Predictions: Utah-TCU highlight weekend
As the college football season enters the stretch drive, let's take a look at the local teams in our area and predict some games. Here goes:
TCU at Utah (2:30 p.m., CBS College Sports): It's BCS No. 3 (TCU) against BCS No. 5 (Utah). And both teams have defenses ranked in the top-10 in the country. Don't look for a bunch of scoring, though both offenses are underrated. TCU lost at Utah in 2008, ending any chances of a BCS bowl appearance. No doubt Gary Patterson has reminded his team of that. Turnovers will decide this one. TCU is the better team, if you ask me. But Utah plays well at home and would like nothing better than to solidify its BCS position. Prediction: TCU 24, Utah 17
Baylor at Oklahoma State (103.3 FM, FSN, 11:30 a.m.): This is a battle of two of the top teams in the Big 12 South. Both are ranked in the top 25 and both have seven wins. The winner gets a leg up with Oklahoma in the division. Baylor is playing with a lot of confidence, but the Cowboys are at home. I'll go with the Pokes in this one. Prediction: Oklahoma State 38, Baylor 27
Oklahoma at Texas A&M (6 p.m.): The Aggies certainly played better last week as quarterback Ryan Tannehill passed for 449 yards against Texas Tech. The junior was 36-for-50 and played with confidence. The Aggies will need that kind of solid outing again versus the Sooners, whose only loss was to Missouri. Something tells me A&M keeps this close, but I'll take the Sooners. Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Texas A&M: 28
Missouri at Texas Tech (7 p.m., ABC/ESPN): The Red Raiders are in big need of a turnaround, dropping to 4-4 on the season. The Tigers, dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten, will certainly be motivated. Prediction: Missouri 34, Texas Tech 21
SMU at UTEP (8:05 p.m.): The Mustangs are 5-4 overall, but 4-1 in Conference USA and still hold hopes of playing for a conference championship. These are the types of road games SMU has to win in order to do that. And I think they will on Saturday. Prediction: SMU 31, UTEP 21
Texas at Kansas State (7 p.m., ESPN2): The Longhorns are coming off a loss at home to Baylor and could use a bounce back performance. I think they get it in Manhattan. Prediction: Texas 27, Kansas State 21
Richard Durrett
ESPNDallas.comTEAM RESOURCES
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
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