NCAA Big 12 Roundup: Texas-Oklahoma Matchup Flying Under the Radar
Surprise Showdown: Undefeated Kansas and Texas Christian Set to Square Off
Undefeated Oklahoma State Defense to be Tested by Red Raiders
When the season began, a Week 6 matchup between Oklahoma and Texas figured to be the headliner while the meeting between Kansas and Texas Christian would be flying under the radar. Thanks to an unpredictable first five weeks, the roles are reversed with the showdown between the Jayhawks and Horned Frogs headlining the NCAA Big 12 Roundup.
Oklahoma State is the other undefeated team in the Big 12 and the Cowboys welcome the pass-happy Texas Tech Red Raiders to Stillwater. Perhaps the most amazing part of this week’s Big 12 schedule is that coming into the season, the Texas-Oklahoma matchup figured to be a candidate for the game of the year in the conference. However, with both underachieving teams falling out of the rankings, it is now just another game.
Oklahoma State (+250) is now favored in the odds to win Big 12 football 2022. Kansas State (+350), Texas (+400) and Texas Christian (+450) aren’t far behind.
Oklahoma State (+250) is now favored in the odds to win the Big 12 championship in 2022. Kansas State (+350), Texas (+400) and Texas Christian (+450) aren’t far behind.
Oklahoma State moved up two spots in the latest Associated Press poll and is now seventh in both polls. TCU and Kansas went from being unranked to breaking into the top 20 this week.
Oklahoma State (+5000) leads the Big 12 teams in the odds to win the national title.
Here’s a breakdown of the games involving Big 12 teams.
Game of the Week
Texas Christian Horned Frogs vs Kansas Jayhawks
Date, time, TV: (FS1)
Line: TCU -7
The College Gameday crew is headed to Lawrence and it is not basketball season. This is where the weekly NCAA Big 12 Roundup begins.
Kansas had the longest odds to win the Big 12 title coming into the season, according to the sportsbook while Texas Christian came in sixth and yet here they are as two of the last three undefeated teams in the conference.
Quarterbacks Max Duggan of TCU and Jalon Daniels of Kansas are the top two rated passers in the conference. They have combined for 22 touchdowns and one interception. Daniels has also added five rushing touchdowns.
Kansas (5-0, 2-0 in the Big 12) has allowed nine touchdowns in its opponents 21 trips to the red zone. The Jayhawks also lead the Big 12 with 15 sacks. A key for TCU (4-0, 1-0) is that the Horned Frogs have committed just one turnover in four games.
TCU is looking for its fourth win in a row against Kansas. The Jayhawks not only lead the Big 12 with 15 sacks, but they have allowed two sacks. Just two years ago, the Jayhawks allowed 47 sacks, 16 more than any other team in the conference.
Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners
Date, time, TV: (ABC)
Line: Texas -7
Who would have thought this would be a bit of an afterthought. This is the first time since 1998 that neither Oklahoma (3-2, 0-2) nor Texas (3-2, 1-1) are ranked heading into this annual matchup. There is enough talent on both teams for this to be a game worth checking in the NCAA Big 12 Roundup.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables did not offer updates on injured quarterback Dillon Gabriel, running backs Eric Gray and Marcus Major, receiver Theo Wease and offensive lineman Wanya Morris. Obviously, things will look much different if they can’t go or are limited.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson ran for 131 yards in last year’s game and he is looking for his fourth straight 100-yard game on Saturday.
According to the college football predictions, Robinson (+8000) has the fourth-best odds among running backs to win the Heisman Trophy. This is a game that could help his Heisman chances. Those who like to look at past scores and odds college football might be interested to know that eight of the last nine matchups in the series have finished as one-score games.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date, time, TV: (FS1)
Line: Oklahoma State -9
Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders has struggled in the past against Texas Tech with four touchdown passes and four interceptions in three career games against the Red Raiders.
Sanders trails only Texas Tech’s Donovan Smith among Big 12 quarterbacks in passing yards per game. The difference is that Sanders has two interceptions and Smith has thrown seven.
Oklahoma State is doing a lot of things well. However, there are some issues defending the pass. The Cowboys (4-0, 1-0) have allowed more passing yards per game than any other Big 12 team. That could make things interesting facing a 3-2 Texas Tech team that has a Big 12-leading 1,812 passing yards.
After leading the Big 12 with 56 sacks a season ago, the Cowboys are back at it in 2022 as no team from one of the Power-5 conferences is averaging more tackles for loss per game than Oklahoma State’s mark of 9.25.
Kansas State Wildcats vs Iowa State Cyclones
Date, time, TV: (ESPNU)
Line: Kansas State -2
Iowa State (3-2, 0-2) leads the Big 12 in total defense, allowing 255.4 yards per game and also has the best rushing defense in the conference. That will be tested by the Kansas State duo of Deuce Vaughn and Adrian Martinez, the first and fourth-leading rushers in the Big 12.
Martinez is one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the country for the Wildcats (4-1, 2-0). He hasn’t thrown an interception, but has the fewest number of passing yards and touchdown passes among the starting QBs in the conference.
Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah is the Big 12 leader with 5½ sacks. Iowa State’s Will McDonald, a top prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, only has 1½ sacks so when the Kansas State at Iowa game gets underway, keep an eye on the pass rushers.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- NCAA SEC Roundup: After Wild Offseason, Alabama-Texas A&M Game Has Arrived
- NCAA ACC Roundup: Florida State Has a Tough Road Trip to NC State
- NCAA Independents Roundup: Cougars and Fighting Irish Meet for First Time Since 2013
- NCAA Big Ten Roundup: Michigan, Ohio State Expected to Keep on Keeping On
- Oklahoma vs TCU Betting Preview: Angry Sooners, Dangerous Sooners
