Graphic by Matt Hellman
By Daniel Hill
Sports Writer
Baylor @ West Virginia: This is by far the most difficult test the Bears will have faced this season. No. 9 West Virginia has a wildly raucous crowd in Morgantown, and the Bears will be forced to play an early game at 11 a.m. which will be a different experience for them this year. WVU quarterback Geno Smith has already thrown for 1,072 yards this season, and he has accounted for 13 touchdowns. The Mountaineers top offensive playmakers are Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, who have 10 total touchdowns and more than 600 yards receiving. Baylor counters with a high-octane offense of its own with Nick Florence spreading the ball to Tevin Reese and Terrance Williams. Ultimately, WVU will be an extreme test for the Bears. Prediction: West Virginia 55, Baylor 38
Texas Tech @ Iowa State: The Cyclones and the Red Raiders are both 3-0 heading into their Big 12 Conference opener. Texas Tech has played a schedule full of marshmallows, and Iowa State is only slightly more battle-tested with a win over Iowa from the Big 10. Cyclones quarterback Steele Jantz can be a game-changer, and Texas Tech’s only road game thus far was at Texas State. Homefield advantage should give the Cyclones the edge. Prediction: Iowa State 35, Texas Tech 31
Texas @ Oklahoma State: It’s finally time to see what the Longhorns are made of in Big 12 competition. Sure, OSU lost Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon to the NFL, but playing in Stillwater is always a tough challenge. Cowboys running back Joseph Randle averages more than 6.7 yards per carry and has 335 yards rushing on the season. Texas quarterback David Ash has yet to throw an interception this season and has thrown for 703 yards. The Longhorns’ backfield is stacked with Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, who have received 37 carries apiece this season and have each run for more than 200 yards. Texas’ ground game might prove to be too much for the Cowboys. Prediction: Texas 41, Oklahoma State 24.
TCU @ SMU: As Baylor fans have witnessed, SMU is practically hopeless this season. This should be a breeze for the 3-0 Horned Frogs. SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert has yet to blossom for the Mustangs, while Casey Pachall has the highest passer rating in the nation at 209.9 and has thrown for eight touchdowns and 841 yards for the No. 15 Horned Frogs. Although this is a rivalry game, TCU should get the better of SMU. Prediction: TCU 35, SMU 10
Teams on bye this week:
Kansas: The Jayhawks are 1-3 with their only win coming over South Dakota State. On Oct. 6, the Jayhawks travel to Manhattan to take on the No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats.
Kansas State: The Wildcats upset No. 6 Oklahoma in Norman last weekend in an impressive manner. Collin Klein was efficient with 149 yards passing and 79 yards rushing with a touchdown. The Wildcats play Kansas on Oct. 6.
Oklahoma: Head coach Bob Stoops has seen his Sooners squad suffer yet another upset at the hands of Kansas State. The Soon travel to Lubbock to face the Red Raiders on Oct. 6.
