Welcome to Fact or Fiction Friday. Each Friday, I allow our Facebook and message board fans to ask the most intriguing questions in the Big 12 Conference, and I will tell you whether they come true or if they are set to fail.
Now, let’s crack open this week’s list and see what we have in store.
West Virginia Will Make a Bowl Game
Fact: I know that everyone is out on West Virginia football right now after that devastating loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, but there is still plenty of football left in the season. I really liked what their offense showed me with Garrett Greene against Pitt on the road. The problem they are going to have is with that defense of theirs, particularly in the secondary. The schedule only gets tougher from here on out, but I think they will get their sixth win of the season against Texas Tech in Lubbock on November 30th. I just wonder if making a bowl game will be enough to keep Neal Brown off the hot seat.
Colorado Will Finish in the Top Five in the Big 12
Fiction: Let me start by saying that Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are great players. I would love to see Sanders behind a better offensive line and as far as Travis goes, he is the best player in college football in my opinion. As good as that duo is, I just have so many question marks everywhere else. Sure, the defense is better than last year but is it good enough to take a huge jump this season? No. You can forget about a top five finish because the real question should be is will Colorado make a bowl game? I say no.
The Winner of the Oklahoma State/Utah Game Will Make It to Arlington
Fact: Oklahoma State vs. Utah VERY important game when it comes to the Big 12 title picture. Most people had this one circled on their calendars including myself because there is a good chance it might be a Big 12 championship game preview. Not only will the winner make it to Arlington, but the loser will as well. Before the season started, I picked these two schools to meet in Jerry World with to play for a conference title. Obviously both teams will have to get through the rest of their schedule after this game, but I have a feeling that this will be the appetizer to the main course in December.
Is Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II Still a Heisman Contender?
Fiction: Coming into the season I had Ollie Gordon II getting to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation and now I wonder if he will even get Big 12 player of the year honors. As crazy as it sounds, right now Ollie isn’t even in the top eight in the conference when it comes to rushing yards. The leader is none other than UCF’s RJ Harvey who looks unstoppable with the way he has been playing. So many teams are loading the box against Oklahoma State because they are afraid of Ollie beating them. Well, he better get used to it because he is going to see plenty of it during the season. Through three games, I don’t see how he can replicate what he did a year ago.
Kansas Will Bounce Back and Make The Conference Title Game
Fiction: The good news is that Kansas is undefeated in Big 12 play. The bad news is that Kansas has looked awful the last two weeks. Believe it or not, the problem for this team has been Jalon Daniels. Once a Heisman hopeful is now on the verge of being benched if he doesn’t turn things around quickly. Through three games, he has twice as many interceptions as touchdown passes and is completing less than 55% of his passes which is a career low. I am not sure if he is hurt or what but there is no chance of Kansas making a Big 12 title game with Daniels playing this poorly. In fact, they may not even make a bowl game if he doesn’t improve.
