Big 12 Round Table for Week 2

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Big 12 Recap:

After an unexpected start for some of our Big 12 teams last week, Week 2 is highlighted by a key matchup with Texas and Alabama. Last week, our contributors were nearly perfect, with no one predicting the Baylor and Texas Tech losses, and the Houston win. Our crew was split on both TCU and Iowa State games but correctly called the others.

For our weekly round table, two of our contributors and I gave their thoughts on the upcoming week: Erika - an Oklahoma State fan, Alex - a Kansas fan, and Nick - a Kansas State fan. Here's on to week 2!

Illinois at Kansas

Erika - Kansas has a tougher matchup this week. Hopefully, Daniels will be fresh after missing week 1 with a late injury. I think the offense pulls it out in a close one. Kansas 31-Illinois 28.

Alex - Kansas’s offense, specifically their rushing attack, overwhelms the lackluster Illini front to take the W in their fresh new alternative threads. Kansas 38-Illinois 28.

Nick - Defense wins and Kansas’ best player missed last week’s game and will be presumed not 100 percent for this matchup against Illinois. Illinois wins 28-24.

Troy at Kansas State

Erika - K-State is firing on all pistons right now and their offense looks in synch. Sure, they had a lighter match-up last week, but Troy is still no match. Kansas State 31-Troy 17.

Alex - Troy will make a bid for the upset, but Kansas State’s offensive firepower and their stout front seven will prove to be too much for the Trojans. Kansas State 42-Troy 24.

Nick - K-State had a surprise against a Sun Belt team last year with Tulane. Not this year with Troy. K-State is just too much. Kansas State wins 38-17.

Utah at Baylor

Erika - The surprise upset last week with Baylor has me shaking my head at this team. There is no way they can combat a Utah team that looked great against a scrappy Florida team. Utah wins easily 35-21.

Alex - Utah looked stellar against SEC foe Florida, and with Cam Rising coming back, expect much of the same against a Baylor team that got cooked by Texas State last week. Utah 38- Baylor 17.

Nick - Baylor lost to Texas State last week and Blake Shapen is out. Utah wins 42-17.

Southern Utah at BYU

Erika - BYU's defense played great, and hopefully their offense can come together a bit more. Still, BYU wins 28-14.

Alex - BYU recovers from a slow start against Sam Houston State and proceeds to make the FCS-level Thunderbirds their punching bag. BYU 49-Southern Utah 7.

Nick - BYU struggled on offense last week. The Cougars will not need offense this week either against this competition. BYU wins 24-3.

Iowa at Iowa State

Erika - This is going to come down to a defensive stand. And I don't think Iowa State has enough power on offense to compete. Iowa wins 28-14.

Alex - The CyHawk Trophy goes back to Iowa City in another defensive battle. The Cyclones simply don’t have the horses any longer to get past this Hawkeye D. Iowa 17-Iowa State 10.

Nick - This game will be a matchup of good defense and terrible offense. Iowa will come up with enough offense to win this game 24-17.

SMU at Oklahoma

Erika - SMU is a decent team and OU won't have such an easy time. But Gabriel looked good and there's no way SMU stops the offense. OU wins 37-17.

Alex - SMU looked solid against Louisiana Tech, winning by 3 possessions. That doesn’t mean they’ll be able to keep up with Dillion Gabriel and this elite offense though. Sooners by 21. Oklahoma 42-SMU 21.

Nick - Oklahoma put up outstanding numbers and is primed to do so again this week. SMU will put up more of a fight than Arkansas State, but it will not be close. Oklahoma wins 48-17.

Duquesne at West Virginia

Erika - Finally a win! Nice week to do so. West Virginia wins 48-13.

Alex - West Virginia gets a chance at redemption and notches their first win of the season. West Virginia 52 - Duquesne 10

Nick - West Virginia with a bounce-back game against lesser competition. West Virginia wins 56-10.

Cincinnati at Pitt

Erika - This is going to be a fun one. The Bearcats have the opportunity to show the Big 12 who they can be in the conference. Last week the offense looked hot. Cincinnati wins 28-24.

Alex - Emory Jones has another great performance and the Bearcat defensive line has their way against a Pitt O-line that was far from well-tested in Week 1. Cincy wins the River City Rivalry in what will be a close shootout. Cincinnati 35-Pitt 31

Nick - Emery Jones started the season extremely hot and is looking to ride that momentum into week two. Cincinnati wins 38-31.

Texas at Alabama

Erika - Here we go, the matchup of the week. This could be another shootout but the crowd in Tuscaloosa won't make it easy for them. As long as Quinn Ewers stays healthy, Texas can at least make this a fun game, but sadly won't pull out the win. Alabama wins 24-21.

Alex - In what is surely to be the biggest matchup of Week 2, this game will be close much like last year’s contest between these two. Also like last year, Bama will come up when it matters most, and unlike last year, will have the home crowd as an advantage. Alabama 28-Texas 24

Nick - Texas struggled for a half against Rice last week meanwhile Alabama ran over Middle Tennessee State. This game will be a drag-out fight, but it is hard to ever pick against Nick Saban. Alabama wins 31-30.

Oregon at Texas Tech

Erika - Texas Tech is going to start the year 0-2 after being projected as the dark horse of the Big 12. Oregon's offense is going to tear up the defense of the Raiders and never look back. Oregon 42-28.

Alex - Not exactly a recovery game for the Red Raiders, Bo Nix is going to shred this secondary and show that Tech may not be who we all thought they were. Oregon 45-Texas Tech 24

Nick - Oregon will be too much for Texas Tech who is looking to regroup after the loss to Wyoming. Oregon wins 45-31.

UCF at Boise State

Erika - UCF might have a difficult time with Boise - not because of the team, but because of their uniforms. Boise is rolling out in all blue against their signature blue field. Talk about camouflage. Still, UCF will handle the blue boys 35-28.

Alex - UCF had a display of offensive beauty against Kent State this past weekend. Boise State showed defensive ineptitude against Washington. UCF wins big in a bid to be ranked. UCF 42-Boise State 28

Nick - UCF should be able to limit the turnovers and John Rhys Plumlee will take this game over. UCF wins 38-24.

Houston at Rice

Erika - Houston survived a good UTSA team that was ranked, but Rice should be an easier match to handle. Look for Houston to win it 34-13.

Alex - Houston had a close call against a strong UTSA squad and Rice didn’t necessarily lay down for Texas. This could be an interesting matchup, Houston prevails in the end though. Houston 31-Rice 21

Nick - Houston should be able to control this game against Rice who will be outmatched. Houston wins 42-14.

Nicholls at TCU

Erika - Thank goodness TCU gets an easier game this week. TCU's offense starts clicking and gets the easy win. 52-14.

Alex - TCU avenges their loss against Prime by wiping the floor with Nicholls. No surprises here. TCU 56-Nicholls 10

Nick - A much-needed pick-me-up game for TCU against this FCS team. TCU wins 59-13.

Oklahoma State at Arizona State

Erika - A night game that starts late for the Cowboys. Both teams struggled last week and both scraped by with a win. This could be a good game and hopefully full of some quality offense, unlike last week. Cowboys in the desert on the road 31-24.

Alex - The Cowboys look poised offensively to hang score after score on an ailing Sun Devil defense. The Sun Devils could make it tighter, but the line lies in this case…Oklahoma State 42-Arizona State 28

Nick - Both teams struggled against FCS opponents last week, but I believe that Mike Gundy to come up with something to win this game on the road. Oklahoma State 34-21.