No. 5 Oklahoma State tries to avoid letdown at Iowa State

Imagine Gundy’s difficulty in mentally preparing his team for ISU, already facing the challenge of a weeknight game in a frigid environment. Also, Pitt could sneak back into the rankings if the Panthers finish 9-3. However, it is concerning that a promising season has severely faltered, especially within the Big 12 conference, holding a 2-5 in conference record. In a high powered offensive conference, a lack of defensive strength is the last thing that a team needs, and that problem has been highlighted in Lubbock this season.

If the statistical comparisons of these two teams hold to form, this year’s game between OU and Baylor should be considerably more competitive. But I say the Big 12 is a really good conference and anyone can beat anyone. Also just like their opponent, the Sooners have a great run game that causes teams headaches because they don’t know what to scheme for on a given play.

Waco will certainly be rocking with College Gameday heading down there for the weekend prime-time game. That’s how we choose to win ballgames around here, and I’m not apologizing for it. I’ve got to defend our (defensive) kids.

The 2011 Cowboys were favored by 25 points. On the ground, Mike Warren had 43 yards in 18 attempts while Josh Thomas added 39 yards in eight attempts. Quarterback Joel Lanning completed 26 of his 51 passes for 260 yards and a TD. A sophomore, Washington finished with five receptions for 184 yards. Plus, Oklahoma’s “Flavor of the Week’ nature after pounding four weaklings have left them a good notch or two overvalued against a superior squad”.

The Pokes’ defense took TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin out of the Heisman Trophy race. Until last week, he still was the favorite.

The Sooners are confident they have enough offense to hang with the Bears after putting up at least 52 points in each of the last four games, but the defense expects to get tested. That led the ‘Stangs to score the only points of the quarter after forcing two three-and-outs from Baylor. Burton and Whitener led the Pokes’ defense with a dozen stops each. QB Seth Russell had been a key running threat for the Bears before he suffered a season-ending neck injury. It’s no secret this Big 12 matchup will be a shootout, but will Baylor’s offense continue to look the same with Stidham at the helm? The son of former Cyclones player Kevin Lazard chose to stay near home, and his brother, Anthony, is a linebacker on the team as well. Granted, it’s hard to get too jacked up about a team whose schedule includes SMU, Lamar, Rice and Kansas as wins, but none of that matters anymore. A week earlier, when Texas Tech erupted for 642 yards, it managed 1.5 points on 10 second-half possessions as the Cowboys rallied from three 17-point deficits to win 70-57 in Lubbock.

OSU still hasn’t managed to step up its running game (81 yards) but maybe it doesn’t matter since they are winning without a lot of yards.

The Cyclones aren’t very good at defending the run allowing 190 yards per game (90th). They’re even worse at defending the pass (108th) by giving up 271 per outing.

Coleman is averaging 20.3 yards per reception thanks to speed that he turns on when he gets into the open field.

Trever Ryen took over for Allen Lazard.

Or it could conclude with a loss to the Sooners (8-1, 5-1) that would squash Baylor’s realistic hopes for a CFP berth and provide another round of fodder for analysts who consider the Bears unworthy of playoff consideration until the team tackles a meatier nonconference schedule.

Kansas State (+5.5) vs. Texas Tech: Texas Tech is crap Baylor. “So we’re going to go ahead and get it fixed which will get him healthy for next season and be able to kind of move forward instead of that thing continuing to linger”. Every time we aren’t prepared or look like we’re nervous, they’re going to come right at us.