Big Twelve Weekend Preview | Power Rankings | Bowl Projections

Texas made a Big Twelve power play last weekend with their 38-20 win over Oklahoma and Baylor looked a little less video game like in their 35-25 win at Kansas State. Baylor is still the team to beat within the conference but what transpired with Oklahoma and Texas proved that the Big Twelve could still be wide open. That's what makes the final stretch of the season so crucial because a second conference loss will pretty much eliminate a team from the conference race.

Big XII Weekend Schedule

TCU at #21 Oklahoma State - With the two-loss theory in play this becomes an elimination game for each of these two schools. TCU has a powerful defense but has struggled with ball security on offense. Turning the ball over in Stillwater won't lead the Frogs to an upset.

Subplot: JW Walsh has received his fair share of criticism since the beginning of conference play and this game gives him the opportunity to hush those critics. The TCU defense is physical and fast and if Walsh can beat them with his arm and legs then there will be no more room for criticism.

#16 Texas Tech at West Virginia - The last time the Mountaineers played a ranked team in Morgantown they upset Oklahoma State 30-21. Now West Virginia has had a week off to prepare for the #16th ranked Red Raiders.

Subplot: Michael Brewer is finally healthy for Texas Tech and could make his first start of the season in Morgantown. The Red Raiders are undefeated on the season with a quarterback by committee approach but a healthy Brewer could bring stability to the position.

#18 Oklahoma at Kansas - The Jayhawks could be just what the Sooners need following last week's loss but there's not a lot of satisfaction that Oklahoma fans will take from a win.

Subplot: Charlie Weis announced this week that he's going to take on more responsibility in coaching positions and less in game planning. Known as a skilled offensive coach when he arrived in Lawrence, this could be the first sign that the situation is getting a bit desperate on the KU sideline.

Iowa State at #12 Baylor - The Cyclones have been close the last two weeks, losing by a combined eight points, but playing in Waco is a tall task.

Subplot: Lache Seastrunk's streak of eight games with over a hundred yards rushing came to an end last weekend at Kansas State. Can he bounce back this week and get a new streak started?

Big XII Power Rankings

1. Baylor 5-0, 2-0

2. Texas Tech 6-0, 3-0

3. Texas 4-2, 3-0

4. Oklahoma 5-1, 2-1

5. Oklahoma State 4-1, 1-1

6. West Virginia 3-3, 1-2

7. TCU 3-3, 1-2

8. Kansas State 2-4, 0-3

9. Iowa State 1-4, 0-2

10. Kansas 0-2, 2-3

Texas Tech's 42-35 win over Iowa State last week resulted in them being the first Big Twelve school to become bowl eligible this season. With that, I'm taking my first stab at bowl prognosticating. This is in no way a prediction of how things will end up for the conference but it is a look at what could be with the current standings.

Fiesta Bowl - Baylor vs. Louisville

Cotton Bowl - Texas Tech vs. LSU

Alamo Bowl - Texas vs. UCLA

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Oklahoma vs. Wisconsin

Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma State vs. Stanford

Texas Bowl - TCU vs. Iowa

Pinstripe Bowl - WVU vs. Central Florida