Oklahoma State

I was pretty damn close on the Texas Tech prediction. K-State got more points that I said they would, so that's cool.
Now onto the OSU Cowboys, which I overlooked last week. They only have 2 losses on the year (at Arizona and at Texas). And they should have won the Texas game (bad call).

This team is coming into Manhattan with some good wins and some great offensive #'s. Their true freshman QB is playing for the first time on the road (in the Big XII).

Hard to doubt that K-State is going to take care of business once again. What creeps in my mind is that OSU was KSU last year with their undefeated record going into Ames and walking out with a loss. Here's to hoping this doesn't happen to KSU this year.

The Big XII's leading rusher is coming to town (Joseph Randle), so stopping the run is a huge must for the Cat defense.

This game WILL be closer than the Texas Tech game.

OSU: 27
KSU: 38

*BTW, I am going to the game and have never been so excited to see the Cats play. The last game I saw in person was the home opener of 2011. And that was non-conference shiat game.

This is a HUGE game. So I WILL be yelling the entire time OSU is on offense and WILL not have a voice on sunday. Guaranteed.

Texas Tech (in Manhattan)

Well, I was DEAD wrong about the West Virginia game (and damn glad I was). I don't know if I can doubt this team since it's lead by Collin Klein.

This Saturday is the biggest test remaining for the Wildcats for the 2012 season (save bowl game). Texas Tech comes in with one loss and ranked in the top 15. Their only loss was to Oklahoma in Lubbock 41-20. In that game, Texas Tech QB Seth Doege threw 3 interceptions and gave OU around 380 total yards, plus TT got a late TD to make the score seem more respectable.

Tech just played TCU to a 3 overtime game where they won 56-53. TCU (with their 2nd string QB) got a total of 516 yards! AND TCU turned the ball over 3 times!

K-State at home in the friendly confines of BSFS will get the "W" on Saturday. If Texas Tech pressures K-State to throw the ball on offense by putting "8 in the box", Klein will do just fine. Confidence is at the all time high for the Heisman leader. Against WVU he was 19-21. I realize that TT's defense is a whole lot stronger than WVU, but I don't believe they can totally shut down K-State's offense.

K-State's defense last week showed that they can defend a "throw-first" offense. I've heard that TT's offense isn't like the old "Air Raid" offense from Mike Leach. With Arthur Brown in the middle, I trust the D against the run (not to mention the pleasant surprise of the D-Line).

Prediction:

Texas Tech: 24
Kansas State: 45

West Virginia

H U G E game on saturday as the Cats travel to Morgantown, WV for the game of the year. west Virginia lost last week to Texas Tech in their "trap game" while the Cats got the V in Ames in their's. Had the Mountaineers won last week... DANG... this would be even bigger.

As it stands, if K-State happens to win this one, it definately places them in the drivers seat to win the Big XII AND get a shot at the National Title.

Yep... I just jinxed it.

I've been going back and forth on this game as to how it will end. A co-worker of mine who is a WV grad told me he truly believes K-State will go in and win. I guess I have had my heart stomped on way too many times to have that sort of confidence going into the game.

WV weakness is their pass defense. K-State's weakness is their passing offense. Dangit! Plus K-State's pass defense isn't all that great and WV has some pretty good passing stats with Geno Smith back behind center.

If this one was bring played in Manhattan, I'd probably be guessing a K-State win, but as it turns out, instead it's a 7p kickoff on national TV (Fox) in Morgantown.

I see a close one with WV winning.

KSU: 34
WVU: 37

ISU vs KSU (Friday B4)

Like every week, I change my mind from what I think the Cats will do. Monday I thought I-State would beat the Cats. I now believe (predict) K-State to win.

The game still frightens me, but I guess all of them do to some degree.

I think the first half will be close but Cats pull away late.

KSU: 34
ISU: 24

KU & ISU

Well, I was really damn close at guessing the score of the KU game, right? Never thought KU would get a safety against K-State (that's usually reserved for K-State to do to KU).

Don't know what the problem was with the KSU defense against KU, but was damn glad they came out in the 2nd half and corrected mistakes. The first two drives for KU were worrysome and looked like Charlie Weiss had a good gameplan. But in the end it was the same-old-same-old.

I realize it was KU defense, but damn did the KSU offense look good. Untouched TD runs by Hubert and Klein. Nice TD pass to Baby Lockett. I sure would like to see Daniel Sams throw the ball in mop-up duty, but it sure is damn fun to watch him run!

Now it's onto ISU up in Ames. If the kids didn't have a butt-locker-load of soccer games this weekend, I sure as hell would be in the stands (just as I have been for the past few KSU/ISU games in Ames). Heck, might be a good thing I am NOT going since I have seen the last two there with KSU losses (2005 and 2007). 2005 game was just PAINFUL to watch (45-17 loss) and 2007 was pretty much a drunken mess (31-20 loss).

As with most K-State games, I start the week thinking one thing is going to happen, then completely switch as I think more and more about the game.

My Monday afternoon self thinks Iowa State has a good chance at an upset of the #6 Wildcats. They just beat TCU in Fort Worth (albeit TCU was w/o their starting drunk QB). But ISU's defense is pretty damn good.

As of now (and I can and probably will change) I say:

KSU: 24
ISU: 27

A look back at OU... and looking forward to KU

Well, never saw that outcome for the OU game. Even with OU "giving" K-State points (as they say) with the turnovers, that was just a complete AWESOME game! People are talking about how it ranks up there with the 2003 Nebraska game when K-State won up there for the first time since 1968 (if memory serves). And yes, I was there.

But I do seriously hope that OU beats most of their opponents (not enough to overtake KSU somehow). I want people to say "Yep, K-State was that GOOD to go down to Norman and win."

Next up for the Wildcats is KU (hold your laughs please). This is year 1 for the Jayhawks under Coach Charlie Weis. They are coming into the game this year with a 1-3 mark, having lost their only Big XII game this year against TCU (in Lawrence).

The Jayhawks are DEFINATELY playing better than what they were churning out under Turner Gill, but that's not saying a whole lot. They were PATHETIC the last 2 years.

I wouldn't bet on Coach Snyder letting his team overlook the bad KU team coming into Manhattan for the 11a kickoff on FX. I am betting the Wildcats will be focused and get a win with a decent sized margin.

My prediction (besides PAIN for the KU team)...

KU 10
K-State 56