Big 12 football picks: Week 12 predictions

Despite the rough year for the Iowa State football team, this season has absolutely flown by. Just one tailgate left and four weeks of football before we decide who’s playing in the national championship.

Sept 29, 2012; Stillwater, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns running Joe Bergeron (24) runs the ball against Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Alex Elkins (37) during the second half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor has the potential, and they’ll have a good one with Texas Tech in a neutral field this Saturday night. Elsewhere, Oklahoma State and Texas will battle it out in Austin for the Big 12’s best matchup of the weekend.

West Virginia (4-6) at Kansas (2-7) – Saturday, 11:00 AM CT (TV: FOX Sports Networks)

Kansas can’t score, and they’ve been held to under 20 points in every game except their opener to an FCS school. There’s a lot of unfamiliarity between both teams – the Mountaineers have beaten the Jayhawks in both previous meetings and this is their first game ever in Lawrenece. Also, WVU’s quarterback situation is up in the air between Clint Trickett and Paul Millard getting the start. If it is Millard, he was still able to complete 16 of 32 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown in relief against Texas. Despite WVU’s road woes, there’s simply not enough offense for Kansas to keep up. WVU 31, KAN 10 (Odds: WVU -6.5, U49.5)

Iowa State (1-8) at (18)Oklahoma (7-2) – Saturday, 11:00 AM CT (TV: FOX Sports 1)

There hasn’t been a lot of good history for the Cyclones against the Sooners, and one would expect the same thing just looking at both teams on paper. But Iowa State has played well against teams with faulty quarterbacks, and OU has two of them that hasn’t impressed. However, the Sooners’ defense has been punishing and it took Baylor nearly a whole half to get their offense rolling – and that was mostly in part to the Bears defense making plays. Does Iowa State have any chance of pulling off an upset in Norman?

Game preview and prediction available later on Friday. Odds: OU is a 24-point favorite, total set at 49.5.

TCU (4-6) at Kansas State (5-4) – Saturday, 2:30 PM CT (TV: FOX Sports Networks)

The Wildcats are surging, winning their last three games and are just one win shy of reaching a bowl after their atrocious 2-4 start that began with a loss to North Dakota State to open up the season. Their defense hasn’t been mentioned as much as TCU and Oklahoma, and they’ll still have to be careful of the Horned Frogs’ defense that leads the conference in sacks (28) and interceptions (17), but Kansas State has shown no signs of slowing down their winning streak. KSST 31, TCU 13 (Odds: KSST -10, U47)

(12)Oklahoma State (8-1) at (24)Texas (7-2) – Saturday, 2:30 PM CT (TV: FOX)

Both teams will be battling for a chance at the Big 12 championship with Baylor still on the Cowboys and Longhorns’ schedules. Texas survived probably the best game in the Big 12 last Saturday against West Virginia, and Oklahoma State dismantled Kansas. The problem for the Longhorns is losing both Johnathan Gray and Chris Watley for the remainder of the season.

There’s enough depth on the team to ultimately overcome it, but can Texas do it in time against OSU? Malcolm Brown and Case McCoy will need to step up to keep the offense on the field, otherwise a much improved Clint Chelf from earlier this season will take advantage of a weak Longhorns defense. That all has a great chance of happening. OKST 52, TEX 42 (Odds: OKST -3, O62.5)

Texas Tech (7-3) vs (5)Baylor (8-0) (at Arlington, TX) – Saturday, 6:00 PM CT (TV: FOX)

Just a few weeks ago, this game had all the makings of one of the most anticipated Big 12 matchups of the year. Instead, the Red Raiders have dropped three straight, including a 49-26 beatdown in Manhattan last week. Both freshman quarterbacks have struggled after facing the bulk of their schedule, and this defense is becoming exposed. The men in green will cruise again. BAY 61, TTU 37 (Odds: TTU +27.5, O85)