Message Board Geniuses

Welcome to the conference of ten that calls itself twelve. This week we got Kansas State and Baylor squaring off in a pivotal matchup for the conference championship race. The Sooners are traveling to Morgantown with bowl eligibility on the line. Oklahoma State looks to rebound against the Cyclones and Texas Tech hosts Kansas as they fight to get to .500. Oh, there’s also a pretty big game going on in Austin, Texas this weekend. Here’s your Week 11 preview of all things Big 12.

#4 TCU at #18 Texas (6:30 PM CST, ABC)

This is the game of the week in the Big 12. College Gameday is coming to town and so is a dangerous Horned Frogs offense that ranks number four in the country in yards per game and number three in the country in points per game.

On the other side of the ball, this TCU fan isn’t a fan of going up against the weapons Texas has on offense.

No word yet on whether any other members of the Showtime Lakers will be suiting up in Burnt Orange on Saturday.

Texas on the other hand is looking to finally overcome its persistent issues. You’ve probably heard this a million times already, so let me be one million and one – Texas is a first half team and TCU is a second half team.

Will the cycle be broken? Well that depends on conspiracy theories. And who doesn’t love a game with conspiracy theories like TCU intentionally injuring quarterbacks?

Or bigger conspiracies like this one from the Big 12 Conference itself.

And even bigger conspiracies like Vegas, the media, and the refs being against you.

Either way, it’s gonna be a long day on Saturday so make sure y’all stay hydrated.

The Longhorns are a 7 point favorite over TCU.

#19 KANSAS STATE at BAYLOR (6 PM CST, FS1)

Will Howard? Adrian Martinez? Who will be taking the snaps for the Wildcats as they go into Waco? There’s been speculation that Coach Klieman is looking to preserve Howard’s redshirt but fans don’t want to hear about that.

They might have a point considering this is the third season their “young” quarterback has been on campus.

The Wildcats know this one is important for their hopes to get to the conference championship.

Pressure be damned, these Cats are bouncing back.

The Baylor Bears are coming off a win against Oklahoma which got them to six wins and bowl eligibility.

Check off number two for this fan, but let’s focus on Kansas State this week. While the Manhattan, Kansas natives may be questioning quarterback choices, Baylor is much more concerned about Martinez.

Well, maybe not all the fans.

Turnover machine Martinez has *checks notes* one interception and one fumble lost on the year. But Baylor has a strong running game and we saw the Wildcats struggle with Texas’ ground game last week. The Waco faithful think this one won’t be close.

Baylor is the favorite at home, -2.5.

IOWA STATE at OKLAHOMA STATE (2:30 PM CST, ESPNU)

Oklahoma State never wants to step foot in the state of Kansas again. In back to back weeks visiting the Sunflower State they lost by a combined score of 85-16. Coach Gundy says the team is in a good mood and had a great practice, but fans don’t want to hear sunshine.

As Patches O’Houlihan said, “Where’s your killer instinct? You gotta get angry! You gotta get MEAN! That’s the only way you can play.”

Do fans think Oklahoma State has a chance on Saturday? Decidedly not.

Pokes are down bad.

Iowa State also has its fair share of doomers, but the doomers can’t seem to agree on what’s the problem. Is it Dekkers?

Or is it the O-Line?

Or is it the lack of running game?

Still, confidence is high in Ames that the Cyclones will come out with the win.

Cowboys are taking points at home, +1.5.

OKLAHOMA at WEST VIRGINIA (11:00 AM CST, FS1)

The Mountaineers and Sooners defenses give up 414 and 435 yards a game, respectfully. This one is big for Brent Venables who is trying to get his team to bowl eligibility. Can the aforementioned defense make the plays it needs to?

Things can be fixed though, right? RIGHT!?

As far as the game against West Virginia, the fanbase is split.

One fan though wants everyone to know he’s standing firm and the Sooners are winning out.

Don’t worry. We will.

Neal Brown’s seat is hotter than Taylor Swift’s Midnights album right now.

It’s so hot, some fans would take Rich Rodriguez back.

Unless Pat White and Steve Slaton are coming with him, I don’t think it’ll help.

What might help, is getting tough.

Patches, one more time for the Mountaineer fans.

Predictably, the West Virginia crowd does not think they stand a chance on Saturday.

Sooners are at -8 on the road.

KANSAS at TEXAS TECH (6:00 PM CST, BIG 12 NETWORK | ESPN+)

Let’s take a moment and really appreciate what Lance Leipold has done. The Jayhawks are bowl eligible for the first time since the Bush administration.

Devin Neal was a stud last week going for 224 yards on the ground and adding another 110 yards through the air. The excitement is a surprise for the Jayhawks and fans are finding themselves in brand new territory.