http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrC8J_WN5TE
After two weeks of picking every Big 12 game here in the Conference Chatter blog, I’ve come away with a 12-3 record of predicting games straight up, and a 6-5 record of selecting games against the spread.
Here’s what in store for week 3:
**Friday**
**Iowa State at Connecticut, 7 p.m.**
**Line:** UConn by 4.5
**Pick:** vs. line: UConn; straight up: UConn
**One-line reason:** The Huskies’ defense (10th in country in total defense) appears to be considerably ahead of its offense (95th, total offense), and I’m expecting UConn, at home, to create a turnover or two to make it easier on its offense against Iowa State, which is 3-8 on the road the last two years under coach Paul Rhoads.
**Saturday**
**Kansas at Georgia Tech, 11:30 a.m.**
**Line:** Georgia Tech by 14
**Pick:** vs. line: Kansas; straight up: Georgia Tech
**One-line reason:** KU’s suddenly potent offense (43.5-point average in first two games) keeps the Jayhawks close, but the Yellow Jackets are rather potent themselves (56-point average in first two games, second in country) and should have the revenge factor in their favor for last year’s 28-25 loss in Lawrence.
**No. 23 Texas at UCLA, 2:30 p.m.**
**Line:** Texas by 4
**Pick:** vs. line: Texas; straight up: Texas
**One-line reason:** In an ugly, low-scoring affair, the Longhorns do just enough on offense with their new, two-quarterback system (true freshman David Ash, sophomore Case McCoy) to hold off a UCLA team that struggled to beat San Jose State (27-17) at home last week.
**Texas Tech at New Mexico, 2:30 p.m.**
**Line:** Texas Tech by 21
**Pick:** vs. line: Texas Tech; straight up: Texas Tech
**One-line reason:** New Mexico has put up only 13 points in two home losses this season.
**Stephen F. Austin at No. 19 Baylor, 6 p.m.**
**Line:** n/a
**Pick:** straight up: Baylor
**One-line reason:** Stephen F. Austin lost at home to Northern Iowa last week.
**Kent State at Kansas State, 6 p.m.**
**Line:** Kansas State by 17.5
**Pick:** vs. line: Kansas State; straight up: Kansas State
**One-line reason:** Kent State lost by 41 on the road at Alabama in week 1, and I’m guessing Kansas State can rebound from an embarrassing week 1 (10-7 victory over FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky) and topple the Golden Flashes by at least 18.
**Western Illinois at Missouri, 6 p.m.**
**Line:** n/a
**Pick:** straight up: Missouri
**One-line reason:** Western Illinois had trouble on the road in week 1 in a 20-6 loss at Sam Houston State.
**Idaho at No. 9 Texas A&M, 6 p.m.**
**Line:** Texas A&M by 35.5
**Pick:** vs. line: Texas A&M; straight up: Texas A&M
**One-line reason:** Now this will be fun; Idaho lost at home to Bowling Green by 17, and beat North Dakota at home by 30; my guess is the Aggies take this one by 40+.
**No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State, 7 p.m.**
**Line:** Oklahoma by 3
**Pick:** vs. line: Oklahoma; straight up: Oklahoma
**One-line reason:** In the nation’s game of the week, Sooners keep their BCS title hopes alive, and Florida State is introduced to the fact that this isn’t Louisiana-Monroe (34-0) or Charleston Southern (62-10).
**No. 8 Oklahoma State at Tulsa, 9 p.m.**
**Line:** Oklahoma State by 13.5
**Pick:** vs. line: Oklahoma State; straight up: Oklahoma State
**One-line reason:** The Cowboys proved last week they can score in bunches and blow out a decent team (Arizona); OSU’s average margin of victory in its first two games was 25 points.
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
