We’re entering the second weekend of October and we’re beginning to see a little bit of separation in the Big 12 Conference. If you’re undefeated in league play you want to stay that way. If you’re winless in league play you need a win bad. As we enter Week 6, here are four teams that to me have the most to prove going into the weekend.
Arizona
I don’t like doing the same team two weeks in a row, but the Wildcats have a tricky situation this weekend. They must get on a plane and fly to Morgantown and change three different time zones for Saturday’s game. Remember — Arizona doesn’t recognize daylight savings time, so the time there right now is the same time as it is in California.
Not just that, but it’s a noon game in Morgantown which means every Wildcats body is going to be telling them it’s 9 a.m. when they kick off.
Aside from that, the Mountaineers are reeling. They’ve lost two straight Big 12 games and they’re desperate. It’s pull-out-the-stops time.
Arizona must prove to me they can overcome body, mind, time zone and desperation to win this one. If so, then they can stay in this Big 12 race long-term.
More: Arizona vs. West Virginia Prediction, Pick and Odds for Week 6
Kansas State
Kansas State got two weeks to figure out what went wrong against Cincinnati. Hint — they did not stop the run (the Wildcats gave up 271 yards). That makes their matchup with Houston interesting. Quarterback Conner Weigman is one of the best running quarterbacks in the conference and Houston has a good two-headed monster at running back between Re’Shaun Sanford II and Makhi Hughes.
Weigman can sling it, but after watching the Wildcats surrender nearly 300 yards on the ground to Cincinnati, you can bet the Cougars are gonna run the ball.
The Wildcats must prove to me they can stop the run. If they can do that, they have a shot. Because K-State’s offense came to play in that game with the Bearcats.
More: Houston vs. Kansas State Prediction, Pick and Odds for Week 6
Oklahoma State
For the past two weeks the vibes have been Immaculate in Stillwater. The Cowboys beat West Virginia to open Big 12 play, snapped their 18-game losing streak, won their third straight game and got back in the AP Top 25 for the first time in two years. Head coach Eric Morris and his staff spent the weekend recruiting the heck out of the country. The timing couldn’t have been better.
What do the Cowboys have to prove this week? That they didn’t get the big head while they were off. Oklahoma State’s players have been hearing for the last two weeks how great they are. Morris not only must put together a great game plan but must manage to keep his team focused.
There’s a path for the Cowboys to legitimately contend in this conference. That path does not include losing to UCF on Saturday.
More: UCF vs. Oklahoma State Prediction, Pick and Odds for Week 6
Arizona State
The Sun Devils got shoulder rolled by Baylor on Saturday, to the point where I must question if Arizona State is the team I thought it was going into the season?
I thought the Sun Devils could content and maybe they can. Maybe Baylor is just THAT good. But that ASU defense can’t give up 55 points again.
I need to see Arizona State snap back. Yes, it’s one-win Hawai’i. But if they look anything less than dominant, my concern level goes up.
More: Hawaii vs. Arizona State Prediction, Pick and Odds for Week 6
