By Tony George

If there was any doubt that Texas Tech was a one hit wonder against Texas the week before, those doubts were silenced is a behind the woodshed beating of Oklahoma State on national TV Saturday Night as QB Harrell threw 6 Td passes and the Red Raiders rolled a very good Okie State team (as I predicted in this blog last week). With a week off to prepare for the Big 12 South Showdown at Norman Oklahoma, what was once a "gimmie" for OU in that game, now will be one of the biggest games in College football this season, and Texas Tech has every chance of winning that game. The Big 12 South title and possible National Title is on the line in that game.

In other news (not so good for me), Nebraska who I went against for My Big 12 Game of the Year dominated Kansas in a 10 point win as I took the 1.5 points and what I felt was a better KU team, especially with their passing game and spread attack, and Nebraska beat them up. Only my 3rd loss in 12 years of specializing in the Big 12 with my game of the year, but I tell it like it is. Nebraska has K State this week on the road, and then Colorado at home the day after Thanksgiving, and sitting at 6-4 on the year, they look to be 8-4 with a decent bowl game on tap for Bo Pellini in his first year as a head coach, and a Big 12 North 2nd place finish. WOW!

Texas took care of Baylor last week as expected, and Colorado barely beat Iowa State as I predicted, and still are struggling on offense. Texas AM suffered a 66-28 loss also as I predicted last week as they have no offense to trade punches with a team like Oklahoma and continue to play little or no defense against the pass. How far have things fallen for Texas AM you ask? They are an 8 point underdog to Baylor this weekend in Waco. Mizzou is still commanding spreads of greater than 25 points even though they continue not to rebound and win in convincing fashion, as they won a 42-24 game last week against Kansas State in Columbia, an uninspired performance. They take on Iowa State this week in Ames laying 26 points.

Speaking of Kansas State, what a debacle. They fire Ron Prince after a little over 2 years there, and let a lame duck coach out the season. The recent firings of numerous head coaches like Tommy Bowden at Clemson is disturbing to me, as AD's cave to pressure from big money boosters about winning right here and right now. It should be noted that this particular year in the Big 12, if you are a sub par team, you are going to get slaughtered, the Big 12 has numerous teams that are the best in nation. Ron Prince deserved better.

Highlighted Games this Week (11-4 record, 2-1 last week)

Texas AM +8 @ Baylor

While Texas AM continues to struggle, the only thing Baylor has going for them is QB Griffin, who is a major stud. While Baylor is improving under a solid new head coach, not ready to lay 8 points with a team with a losing record who when playing equal teams in terms of talent, have struggled to put away or win games. Texas AM should be able to run it and slow down the pace here and keep this one tight till the end. Texas AM won by 24 last year in this game and both teams off of serious beat downs last week. Baylor 24 Texas AM 21

Nebraska -7 @ Kansas State

Although my beloved Huskers beat me up last week in terms of a point spread winner, they also convinced me they are better than advertised. In recent years Nebraska has dominated Kansas State, as QB Freeman had committed to Nebraska before Ron Prince convinced him to drop his letter of intent to the Huskers and play for Kansas State. The Husker nation has never forgotten that and once again last year NU pounded Kansas St. 73-31 in Lincoln with a team not as good as this one. Huskers playing for a major bowl and buying into Pellini's coaching big time. Kansas State has no defense and QB Ganz for Nebraska the best kept secret in the Big 12 at quarterback, and #3 in the nation is passing efficiency. Nebraska 35 Kansas State 24.

Texas -13.5 @ Kansas

If Kansas could have beat Nebraska this line would be around 7 or 8, but a failed attempt and serious beat down of QB Reesing last week, as he was pounded in Lincoln, will be the demise of Kansas again this week. Not sure I like laying such a number on the road with any team against a decent team like KU, but if you look at the good teams, the elite teams Kansas has played, both Oklahoma and Texas Tech blew them out. Texas is on a mission to compete at a high level with a better than average chance to play for Big 12 south title if Texas Tech fails to win at OU next week, they will be focused and I look for QB McCoy to have a big day against a weak KU defense and secondary that Nebraska shredded last week. Texas 38 KU 21.

Good luck this weekend and look for all my plays at www.sportsaudioshows.com
 

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