Big 12 Football Betting Line Easy Pick’ems – Weekend Of September 28

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It’s week five of college football, and I’m still picking winners with the reactionary flair this Wildcat coaching staffs brings to deciding which quarterback should be in the game on each play. We’re still a week away from full-blown conference play (Oklahoma State-West Virginia is the only Big 12 game), but the action is heating up – and there’s a great matchup waiting on Saturday when Oklahoma heads up to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. On to the picks!

(Last Week), Season
Straight Up: (3-2), 23-7
Against the Spread: (1-4), 11-19

Iowa State at Tulsa (-3)

Tulsa apparently signed up to be a Big 12 punching bag in 2013, taking on Oklahoma and Iowa State in consecutive weeks. Additionally, this one is being played on Thursday night, giving the Golden Hurricane little time to regroup from a 51-20 loss to the Sooners. However, the punching bag doesn’t look ready to back down from a Cyclones squad that has been relatively punchless this year. That’s why Vegas is picking the Cyclones – who’ve started a disappointing 0-2 with a loss to FCS Northern Iowa – to drop a third straight game. It’s hard to argue with that sentiment. Still, Iowa State has had a bye week to regroup. Iowa State took the regular season meeting last year, Tulsa bounced back in the rematch at the Liberty Bowl, and Iowa State wins the 2013 rubber match. Prediction: Iowa State 18, Tulsa 16 (upset in a snoozer)

TCU (-19) at SMU

We’re still wondering what to make of TCU. We know that SMU isn’t very good. The Horned Frogs obviously win this one, but the margin of victory could be all over the map. TCU remains the same team it was last year – an incredible defense with no offense after Casey Paschall went down. The Iron Skillet shouldn’t be in question this year as the offense finally finds an identity. Prediction: TCU 31, SMU 10 (over)

#14 Oklahoma (-3.5) at #22 Notre Dame

I’ve been claiming Oklahoma isn’t as good as it claims to be all season, and after last year’s 30-13 blow out at home, having to playing the Irish on the road had the makings of a bad day for Bob Stoops and the Sooners. However, Notre Dame hasn’t looked that great either this year with three straight wholly unimpressive showings. Oklahoma has yet to beat anyone that looks poised to finish with a winning record, but at least Oklahoma is winning. Blake Bell finally figures out the quarterback thing in hostile territory. Prediction: Oklahoma 27, Notre 25 (under)

And now, for this week’s easy pick’em. It’s that simple choice that just can’t whiff, and you can take that to the bank (just try to overlook that I picked K-State here last week, and TCU over Texas Tech two weeks ago).

Oklahoma State (-18) at West Virginia

Hahahahahaha. Oklahoma State’s average margin of victory this year: 31.5 points. In four games, West Virginia’s averaging a one point loss. -18 happens in the first quarter Prediction: Oklahoma State 45, West Virginia 10 (over easy, like I like my eggs)