Oh, TCU. I wanted to pick you to knock off the Sooners and chickened out. Alas, the perfect week was lost. I'm once again tempted to take the Frogs to pull the upset in Waco this week.
I'll be in Dallas for Red River on Saturday, but be sure to tune in to Big 12 Live on Saturday night at 11 CT. You can watch 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 Week 6 with highlights, interviews, insight and opinion.
You can also follow my work on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. It's always fun on game days.
On to the picks!
Last week: 4-1 (.800)
Overall: 37-3 (.925)
West Virginia 41, Texas Tech 30: I don't quite understand how West Virginia is favored by only two points here. The "long travel" storyline was overplayed from the start and Tech's dismantling of a top five Mountaineers squad in 2012 was an exposure of bigger, season-long issues that showed up earlier in the season in smaller doses. This Mountaineers team is much more solid and closer to a complete team, even if it lacks the firepower of the Geno Smith/Tavon Austin/Stedman Bailey trio. WVU gets enough defensive stops for a comfortable win. Mario Alford and Jakeem Grant switch places at halftime and nobody notices.
Oklahoma 21, Texas 17: The hand-wringing over Trevor Knight's slow start is legitimate. He's been helped by a powerful running game and one of the league's best defenses, but hasn't recaptured much of the magic from his play in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. Texas' defense gave Bryce Petty fits and could do the same to Knight. The Sooners have to utilize his legs in the game plan. If they don't make the Longhorns account for him as a runner, one or two plays big plays from the defense could produce another Red River upset.
Iowa State 27, Toledo 20: Why does Iowa State insist on scheduling teams that are just good enough to beat them but bad enough that the Cyclones don't get any credit for a win? The Rockets are 3-0 in the MAC, but suffered convincing losses to Cincinnati and Missouri. The Cyclones aren't as good as either team, but they're good enough to hold serve at home. E.J. Bibbs has his biggest game of the year. McDonald's does indeed sponsor the Cyclones' Ronald-inspired uniforms and the fast food giant makes it rain Big Macs a la Kazaam to celebrate the win.
Baylor 31, TCU 28: Baylor's defense doesn't get enough credit. Losing Jamal Palmer is bigger than many realize, but the Bears have to focus on containing Trevone Boykin's ability to scramble. They won't be able to simply ask Shawn Oakman to win matchups and get to Boykin. He'll get loose for big yardage on broken plays when he's not extending them and making plays downfield with his arm. TCU is capable of controlling possession and slowing down Baylor's offense, but Bryce Petty makes one more big throw than TCU can handle.
