Big 12 Football Picks: Agree To Disagree

For the remainder of the Big 12 football season, SB Nation Kansas City staff writers Chip Rouse and Chris Schumerth will preview the conference games every week and provide their picks on the game outcomes. They may not be in lockstep on every game, but at the very least, they have "agreed to disagree." 

By Chip Rouse and Chris Schumerth, Staff Writers 

Chip: Oklahoma State 34 @ Missouri 38

If Missouri plays like it did last week at home against Iowa State, the Tigers have a good chance of pulling off the upset over BCS-4th-ranked Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0). The Tigers (3-3, 1-2) can't afford to not show up, as was the case a couple of weeks back against Kansas State. Otherwise, they will get steamrolled by the Cowboys' powerful, quick-strike offense, which leads the Big 12 and is second in the country, with a per-game average of 551 yards of total offense. Missouri's balanced offense, led by sophomore dual-threat quarterback James Franklin and running back Henry Josey, the conference's leading rusher, averaging 119 yards a game, should be able to move the ball effectively against a Cowboys defense that ranks seventh in the Big 12. The key matchup in this game will be how well the Tigers' decent defense does in slowing down the Oklahoma State offense and making quarterback Brandon Weeden orchestrate long drives to score. Missouri plays well at home, as then-No. 1-ranked Oklahoma chillingly found out when the Sooners came calling to Columbia to last year at about this time.

Chris: Oklahoma State 42 @ Missouri 20

No way this Mizzou team beats Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, led by senior quarterback Brandon Weeden (73% completion rate, 16 touchdown passes) are too good, and Mizzou has shown that they are not quite good enough with their host of young leaders. With wins over Texas and Texas A&M already, I do not see Oklahoma State tripping up against the undermanned Tigers.  

Chip: Kansas State 35 @ Kansas 21

Kansas played one of its best games of the year against Oklahoma, the No, 3 team in the current BCS standings, despite losing by 30 points. And defensively, it was the Jayhawks' best effort of the year. That will give Turner Gill's team some momentum coming into Saturday's early start at home against Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas State, another ranked opponent. The last time K-State played in Lawrence, a year ago, the Cats completely dominated KU, winning by a 59-7 count. The Wildcats are 11th in the BCS standings. Kansas State, which is still unbeaten in six games, doesn't have overly impressive stats in any of the major offensive or defensive categories, but they are one of the best in the league and in the country in special teams play and in taking advantage of all the opportunities afforded them. The Wildcats are also especially good in limiting their opponents' third-down conversions. Scoring points has not been Kansas' problem this season. The Jayhawks (2-4, 0-3) are averaging 31 points a game, but they are giving up 49 points, which will be a problem against K-State and its ball-control offense. If the Wildcats are able to sustain drives, it will limit the Jayhawks' time of possession and place added strain and time on the field for KU's much-maligned defensive unit.

Chris: Kansas State 34 @ Kansas 10

We agree on the final outcome of this one, but you definitely have more confidence in Kansas's offense against Kansas State's defense. There is a reason Kansas State is undefeated, and it's largely its defense. This will be very apparent against a struggling Kansas team. Look for the Kansas State, led by dual threat quarterback Collin Klein (578 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground) running game to do whatever it wants against the Jayhawks.

Chip: Texas Tech 24 @ OKLAHOMA 55

The only thing worse than having to play at Oklahoma for an opposing team is having to play there two years in a row. That's the scenario for Texas Tech (4-2, 1-2) as the Red Raiders visit Gaylord Family-OU Memorial Stadium, where the Sooners have won 39 consecutive games, on homecoming weekend at Oklahoma. The Sooners (6-0, 3-0) lead the conference in scoring defense and total defense, and they're second in total offense. It's hardly a revelation that Texas Tech's team strengths are in throwing the football and defending the pass. The Red Raiders have given up average passing yardage of 187 a game, but the best Big 12 passing team they've faced so far is Texas A&M, only the sixth best in the league in that category. OU is averaging almost 200 passing yards a game more than Texas Tech is giving up, and the Sooners also can hit you with a better than average running game, which further enhances their potent passing attack. Oklahoma is 13-5 all-time vs. Texas Tech, and the Sooners have won the last five games played in Norman by an average score of 42-16.

Chris: Texas Tech 14 @ Oklahoma 41

Again, we agree on the outcome of this one, along with about everyone else in the country who isn't a Red Raider player or coach. Oklahoma seems to be getting better as the season goes, and I don't see any team except maybe Oklahoma State knocking them off. Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman candidate Landry Jones will make Texas Tech's secondary look more vulnerable than it has all season, and the rushing attack will do more than enough to compliment the passing game. 

Chip: TEXAS A&M 38 @ Iowa State 17

Texas A&M (4-2, 1-2) finally put together four full quarters of football last weekend in handily putting away pesky Baylor. Veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill exploded for 415 yards passing and a career-high six touchdowns. Four of Tannehill's TD passes went to wide-receiver Ryan Swope. Iowa State will be able to feed off the home crowd, but they won't be able to stop A&M defensively, which ultimately will lead to the Cyclones' downfall. The Cyclones (3-3, 0-3) were dealt a severe blow this week when they learned they probably had lost the services of running back Shontrelle Johnson for the season. Johnson was Iowa State's leading rusher when he went down in the Texas game two weeks ago with a neck injury. This will make mounting any kind of running game very difficult, especially against the No. 1 rushing defense in the conference. A&M also is the best in the Big 12 this season in getting to the opposing quarterback, averaging four sacks a game. This means that Iowa State QB Steele Jantz is probably going to find himself under pressure a lot against the Aggies, particularly without much of a running game to turn to.

Chris: Texas A&M 45 @ Iowa State 21

Sorry for being so lame this week and avoiding any upset picks but I just don't see any happening. After a thrilling first three wins, this Iowa State team has really struggled in conference play. Despite a rough start for Texas A&M (due mainly to a pretty good schedule), the Aggies are a good football team. Remember, this is a team that nearly knocked off Oklahoma State. The Cyclones will struggle offensively without Johnson, and Texas A&M's balanced attack will have its way offensively. 

Baylor and Texas have byes this week. 

For more information: 

Big 12 Conference official website

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More on Kansas State Wildcats' sports