Welcome to the Big 12 Buzz. This is a place where you can relax, have a drink and get your Big 12 fix. And if you just happen to catch a good buzz here then there’s no need to worry, trust me, it happens.
Think of this space as a good local dive bar. The floors are sticky, the jukebox is blaring, and the ice never melts in the urinal trough. Here, the bottles stay full, the beers stay cold and everyone is somebody.
So pull up a stool, and let’s see what we have in store this week.
Easy Drinkers
I call these easy drinkers because just like a delicious Ames Lager, they will go down smoothly, and you’ll always have more than one.
- Kansas State at Oklahoma State
- West Virginia at Arizona State
- UCF at No. 6 Texas Tech
The Big 12 slate starts in Stillwater, Oklahoma where the biggest storyline remains a group of shirtless fans. Little did those guys know that they would start a nationwide movement. But that still doesn’t take away from the fact that watching Oklahoma State football is like sticking a fork in each eye, which I may rather do than watch them play again this season. Kansas State will win this game by at least 20, which they are favored by.
Next up the improving West Virginia Mountaineers are heading out to Tempe to heat up even more. West Virginia has found life offensively thanks to Scotty Fox Jr., but they don’t quite have the talent to compete with Arizona State despite the Sun Devils injuries on offense between Sam Leavitt and potentially Jordyn Tyson again. Injuries or not, Arizona State is the better team. I know West Virginia is on a two-game winning streak but that is about to end faster than my college career here shortly.
Last but not least is UCF at Texas Tech where the Red Raiders are nearly a 24-point favorite which makes me want to bet my house that they will cover that. Seriously, Tech just beat BYU by 20-plus so why couldn’t they beat directional Florida by more? The Red Raiders could play their scout team and still win this game by double digits.
Shot of the Week
- Arizona at No. 25 Cincinnati
Just like when you walk into any bar, you never know what’s going to be up on that board. And just like this game, I am not really sure what to expect.
We are in the middle of November and yet I still feel like I don’t have a great read on either team. On one hand, Arizona has punched their ticket to a bowl game, and Noah Fifita looks like the guy we saw two years ago. On the other hand, Cincinnati’s offense led by Brendan Sorsby can put points on just about anyone. Neither defense is great and if you like those old fashioned Big 12 shootouts then this may be the perfect game for you.
Top Shelf Special
- No. 13 Utah at Baylor
For this week’s top shelf special, we head to Waco, Texas where they play football by the muddiest river in Texas known as the Brazos. The only thing murkier than that river is Dave Aranda’s future in Waco after yet another disappointing season.
Sawyer Robertson can still light up any defense, but he will be facing a stout defense this weekend when they play Utah. Speaking of defense, Baylor still thinks it’s 2015 where not playing defense is cool, which isn’t ideal when the Utes are planning on running the ball right down their throat.
Between Devon Dampier and the physicality of Utah’s offensive line, I would be more nervous than a whore in church if I were Dave Aranda this weekend.
Last Call
- TCU at No. 12 BYU
With kickoff set for 9:15 p.m. central time, this game is perfect for all you late night sickos and degenerate gamblers out there.
With last call in Provo, I suggest going to your local watering hole to get your drink on because I don’t know about you, but I can’t drink a bunch of milk and soda all day to get ready for this one.
Both teams are coming off ugly losses with TCU losing to Iowa State and BYU getting blown out by Texas Tech. The Horned Frogs still have plenty of talent across the board with Josh Hoover and his receivers Eric McAlister and Jordan Dwyer. However, they will go up against a fantastic BYU defense and I wonder if TCU’s defense can stop the mini-Tebow man himself Bear Bachmeier. In a battle between the Christians and the Mormons, Lord forgive me but give me the Mormons.
