The college football season continues on into Week 7. And we are only a couple of games into conference play. In the Big 12 Conference, there are only four teams who are still undefeated in league play at 2-0 in BYU, Texas Tech, Arizona State and Cincinnati. So when should we anticipate each of these teams to lose their first game of the season. Here’s my best prediction for each of those teams.
Arizona State: Week 7 vs. Utah
The Sun Devils hit the road this weekend to take on Utah. Both teams are rested, but Arizona State remains a bit more banged up than is ideal going into this huge Big 12 match up. Utah is a tough place to play, and I believe has the advantage in the trenches. Also, the Sun Devils aren’t far off from being 0-2 in league play, winning their two games in comeback fashion by a total of six points. Arizona State can still make a run this season in defending their Big 12 crown, but I will take Utah to win this weekend, which would hand the Sun Devils their first loss in league play.
BYU: Week 8 vs. Utah
This should go over well in Provo, right? And I’m making this prediction today, Wednesday, October 8th. I can’t speak to how I feel in one week, but for now, I’ll take Utah in the Holy War, which would mean that would be BYU’s first loss of the Big 12 season, because I believe they’ll handle Arizona on the road this Saturday. BYU will have home field, but it will be their toughest game of the season, by far, given their 105th-ranked strength of schedule. For now, I’ll lean Utes.
Cincinnati: Week 9 vs. Baylor
That Week 9 game will be the 9th-straight game played by Cincinnati, with their bye the following week. I like this Cincinnati team, but they will be tired by the time the Bears come to town. Baylor’s month of October is: home vs. K-State, bye week, short road trip to TCU, and then at Cincinnati. This game will be the first time they’ve left the state of Texas in a month, and include a bye week in there. That’s not the case for the Bearcats, who will be coming off a trip to Stillwater, following this weekend’s match up vs. UCF. I think they will win that one, but then Baylor wins a high-scoring affair at the end of the month.
Texas Tech: Undefeated
Yep. I’m taking Texas Tech to go 13-0 this season. Other than Arizona State on the road next week, along with a home match up vs. BYU, there is not a game that scares you on this schedule right now based on how the Red Raiders are playing. Could they slip up? Sure. Going undefeated is not easy. But I continue to be beyond impressed by a team that hasn’t won a game by fewer than 24 points so far this season. Texas Tech was my preseason pick to win the Big 12 Championship, and I’m certainly not backing off it now. It’s only a question as to whether or not they get there unscathed. I believe they will.
