Oct 31, 2015; Lubbock, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Raymond Taylor (30) rushes against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Texas Tech 70-53. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Big 12
Baylor at Oklahoma State – The Baylor Bears must look within themselves and learn from the defensive mistakes that they made against Oklahoma, who was the fastest team that they had played. The Bears’ non-league schedule did nothing to get them ready for a Big 12 gauntlet that saw them lose against the Sooners and now travel to Stillwater before they close out with TCU. Establishing running back Shock Linwood against a Cowboys rushing defense that gives up 157 yards per game could be a key. On the flip side, the Bears’ rushing defense hasn’t been a strong point as the Sooners rushed for 241 last week. Oklahoma State would rather throw and they will, but the Cowboys’ running game by committee, led by Raymond Taylor, could be more a weapon than originally thought.
COWBOYS 55, BEARS 45
TCU at Oklahoma – The Horned Frogs had a hangover from the resounding loss at Oklahoma State and nearly bit the bullet against Kansas in a 23-17 win. Trevone Boykin is injured and this is a tougher game with Boykin and speedster Josh Doctson both questionable. The guess is both will probably play, but against a much tougher Sooners defense, how effective can they be if they are not 100 percent. Baker Mayfield has been stellar all season and finally grabbed the attention of the national media with his performance last weekend against the Bears. TCU’s pass defense is ranked No. 73 and Mayfield has four games over 300 yards and one over 400 yards passing, so the Horned Frogs could be in for a long afternoon without playmakers.
SOONERS 49, HORNED FROGS 34
PAC-12
UCLA at Utah – The Utes had an excellent chance to reassume control of the Pac-12 and potentially a College Football Playoff appearance after Stanford lost at home against Oregon. However, they fell at Arizona later Saturday night, so now it appears the Pac-12 will be shut out of the championship race. UCLA brings its high-powered offensive attack to Salt Lake City to face a physical Utes defense. If Utah establishes the run with Devontae Booker and pressures Josh Rosen effectively, the Utes should still have a shot to go to the Pac-12 title game and win the league.
UTES 29, BRUINS 24
USC at Oregon – The Trojans are still on the heels of the Utes, but need a Utah loss and then wins against Oregon and UCLA to make it to Santa Clara. USC rebounded in fine fashion last week at improving Colorado as Cody Kessler led them from 17-6 down in the third quarter when he hit JuJu Smith-Schuster for a late touchdown and a 27-24 win. Oregon played one of its best games of the season in beating Stanford, 38-30. The Ducks finally enjoyed a healthy roster as running backs Royce Freeman and Charles Nelson provided an attack that ran for 221 yards.
DUCKS 35, TROJANS 31
Colorado at Washington State – The Buffaloes are learning how to compete under second-year coach Mike McIntyre, while the Cougars could surprise everyone and make it to the Pac-12 title game with wins this week and next week vs. Washington and a Stanford loss at home against Cal. The Buffaloes are no threat defensively, as they are probably more successful with the pass, while Luke Falk is the best kept secret at quarterback in the nation. He manages a pass offense that averages 417 yards per game.
COUGARS 37, BUFFALOES 20
Cal at Stanford – This is renewal No. 118 of “The Big Game” and now that the Bears have a dynamic offense and a competitive team, it just became relative again. Stanford’s mentality will be tested after the loss at home against Oregon. The key will be a respectable Cardinal pass defense that gives up only 214 yards through the air per game vs. Jared Goff and his 330 yards passing per game. He has 30 touchdown passes, but has been picked off on 13 occasions.
CARDINAL 35, BEARS 27
