The Big 12 will once again be about points and there may be a few surprises on a weekly basis.
Oklahoma did what Oklahoma does nowadays and tripped up against a worse team last week. And two out of the five Big 12 games featured 97 combined points.
We’re still waiting for the Jayhawks’ only win and we’re thinking that may not happen until 2016.
Here are two games we’ll keep an eye on this weekend. Last week’s betting guide for each power-five conference went 4-6, with a 1-1 mark in the Big 12. Overall for the season, the betting guides have been 6-6 in the Big 12 and 31-29 overall in the power-five conferences.
West Virginia (+21) at Baylor
We know Baylor can score at will. Just look at last week after Kansas knotted the score at seven points apiece, the Bears rattled off 59 consecutive points.
So we’re a bit intimated with this pick, but we’re going with the Mountaineers to show some pride, much like the Texas Longhorns did last week.
West Virginia isn’t a bad team. It has just run into a tough schedule.
West Virginia’s two losses this season came at Oklahoma and last week against Oklahoma State. Those teams have one loss between them.
The Mountaineers also have shown the ability to play some defense at times this season, and that should help at least stay within three touchdowns of Baylor.
Don’t forget that West Virginia showed the ability to stop Baylor last season en route to one of the biggest upsets of the season. That blitzing style should at slow down the Bears again. — Go against the chalk with West Virginia
Oklahoma (-4.5) at Kansas State
We’re not that sold on Kansas State this season despite its ability to stick with two of the better Big 12 teams.
The Wildcats could easily be undefeated, but two late game collapses have damaged any thoughts of having a special season. Those crushing defeats may weigh on the Wildcats against the Sooners, which should be hungry for a win after last week’s letdown.
We’ve come to expect a letdown here and there from the Sooners. But Oklahoma has shown in the past to battle back from defeat, and nobody wins at Kansas State like Bob Stoops.
Even with Kansas State’s success and Stoops’ recent inability to run through the Big 12, Oklahoma is 5-0 in Manhattan, Kansas, since Stoops became coach.
Sometimes a coach just has your number. This spread is small enough that we can be confident in the Sooners not only winning, but covering. — Go chalk with Oklahoma
Other Big 12 games
Odds provided by Oddsshark
Texas Tech (-33) at Kansas
TCU (-21) at Iowa State
