Texas Tech, Big 12 Preview & Predictions: Week 4

Tech won, so I lost. I have never enjoyed losing more. Last week’s picker TeejMc3 and I only disagreed with one game, the Tech-Arkansas game. I’m looking at a 0-2 hole to start off competition against the VTM readers. This week’s guest picker is eastTXRR, who predicted Tech would win by a margin of 14 points. He was closest to the winning margin of 11. eastTXRR, comment below with your predictions and I will add them to the article. If you want to be the guest picker for next week comment below or tweet @ConnerCrisp your score prediction for Tech-TCU. Whoever is closest to choosing the winning margin wins. Ties are decided by me. Check back to this article Sunday night and I will have announced the winner by 10 PM.

Conner Last Week: 6-1, Conner Overall: 23-4 (.852)

Guest Picker eastTXRR: 7-0, Guest Pickers Overall: 16-1 (.941)

Saturday, September 26

Kansas Jayhawks (0-2) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2)

High Point Solutions Stadium; Piscataway, NJ; 11:00 AM; Big Ten Network

This is definitely the Big 12 game to get all your weekend work out of the way. This is a matchup of two teams that, odds are, will not be heading to a bowl game. For fans of Kansas, the countdown in now down to 42 days until Jayhawks’ basketball tips off… Jayhawks 14, Scarlet Knights 20

eastTXRR's Pick: Rutgers

#5 Baylor Bears (2-0) vs. Rice Owls (2-1)

McLane Stadium; Waco, TX; 2:00 PM;

The Hundred Acre Wood series ramps back up. The only true point of interest is if Baylor can get off to a good start in the first half. They have failed to do so in their first two games against creampuff non-conference teams. Also, does Art Briles know anything that happens regarding his team? First, he was unaware Sam Ukwuachu’s off-field issues. Now he’s stated he was unaware that one of his assistant coaches’, Jeff Lebby, was on the sideline for the Oklahoma-Tulsa game. I know that a head coach will not know about everything that his players and coaches will do and I do not expect any coach to. However, twice in such a short period of time makes me wonder what he actually knows, or cares to know, regarding his teams. Kudos if you got the Hundred Acre Wood reference… #5 Pooh Bears 63, Crazy Rambling Owls 21

eastTXRR's Pick: Baylor

West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) vs. Maryland Terrapins (2-1)

Milan Puskar Stadium; Morgantown, WV; 2:00 PM; Fox Sports 1

I’ve been able to watch at least part of a game for all Big 12 teams, except for West Virginia. So I don’t know how they are playing. I know they won both of their games, in commanding fashion, against lesser opponents and the box score stats look good. Going 3-0 in non-conference would bolster WVU’s bowl game chances and Holgerson’s return next year. I would expect them to win again against Maryland, just maybe not in the same commanding fashion… Mountaineers 34, Terrapins 17

eastTXRR's Pick: West Virginia

#24 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0) at Texas Longhorns (1-2)

Royal Texas Memorial Stadium; Austin, TX; 2:30 PM; ESPN

The Cowboys finally got that impressive "style" non-conference win. The Cowboys offense finally looked like the kind of high octane offense that Big 12 fans have become used to in the Mike Gundy era. Which will come in handy when they travel to Austin to face a Texas team that may have finally found a quarterback to lead their team in Jerrod Heard. This could be a very telling game for both of these teams. For the Cowboys, a win would prove that this team can go into an extremely hostile venue and emerge victorious. A win for the Longhorns would douse down the "Fire Charlie Strong" flames for a little bit and help stabilize the ship that is Longhorns’ athletics… #24 Cowboys 35, Longhorns 27

eastTXRR's Pick: Oklahoma State

Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0) vs. #3 Texas Christion University Horned Frogs (3-0) Game of the Week

Jones AT&T Stadium; Lubbock, TX; 3:45 PM; FOX

First off, isn’t it weird that the Big 12 does not have a game that kicks off in the night time? When was the last time that happened? Now the part that people actually care about… WHAT A WIN for the Red Raiders! Tech has a huge challenge coming this week in the form of the second best team in the nation. This is the same team that Tech had a Big 12 record loss to last year, so you better believe that the coaching staff will not let up on the players this week. Last week’s win was the easily the biggest in the Kliff Kingsbury era. In order for the win to mean something this team has to build upon last week’s results. That does not mean that they have to win, but make a game of it. I believe Tech will do just that. The TCU defense will likely only have one starter from last year starting in this game. Tech’s offense is rolling. Coach David Gibbs has done a great job turning around this defense, but this week will be the biggest test yet. Tech still is struggling, at times, with stopping the QB keeper and option plays, but they are vastly improved in defending the air attack. The defense has proven this year to be very opportunistic and capitalize on turnover opportunities when they arise. The Jones AT&T Stadium is good for one upset a year. Let’s good ahead and use the upset win here… Red Raiders 56, #2 Horned Frogs 49

eastTXRR's Pick: Texas Tech

Pack The Jones!!! If you can, do everything in your power to be at The Jones this Saturday. The Red Raiders need the crowd to be loud! As of press time, the high for Saturday’s game is going to be partly cloudy with a high of 81. The temperature will only go down further are the sun sets. Great opportunity to watch some meaningful college football in person.

Remember if you want to be the guest picker for week 4 comment below or tweet @ConnerCrisp your score prediction for Tech-TCU. Whoever is closest to choosing the winning margin wins. Ties are decided by me. Check back to this article Sunday night and I will have announced the winner by 10 PM.