College football predictions: Big 12 game picks for Week 2

Here are the selections for all Big 12 college football games and select top 25 action across the country for the second week of the season.

Big 12 predictions

(20)Kansas State at Iowa State

The Cyclones are in desperation mode after losing to North Dakota State, and they’ll have to regroup quickly in order to turn the season around and have hopes for a bowl game. Unfortunately, they are faced with the task of playing Kansas State, which is an even tougher matchup than the Bison. With strong lines on both sides of the ball, experience at quarterback with Jake Waters, and the explosiveness of Tyler Lockett at receiver and special teams, it’s going to have to take a complete meltdown of their running attack for Iowa State to have some hope.

That’s if ISU can get things going on offense and are able to stop anything on defense. There’s just too many things that have to go right for the Cyclones in Jack Trice Stadium for them to come out with a victory, but hopefully there will be improvement after giving up 34 straight points to NDSU last week.

KSU 31, ISU 20

(4)Oklahoma at Tulsa

Last year, Iowa State took an 0-2 squad to Tulsa on a Thursday night and dominated with a balanced running and passing attack. This may be a road game, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sooner fans pack Tulsa’s stadium and watch them smash through the Golden Hurricane just like they did with Louisiana Tech a week ago.

OU 55, TUL 13

Missouri State (FCS) at Oklahoma State

The only game in the 2:30 slot that involves a Big 12 team, meaning you won’t be watching much Big 12 football in this time slot.

OSU 63, MSU 10

Southeast Missouri State (FCS) at Kansas

The Redhawks defeated a Baptist school 77-0, but don’t let that fool you. This team went 3-9 last year and finished only above Austin Peay, who went winless. They were somewhat competitive in a 31-13 loss at Ole Miss. However, in similar fashion with the Cyclones, the Jayhawks can’t look ahead to anybody, and they have to somehow get a winning culture started before heading into Big 12 play this year. It will be as close as we all expect it to be, bu similar to the scare against South Dakota, Kansas will eventually prevail.

KU 33, SEMO 17

Sep 7, 2013; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback

Taysom Hill

(4) breaks tackles from Texas Longhorns safety

Josh Turner

(5) and Texas Longhorns cornerback

Sheroid Evans

(29) scores a touchdown at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

BYU at Texas

Obviously, the nightmare of giving up 550 yards on the ground hasn’t been forgotten by the Longhorns. They’ll have to get revenge with a backup quarterback, and perhaps with another concussion suffered by David Ash, it could be time to move to another QB for good in Texas. The defense was solid in shutting down North Texas for the first three quarters and change, and I wouldn’t expect the defense to give up nearly as many yards on the ground against Cougars this time around — especially with a focus on Tayson Hill. The Longhorns get their revenge, but it won’t be pretty.

TEX 29, BYU 23

Towson (FCS) at West Virginia

The Mountaineers opened up a lot of eyes by being competitive against Alabama. Now they’ll have to fight to avoid a letdown against a cupcake — not in terms of losing the game, but making it look ugly. I got a feeling it won’t be.

WVU 56, TOW 0

Northwestern State (FCS) at (10)Baylor

You could have a 100 percent healthy Bryce Petty and Antwan Goodley on the Demons and they still wouldn’t be in the same zip code as the Bears.

BAY 77, NWST 0

Texas Tech at UTEP

Quarterbacks are exciting to watch, and nobody knows that better than all the quarterbacks that have entered into the Red Raiders’ air raid attack. The Miners’ Jameill Showers is that guy. How big of a difference does he make on the team? Last season he suffered a season-ending injury with six games to go. Previous to Showers’ injury, the team scored 30 points a game. After that injury, UTEP scored 74 total points in the final six games combined. TTU looked horrible against Central Arkansas, and while this is all set up to be an upset for the Red Raiders, I think they’ll hold on in another high scoring affair.

TTU 45, UTEP 38

Other Top 25 predictions

The Citadel (FCS) at (1)Florida State – Jameis Winston‘s better off facing crab legs. FSU 63, CIT 0
Florida Atlantic at (2)Alabama – I would be the last person wanting to face Nick Saban a week after the team underwhelmed. ALA 59, FAU 10
(7)Michigan State at (3)Oregon – The Big Ten is almost already out of the CFB playoff picture, and they’ll be halfway there after losing a tough one in Eugene. ORE 31, MSU 21
San Jose State at (5)Auburn – Having such a slow start against Arkansas is concerning, but after this, Iowa State can’t wait to have a home-and-home with the Spartans. AUB 51, SJSU 6
Virginia Tech at (8)Ohio State – Playing at Navy would be tough for any team, and the Buckeyes are having to regroup quickly after losing Braxton Miller. It will be tough, but the Buckeyes narrowly prevail. OSU 24, VT 21
Lamar (FCS) at (9)Texas A&M – Already tired of Kenny Football? You haven’t heard anything yet. TAMU 70, LAM 3

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