BIG 12 WEEKLY FEATURES
Co-Owner Brett Ciancia is joined by Big 12 experts Zach Kinder and Zach Sepanik to provide weekly game recaps each Wednesday, and previews of every league game on Thursdays. Be on the look-out for additional feature articles, and we invite you to join the discussion and follow us on Twitter:
Big 12 Game Recaps & Grades - WEEK 13 By Zach Kinder, Big 12 Staff Writer @ZachKinder
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Texas Tech – 48, Texas - 45
The Longhorns fell behind early, but managed to take a 38-35 lead later in the game. At that point it looked like the Longhorns were about to take control. However, Jakeen Grant had other things in mind, racing off for a long touchdown run on a fake kneel after Tech had regained the lead in the fourth quarter. Texas managed another scoring drive to cut the lead, but an onside attempt failed. Tech picked up its third win over the Longhorns since 2002 and its first in Austin since 1997. As bad as the Tech defense as been this season, here’s hoping they’re matched with a fast-paced offense in a bowl game when they’re finally announced. Up next for Texas is Baylor, which will be fighting for second place in the conference. PREDICTION: Texas, 40-35 GRADE: F TCU – 28, Baylor – 21 (2OT) Had I known Trevone Boykin would not only start but also play the entire game, it may have been tempting to pick the Horned Frogs in Friday night. However, near monsoon-like conditions in sub-freezing temperatures favored the run-dominant Bears, who ranked second in the NCAA and averaged more than 300 yards rushing on the season. Unfortunately, the slippery ball continuously slipped through Baylor fingers and into TCU’s grasp. The Bears finished with five turnovers, including a bad handoff near midfield late in the game after nearly blocking a TCU punt. Boykin found freshman receiver KaVontae Turpin from 8 yards out in the second overtime to take a 28-21 lead, and then held on a fourth and 1 opportunity to seal the win. The wild game began with three quick scores, but the tide turned quickly after. TCU tied the game at 14-14 on a fumble return in the second quarter. Neither team came close to scoring after half. PREDICTION: Baylor, 41-23 GRADE: F West Virginia – 30, Iowa St - 6 Iowa State made a homerun hire to replace Paul Rhoads, nabbing Toledo’s Matt Campbell. Unfortunately, it didn’t help them in Saturday’s loss at West Virginia. The offense clearly took steps back, never finding the endzone and turning the ball over three times. West Virginia’s offense continues to look like a mess, but managed 415 yards in the win, led by Wendell Smallwood (12 car, 72 yards) and Skylar Howard (12/26, 202 yards, TD, INT, 73 yards rush). Freshman running back Mike Warren completed his bid for freshman of the year in the conference, finishing the season with 1339 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Mountaineers, who were written off earlier in the season, will look to finish the season with a respectable 8-4 record Saturday in Manhattan. PREDICTION: West Virginia, 30-6 GRADE: A- Kansas St – 45, Kansas - 14 Facing a fourth and 20 deep inside their own territory, the Jayhawk’s Matthew Wyman attempted a punt within the 5-yard line, but Sam Sizelove got a glove on the ball. Sizelove batted the ball into the endzone, and Morgan Burns recovered it for the Kansas State touchdown. It was the first of two blotched punts on the day for Kansas, which completed a winless, 0-12 season. There’s little left to say about Kansas’ forgettable season, which many had predicted before the season even began. David Beatty will now have an opportunity to take the next few months to look things over and try to find a way to win next season. For the Wildcats, they have little time to celebrate the instate victory with West Virginia coming to Manhattan this weekend. PREDICTION: Kansas St, 34-13 GRADE: A- Oklahoma – 58, Oklahoma St – 23 Oklahoma continued to stream roll its way through the second half of the season with its victory on Saturday. Since losing to Texas in October, the Sooners have reeled off a series of quality victories culminating in the rout of the Cowboys in Stillwater, which hasn’t been the easiest place for the Oklahoma to win. It was the largest margin of the defeat in the Bedlam series since 2003 and the largest road win since 1971. The Cowboys rolled with senior JW Walsh at quarterback for all but one series with Mason Rudolph nursing a broken bone in his foot. Trailing 28-10 in the second quarter, Rudolph gave it a try, going 0-3 and throwing a pick six to OU’s Jordan Thomas. Walsh has been the lifeblood of the Cowboy team most of the season, and he delivered a quality performance. The defense didn’t help him much, allowing the Sooners to score on two 60-yard runs and convert 8 of 14 third down attempts. Oklahoma State will welcome the rest between now and bowl season to get healthy and prepare for its next opponent. With the win, Bob Stoops claimed his ninth Big 12 title since 2000 and all but assured the Sooners a spot in the second annual College Football Playoff. PREDICTION: Pick ‘em GRADE: N/A RECORD: 2-2 OVERALL RECORD: 59-13 |
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