College football predictions: Week 5 Big 12, top 25 game picks

Here are the college football game predictions for Week 5 of the Big 12 slate and select top 25 action. What’s in store for the two big games on Thursday night? Can Texas avoid an upset in Kansas? And will Florida State survive despite all the distractions surrounding Jameis Winston?

Big 12 picks

(24)Oklahoma State 52, Texas Tech 37

We’re unsure what the Cowboys really are right now. They haven’t looked impressive against weak opponents since making it close against Florida State, but they aren’t bad either. On the flip side, the Red Raiders let a horrible Arkansas team run all over them at home. Considering Okie State has three solid weapons that can run the ball — Desmond Roland, Rennie Childs, and their freak athlete Tyreek Hill — it could be a really ugly night in Stillwater for Kliff Kingsbury and his crew.

(25)Kansas State 45, UTEP 10

It’s not that the Miners are that bad, but the Wildcats kept a really good running attack in check last week — Auburn — with just 128 yards. UTEP is as close to Auburn as black-ish is to a season renewal.

TCU 66, SMU 0

The Mustangs doubled their scoring average last week by scoring six points. The strange thing is the Death Penalty years have higher scoring averages.

Sep 13, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) throws on the run against the UCLA Bruins linebacker Myles Jack (30) at AT&T Stadium. The Bruins beat the Longhorns 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Texas 39, Kansas 9

Here’s why the Jayhawks will always have a low scoring total on these previews: they have absolutely no offense. That’s not good in a Big 12 conference where nine other teams can score. Well, the Longhorns may be on the lower end of that totem pole, but this is a great game where quarterback Tyrone Swoopes can keep improving. Texas shouldn’t have a problem netting a win in Lawrence, but the question will be if the entire team will be coming back to Austin with them.

(7)Baylor at Iowa State — Coming later today in the full game preview.

Select top 25 picks

(15)Arizona State 30, (11)UCLA 24

I know, I picked the Bruins to make it into the College Football Playoff. That’s not going to happen despite having an undefeated record right now. They’re incredibly suspect and they can not afford to play that way on the road in a tough environment at Sun Devil Stadium. ASU does what Washington State couldn’t last Saturday.

(1)Florida State 31, NC State 19

This was penciled in as an upset with all the #FameisJameis BS going on, but then I looked at the Wolfpack’s schedule thus far: wins over Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, at South Florida, and Presbyterian. Good lord, when could teams schedule three FCS teams– what? GAS and ODU are IN the FBS? What is going on in this world?

Sep 20, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) who returned to the field after warming up in pads during pre game before their game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Winston was suspended for Saturday s game against Clemson pending an investigation into some alleged lewd comments he made on campus. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

(13)South Carolina 34, Missouri 21

Either the Tigers really looked past Indiana (and who woudn’t) or they just aren’t that good. Mizzou bounces back with a little bit of life after that disastrous loss at home, but winning on the Old Ball Coach’s home turf is just too much to ask for– unless you have a quarterback that can pass the ball lights out, and Maty Mauk is no #KennyFootball just yet.

(8)Notre Dame 26, Syracuse 23

Do the Irish even play in true road games anymore? If Gregg Robinson can beat ND with the Orange, any team can. Syracuse will come close with a better than average running attack, but it won’t be enough to take down the Irish.

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