Big 12 Football Mailbag: Bowl Eligible Big 12 Teams, Scariest Players, College Football Playoff
Welcome to the HCS Big 12 mailbag. This mailbag is for all you football junkies out there who root for a Big 12 school, who not only have questions about your team but other teams in the conference as well. So, join me, grab a cold brew or your favorite drink and relax as I answer all your Big 12 questions in my mailbag. I want to thank each one of you who submitted a question this week and for tonight’s drink of choice? Some Angel’s Envy bourbon. Cheers!
This week’s mailbag has a mix of questions from Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to get your questions in on our Facebook page or on my personal Twitter account (@Derekduke25) every Monday.
Derek from Facebook asks: Will TCU finish the regular season undefeated?
Duke: Let me start by saying that TCU has been the biggest surprise in the Big 12 this season. I had them finishing eighth in the conference in my preseason poll and I was dead wrong about this team. They are fast and physical and Max Duggan is finally playing at a high level on a consistent basis. It also helps when he has weapons like Quentin Johnston and Kendre Miller as well. With that said, they have been playing a lot of close games lately and have gotten off to some slow starts. TCU is 8-0 with four games left against Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor, and Iowa State. I am going to say that they will slip up in either Austin or Waco and finish with an 11-1 regular season record.
Louis from Facebook asks: What Big 12 teams will become bowl eligible in November?
Duke: As of now there are three bowl-eligible teams: TCU, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State. I expect Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to also get to at least six wins as they all currently sit with five wins. I will go ahead and say that Texas Tech finds a way to get to six as well because they just need to win two more games to get there.
Chris from Facebook asks: Is Kansas State the best team in the Big 12 if they didn’t lose their quarterbacks in the TCU game?
Duke: If Kansas State has a healthy Adrian Martinez or Will Howard for that game then they would have come out on top against TCU. Kansas State got out to a 28-10 lead in that game and then the offense collapsed when Will Howard got hurt in the third quarter. After Will was injured, Kansas State failed to do anything on offense and didn’t score a single point. I know the defense didn’t have their best game, but the offense didn’t help them out at all. One could make an argument that Kansas State is the best team in the Big 12 right now despite the loss to TCU.
@flip0413 asks: Who is the scariest player on each Big 12 team?
Duke: It depends on what you mean by scary but scary for me would be guys who I would not want to have to guard, block, tackle, cover, or go up against. Here is one player from each team who I would hate to go against.
Texas: DL T’Vondre Sweat, Baylor: DL Siaki Ika, TCU: WR Quentin Johnston, Texas Tech: LB Tyree Wilson, Oklahoma: TE Brayden Willis, Oklahoma State: DE Tyler Lacy, Kansas: OL Earl Bostick Jr., Kansas State: DL Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Iowa State: DL Will McDonald IV, West Virginia: RB CJ Donaldson
@CMack0507 asks: Will the Big 12 get a team in the playoff?
Duke: Before the season I didn’t think we would have an undefeated team going into the month of November. There wasn’t a clear-cut team in the conference to go 12-0 or 11-1 going into the conference championship game. Well, it turns out that I may be wrong about that. Every single team in the Big 12 has at least two losses except for the TCU Horned Frogs which means that they are the only hope for the Big 12 to get a team in the College Football Playoff. I already mentioned that they will likely slip up at least once this season and if Kansas State can reach the conference title game, then I would pick them to beat TCU if the Frogs get to Arlington. If that happens then that means that the Big 12 will be left out of the playoff.
Bryan on Facebook asks: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Duke: I don’t eat a ton of candy but when I do I have a few favorites around this time of year. First off, I am one of the few people who enjoy candy corn. Yes, I know a lot of you think it is disgusting but I like it. Of course, I would throw in Twix which is my favorite chocolate candy and I have one more that may surprise some people. Dots. That’s right people I like Dots candy. For those who don’t know Dots are flavored gumdrops, and they are absolutely delicious, and no, I don’t care that they get stuck in your teeth. There are reasons why toothbrushes and dental floss exist.
