Last week: 2-3
ATS record on the year: 36-31
Kansas at Kansas State (-12) — Hell of a turnaround for Lance Liepold and Kansas, but the Jayhawks are cooked. Perhaps they will get a boost from this week’s contract extension news? Meanwhile, Kansas State is on its way to making it an all-purple Big 12 Championship Game. Two teams heading in opposite directions as the offseason nears.
THE PICK: Kansas State 38, Kansas 17
Iowa State at TCU (-10.5) — It means nothing to fans but is everything to handicappers in Vegas. Say what you want about the 2022 Iowa State football season, but every game is close. I suspect that somehow, some way, this one will be too. These two teams have had nearly opposite seasons. One seemingly finds a way to lose on a weekly basis, the other one finds creative ways to win. Unfortunately, Iowa State doesn’t have the firepower to knock off the Horned Frogs. To me, this feels a lot like the Texas game earlier in the season.
THE PICK: TCU 27, Iowa State 17
Baylor at Texas (-8.5) — The Longhorns have some juice right now after dominating the Sunflower State the past two weeks. Meanwhile, where is Baylor’s head following last week’s final minutes meltdown as the role of potential spoiler vs. TCU? I trust Dave Aranda to have his team focused. Steve Sarkisian and Texas? Not so much.
THE PICK: Baylor 27, Texas 20
West Virginia at Oklahoma State (-8.5) — I have written West Virginia off before and been wrong, but you have to wonder where this team’s head is at heading into the final week of the season. It’s one thing to underperform (example Iowa State). It’s another when your coach is about to be fired, your own future is uncertain and the floodgates of the transfer portal are about to open. Oklahoma State was exactly who I thought they would be last week against the rival Sooners. Depleted and not very good. I’m guessing the crowd in Stillwater won’t exactly be on fire in this one. By far the least interesting game in the Big 12 this week.
THE PICK: Oklahoma State 34, West Virginia 30
Oklahoma (-2) at Texas Tech — I honestly have no clue and won’t even pretend to make an intellectual pick here. Give me the home team getting a few points, I guess.
THE PICK: Texas Tech 38, Oklahoma 35
