questionable due to a concussion.
Iowa State’s offense is the only one in the Big 12 to average less than 400 yards per game. However, it is hard to imagine what the numbers would look like without Xavier Hutchinson, who leads the nation with 97 catches and is second with 1,59 receiving yards.
Iowa State has covered against the college football odds in five of the last six games against Texas Tech.
Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Line: Oklahoma -7½
It might take some searching to find the last time that a meeting between the Cowboys and Sooners had less on the line.
Oklahoma State (7-3, 4-3) would need to win its final two games and have Kansas State drop its final two contests in the regular season to have a chance to return to the Big 12 title game.
Oklahoma (5-5, 2-5) is playing to become bowl-eligible rather than competing for conference and national titles as was expected when the season began.
Both teams regressed defensively this season. The Cowboys had the top defensive unit in the Big 12 a season ago as they went from allowing 298 yards per game to a conference-worst 453. Oklahoma is giving up 40 more yards than it did a season ago.
Oklahoma has won eight of the last nine meetings at home against Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy is questionable. He has 8½ tackles for loss and three sacks.
Something to consider for those who bet online, Oklahoma State is 1-5-1 against the spread in its last seven meetings with Oklahoma.
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