Big 12 Update

Proof that the state of things in college football is ever changing can be seen in the Big 12 this weekend as there are two matchups of Top 25 teams and neither features either Oklahoma or Texas.  The game getting the most hype will display two Heisman contenders at QB as Kansas State travels to West Virginia for a Saturday night clash.  The teams have not played each other since 1931 and, well, times have changed. Both squads are averaging more than 40 points per game but they each do that in drastically different fashion.  While the high-powered West Virginia attack gets the most ink, with QB Geno Smith already sitting on 2,271y and an unbelievable 25-0 TD-INT ratio, the KSU attack may hold the key to the game. QB Collin Klein cannot pass like Smith, nor Texas Tech's Seth Doege, who carved up West Virginia last week, but he can keep his offense on the field through his gritty, powerful running.  Klein has already rushed for 510y and 10 TDs and will be the focus of a beleaguered Mountaineer stop unit.  He will, however, need to pass too as the West Virginia secondary has been torn to shreds by most everyone they play. But becoming pass happy is not coach Bill Snyder's style and we can expect the Cats to be balanced. The Wildcats have already enjoyed a huge night road win in conference this season, in Norman last month, and are now 5-1 on the road in the conference since the start of last season.  The pick here is KSU in a close one.
The other big-time clash in conference will take place Saturday afternoon when TCU hosts Texas Tech.  Both teams stand at 5-1 but as I have said before the pressure is squarely on a Horned Frogs team that may not be favored in any game the rest of the season.  The Horned Frogs may have to win this one the old fashioned way, playing strong defense and keeping the offense simple and error-free.  With new starting QB Trevone Boykin at the helm expect a conservative offensive plan.  Head coach Gary Patterson has pulled off such a win before as he beat a ranked Red Raider squad in 2006 12-3.  The visitors need to put the big win over West Virginia behind them as they will need a completely different plan to beat the Horned Frogs.  Doege has thrown 4 interceptions total in Tech's five wins but 3 against OU in the team's sole loss.  Facing an aggressive TCU front seven featuring impressive freshman DE Devonte Fields, who leads the conference in sacks with 6.5, Doege will have display his new-found maturation.  My pick is TCU.