Big 12 football picks: Week six predictions

Didn’t think these would get posted? With just an hour before kickoff of a four-pack of Big 12 games today, here are my selections for week six.

Sep 21, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; The Baylor Bears mascot Bruiser takes photos of the action during the second half of the game between the Bears and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Floyd Casey Stadium. The Bears defeated the Warhawks 70-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

As a reminder, I picked Texas to win outright, Iowa State to cover the spread, and I took the under because of the impending weather. The rain never happened, but I did get the other two correctly. Vegas is just too good with their totals this year…they were six off in the ISU-Texas game.

Here’s how and where to watch all the Big 12 games, plus more top 25 action across the country. Note that all top 25 rankings are reflecting the latest USA Today poll. Because that’s the poll that matters for one more year. Also, odds are as of Saturday morning.

Current records:

• Straight up: 26-8
• At the spread: 9-17
• Over/under: 12-14

(22)Texas Tech (4-0) at Kansas (2-1) – Saturday, 11:00 AM CT (FS1)

Baker Mayfield’s back injury is enough to worry about a possible Texas Tech letdown in Lawrence, but Kansas just doesn’t have the firepower offensively to keep up with the air raid. The Red Raiders average more than 20 points more than the Jayhawks per game. Kansas is also 0-5 at the spread in their last five games overall, and the road team in this series has been 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. TTU 35, KU 17 (Odds: TTU -16.5, O56)

Kansas State (2-2) at (20)Oklahoma State (3-1) – Saturday, 2:30 PM CT (ABC)

Okie State was greeted to a humbling start in Big 12 conference play after getting shocked by West Virginia. The Cowboys had 10 penalties and three turnovers in the game, and they normally don’t make mistakes like that. Expect a solid bounce back at home against a Wildcats team that just hasn’t looked threatening all season long. OK ST 42, KS ST 21 (Odds: OK ST  -13.5, O59.5)

TCU (2-2) at (10)Oklahoma (4-0) – Saturday, 6:00 PM CT (FOX)

Will there be any letdown for the Sooners after finally defeating Notre Dame? The Horned Frogs hope so, and maybe Vegas expects one as well as they only put OU up as touchdown favorites at home. I haven’t been a believer in TCU all season, they’ve played inconsistent and it took them until late in the second half to finally open things up against a bad SMU team. If it takes them until the second half again tonight, they won’t be close enough to pull out a victory. OU 37, TCU 14 (Odds: OU -8, O46.5)

West Virginia (3-2) at (16)Baylor (3-0) – Saturday, 7:00 PM CT (FS1)

This is my favorite game of the day. I’m completely on board with Baylor’s offense potentially being the best in the country, and now we’ll see if the defense is legit as it’s looked in the first three games. The wild card here is exactly what the Mountaineers are. They were obviously much improved against Okie State after getting shutout by Maryland a week before, but can they find any consistency and find a way to stop Bears QB Bryce Petty from blowing them out of the stadium? Especially with a potential letdown game after the big upset win, this should be a spot for Baylor to gain some national respect. BAY 58, WVU 27 (Odds: BAY -30, O70)