Last week did not go so hot for me–which I guess is what I get for picking two upsets over top 5 teams in the same weekend. And K-State came SOOO close to beating Auburn. In fact, with the three missed field goals, the interception through the hands of All American wideout Tyler Lockett, you could say that K-State not only could’ve beat Auburn, they should have. Instead what we’re left with is a 20-14 defeat and a huge missed opportunity, both for the Wildcats and the Big 12 Conference at large.

I thought, too, that WVU could hang with OU. That lasted for about a half, which was when the OU defense said NOPE and the Sooners trotted out a running back who has more in common with a Panzer tank than a human being: Samaje Perine. Watching West Virginia defenders try to tackle him was painful; the guy is a goddamn truck.

Also, who knew that there would be a weekend of football in which it would be possible to pick KANSAS to win and for KANSAS to be the only team to actually come through for you? Strange times are the ones we live in. Strange times indeed.

To the picks!

Last week: 1-2 (.333)

Overall: 25-3 (.892)

THURSDAY:

No. 24 Oklahoma State 55, Texas Tech 21. While Daxx Garman is unproven and this game is his first real test, through three games Texas Tech has looked like a pile of stinking, flaming garbage. Even so, normally after coming off a humiliating loss (the week before last’s 21-point home defeat against Arkansas qualifies, I think) I’d bet for a decent showing from Tech. Not so, this week. This week Matt Wallerstedt, Tech’s D-coordinator, was dismissed amongst a flurry of rumors, none of which have been substantiated. Things hardly ever go well for teams enduring midweek coordinator changes. Additionally, Tech’s recent history with OSU does not bode well: in their last three matchups OSU has pounded the Red Raiders by scores of 52-34, 59-24, and 66-6, and Tech hasn’t won a game in Stillwater since 2001, back when Les Miles and Mike Leach patrolled the sidelines.

SATURDAY:

No. 25 Kansas State 48, UTEP 17. I fully expect for K-State to rebound this week. Bill Snyder-coached teams learn from their mistakes, and, as is evidenced by the polar differences between the Wildcats’s start last year (with the loss to North Dakota State) and where they finished (a team that nobody wanted to play), I think they’ll get better every week.

SMU 3, TCU 35. I read somewhere that SMU has scored every single time they’ve been in the red zone this season. Trick is, they’ve only been there three times. The Mustangs have been outscored 146-12 in their first three games. TCU, on the other hand, though they’ve handled both of their non-conference opponents with ease, smashing Samford and Minnesota, will still remain a relative unknown after this game. Their next two opponents are No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 7 Baylor. Win one or both of those and TCU officially  tosses its hat in the ring.

Kansas 10, Texas 14. Remember that time in 2012 when Texas went to Lawrence and emerged with a 21-17 victory thanks to a final minute drive led by back up Case McCoy? (And aren’t you glad you never ever have to read again about how there’s a McCoy and a Shipley in the world and–gasp!–they’re roommates! And their brothers were roommates, too! HA HA HA.) In any case, that 2012 game, though a victory for Mack Brown and co., was one of the nails in his proverbial coffin. This game may be KU’s best chance to spring an upset over one of its longtime superiors, but I think when both teams suck, tradition gets Texas over the hump.

Iowa State 27, No. 7 Baylor 31. Sure, the official Vegas line on this game has the Fightin’ Baptists by 22. But you and I both know the possibilities for a night game in Ames that pits a Big 12 favorite against a scrappy bunch of Cyclones–scary shit, a la 2011 OSU. Also, David Ubben provided an interesting tidbit (via Reddit’s College Football Subreddit): since 2010, Baylor is only 3-6 in games played on natural grass, with those victories coming against UCLA, Colorado, and TCU. Additionally, the Bears are 0-2 in Ames under Briles. I would not take the spread here, folks.

OU & WVU are off this week.

PS: I heard next week’s game in Stillwater (vs. ISU) will be at 11am. This is how I feel.