Somehow, Week 10 of the 2024 college football season is here, and after seeing a bit of separation in the Big 12 over the last couple of weeks, we’ve got some very important matchups coming.
There are five games on the slate for Saturday, November 2, and all of them are crammed into the afternoon and evening windows, so it might take multiple screens in order to keep up with everything going on.
It’s been a chaotic season thus far, with underdogs dominating through the first nine weeks — going 24-15 against the spread and 18-21 straight up.
This week, the average line in Big 12 games is 5.8 points, with two games right at or under a field goal. Here’s who will win each game, why they’ll win, and what our predicted final score is.
Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) at 9 Iowa State (7-0, 4-0)
Saturday, Nov. 2024 | 2:30 PM (CT) | ESPN | Jack Trice Stadium; Ames, IA | ISU (-14.5)
Texas Tech comes into this week on a two-game skid, and the availability of their starting quarterback is up in the air, as Behren Morton left last week’s game versus TCU with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Iowa State had a bye week to rest up and get themselves ready for the final stretch of their season. This game is in Ames, and it feels like the visitors are reeling a bit. I’m taking the Cyclones here.
ISU 34, TTU 20
17 Kansas State (7-1, 4-1) at Houston (3-5, 2-3)
Saturday, Nov. 2024 | 2:30 PM (CT) | FOX |TDECU Stadium; Houston, TX | KSU (-13.5)
Wins like the one over Utah this past weekend are something that Willie Fritz can begin to build the Houston program on. However, turning the Cougars into a consistent winner in the Big 12 is going to take some time, and Kansas State has actually lived up to its preseason hype — unlike the Utes. Avery Johnson and the K-State offense will be too dynamic for Houston to keep up with, and that will be the difference in this game.
KSU 33, UH 10
Arizona (3-5, 1-4) at UCF (3-5, 1-4)
Sat, Nov. 2 | 2:30 PM (CT) | FS1 | FBC Mortgage Stadium; Orlando, FL | UCF (-6.5)
Both of these teams had bowl aspirations at the beginning of the season, and both fan bases would argue that there were even higher expectations than that. However, both the Wildcats and Knights enter this game at 3-5, and another loss will put their bowl chances on life support. Neither team was impressive last week, but Arizona has been lost for several weeks now. I’ll take the home team in this matchup after Gus Malzahn made some major staff changes.
UCF 31, ARIZ 24
Arizona State (5-2, 2-2) at Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5)
Sat, Nov. 2 | 6:00 PM (CT) | FS1 | Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, OK | ASU (-1.5)
Oklahoma State has been putrid since Big 12 play started, as their 0-5 conference record would suggest. Meanwhile, Arizona State has been much better than expected and will actually come to Stillwater as the favorite. However, OSU knows that an 18-year bowl streak is on the line, and I expect a little extra something from them at home this week. Arizona State is the better team right now, but I feel like Gundy will somehow find a way to win this one.
OSU 31, ASU 27
TCU (5-3, 3-2) at Baylor (4-4, 2-3)
Sat, Nov. 2 | 7:00 PM (CT) | ESPN2 | McLane Stadium; Waco, TX | BAY (-3.0)
A few weeks ago, this game looked like it might be a snoozer. However, the Horned Frogs and Bears made things interesting after both teams managed to win back-to-back games coming into this one, and now “The Revivalry” has some real juice. I honestly could see this game going either way, and Baylor’s offensive explosion over the past few weeks makes me think the Bears are going to go on a run to finish the season. However, the Big 12 has been dominated by underdogs, so I’ll take the visitors in this one.
TCU 37, BAY 34
