The Big 12 backloaded its schedule to be included in the College Football Playoff.
The only problem is that the schedule may actually be a deterrent. If Baylor loses this week to Oklahoma, that leaves only one undefeated team left in the Big 12, Oklahoma State. And the Cowboys still have to play Baylor and Oklahoma.
We’re wondering if the schedule-makers realized that early losses usually go over better than late losses. Regardless, it still makes for interesting television, especially if the Bears win this week, setting up an undefeated showdown next week between Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Here are two games we’ll keep an eye on this weekend. Last week’s betting guide for each major conference went 6-4 and was 1-1 in the Big 12. Overall for the season, the betting guides have been 10-10 in the Big 12 and 53-43 overall in the power-five conferences.
Oklahoma at Baylor (-3)
The betting public and pretty much everyone else is all over the Sooners.
Oddsmakers set the line at six points to begin the week. That’s been cut in half and we’re expecting it may drop even more as game time approaches.
But, we’re fading the public. Last week’s game gave new quarterback Jarrett Stidham a good test before facing one of the biggest games of the college football season.
Stidham is likely the reason many are jumping off the Baylor ship. We’re not giving up that quickly. The Bears have an offense where the quarterback position is a revolving door of touchdowns and yards. We’re not worried about the offense as much as others.
And the Sooners have been known in recent years to look great throughout the year and lose these types of games. We believe Oklahoma is too hyped because of recent wins against bad competition. We’re going with the home team, especially with the smaller number. — Go chalk with Baylor
Kansas State (+6) at Texas Tech
We’re not fans of either of these teams this season, but we have more confidence in the Wildcats.
Texas Tech’s defense is atrocious. That’s been seen throughout this season.
The Wildcats don’t have much on the offensive side of the ball, but against Texas Tech, that doesn’t matter.
In a matchup of teams going through losing skids, the best bet usually resides with the coach. We’ll take Bill Snyder over Kliff Kingsbury any day of the week.
The Wildcats are coming off of a strong performance last week against Baylor, and despite the recent five-game losing streak, we believe Snyder has righted the ship. We’re going with the road team in this one. — Go against the chalk with Kansas State
Other Big 12 games
Texas at West Virginia (-9)
Kansas at TCU (-45)
Oklahoma State (-14) at Iowa State
