A simpler slate of picks meant a return to perfection in Week 12. That's called responding to adversity, people. I'm eyeing another perfect week. Once you've tasted an unblemished slate, you lose your appetite for anything else.
Or something.
I'll be back in the studio this week, so be sure to tune in to Big 12 Live on Saturday night at 11 CT on Fox Sports Southwest, Midwest and other regional Fox affiliates. I'll be on with Gary Reasons, Jon Berger and Ric Renner to break down this week's games with highlights, interviews, insight and opinion.
You can also follow my work on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
On to the picks!
Last week: 3-0 (1.000)
Overall: 57-7 (.891)
THURSDAY
Kansas State 37, West Virginia 27: The Tyler Lockett/Daryl Worley matchup will be fun to watch, but this game is decided at the line of scrimmage. The three most powerful running games WVU has seen all season--Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia--have all averaged at least 5.8 yards a carry against WVU. K-State follows suit in a big day for Jake Waters and Charles Jones. K-State controls possession and leaves onlookers wondering how they made a difficult win look so easy.
SATURDAY
Oklahoma 41, Kansas 21: Jayhawks quarterback Michael Cummings makes a whole lot of plays against Oklahoma's suspect secondary, but the Sooners get the win by muscling up in the running game. Cody Thomas only threw three passes in the second half against Texas Tech last week and OU still scored 35 points in 30 minutes. Look for a similar approach this week and a solid dose of the quarterback run game again to complement the Sooners' terrific trio of Samaje Perine, Keith Ford and Alex Ross at running back.
Texas Tech 44, Iowa State 27: Texas Tech leans on the Big 12's most underrated player: DeAndre Washington. Patrick Mahomes showed me something last week, tossing four scores and topping 390 yards passing without a turnover, but you've got to focus on outplaying Iowa State's front four to beat the Cyclones. Washington has only gotten 20 carries three times this season. He's surpassed 100 yards rushing in all three of those games. Tech needs to make it four this week.
Baylor 73, Oklahoma State 13: Hey, it's not 82 points, but it's a whole lot of style points. OSU doesn't have the athletes (Wherefore art thou, Justin Gilbert and Calvin Barnett?) to slow down Baylor's run and pass game like it did last year. The Bears need style points more than ever and get them against an OSU team in a freefall that will likely be giving true freshman Mason Rudolph his first college action ever. Baylor's defensive line, headlined by Shawn Oakman and Andrew Billings, have to be licking its chops.
