Six Big 12 teams are bowling this year

Big 12 Roundup: Oklahoma playoff bound highlights Big 12's postseason

Cody Stoots
Dec 9, 2019, 2:14 am

Here is a look at the Big 12 bowl slate.

Sooners playoff bound again

Oklahoma is back in the College Football Playoff. What an amazing coaching job by Lincoln Riley to take a third straight quarterback to the playoff. Incredible job by him on the offense.

The defense though, is where the Sooners are different from previous teams. They have had enough more than a few times to be carried by the defense. They face something better than all their toughest opponents combined though.

Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers will be tough to slow down and surprisingly tough to score on for the Sooners. It won't be easy for Oklahoma to earn the Big 12's first playoff win.

Peach Bowl Prediction: LSU 34 Oklahoma 24

Sweet ending for the Baylor Bears?

The Baylor Bears still haven plenty to play for and they find themselves in the same spot as Texas a year ago. The Georgia Bulldogs should own similar motivation to last year while Baylor will try to end their season on the highest note in years.

Matt Rhule is the key here. If he is getting ready for NFL job interviews, or is already gone, that could throw things out of whack for the Bears. If he is truly committed to Baylor, they will be chomping at the bit to prove only Oklahoma is better than them this season.

Sugar Bowl Prediction: Baylor 23 Georgia 21

Orange and maroon battle again, but not THAT orange

Despite the perfect opportunity, the Aggies and Longhorns miss each other again. If Texas A&M was playing burnt orange and not the Cowboys' orange the Texas Bowl would be the must-see non-playoff game.

I don't know who to blame but this is a nice consolation. Chuba Hubbard is one of the most impressive players in football. Texas A&M played the toughest schedule in the nation and they slugged it out with some of the best teams in the nation. This isn't the toughest test for the Aggies. It could be a worthwhile opportunity for Jimbo Fisher's crew to get one last look at what they may have in 2020 at quarterback and a few other key positions.

Texas Bowl Prediction: Texas A&M 24 Oklahoma State 17

2019's last stand

I'm not sure how many stud players will be playing in this game, but if they do, this could be a very entertaining affair. The Longhorns got their mojo back with a blowout win against Texas Tech. Utah has to be disappointed their best team in years isn't playing in the playoff.

It will be interesting to see what Tom Herman can do with a couple of his coaches being shown the door. Utah could be without Zach Moss if he decides to start getting ready for the draft early. If he plays, Utah might be a tough out for Texas. As for the Horns, they will have a solid defense to try to score on and an efficient offense to slow down. Texas should be healthy, but might not be talented enough.

Alamo Bowl Prediction: Utah 35 Texas 17

Lucky draw for Iowa State

The head coach is coming back and the quarterback is coming back next season for Iowa State. They had losses of 1, 2, 7, 1, and 10 this season. There is plenty of motivation for Iowa State. Not to mention, they have a fantastic fan base that will love spending time in Orlando.

I say all this to say I believe Iowa State will get after Notre Dame. The Irish had a really good season losing to just Michigan and Georgia on the road. It won't be easy for Iowa State but I like their chances.

Camping World Bowl Prediction: Iowa State 31 Notre Dame 27

Well coached teams square off in Memphis

The Kansas State Wildcats impressed me a ton this season. I figured they were barely a bowl team but the premier coaching of Chris Klieman soon proved me wrong. This could be the start of soemthing impressive in the Little Apple. Meanwhile Navy was the best service academy this year. They are always a tough out but they bounced back nicely from a slump in recent years. This should be a well-coached showdown between two disciplined teams.

Liberty Bowl Prediction: Kansas State 24 Navy 23

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Houston's losing streak extended to five games

With key Astros missing, Detroit completes the series sweep

An overall bad day for the Astros on Wednesday. Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

On Wednesday afternoon, the Astros received a big blow to their chances in the series finale against Detroit and potentially longer. Five players: Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Martin Maldonado, and Robel Garcia would all be moved to the IL due to health and safety protocols, leaving them scrambling to get a whole team together for the game against the Tigers.

The Astros would not be able to overcome both the loss of players and the onslaught of another strong start by Detroit in Wednesday's game which put them too far out front for Houston to come back from to avoid a series sweep.

Final Score: Tigers 6, Astros 4

Astros' Record: 6-6, third in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Michael Fulmer (1-0)

Losing Pitcher: Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1)

Tigers knock out another starter early

Detroit continued their success of making Houston's starter work hard in early innings, getting after Lance McCullers Jr., and giving him an early exit. After a lengthy fist, they broke through in the second getting two hits, a walk, a hit batter, and an RBI groundout to put up three runs on 34 pitches.

He would have a quicker 1-2-3 third, but after giving up a single, a walk, and hitting another batter to load the bases and reach 87 pitches, he would be removed in favor of Joe Smith. Smith would allow all three of the inherited runners to score, adding those runs to McCullers Jr.'s final line: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 87 P.

Astros try to claw back into it

After Smith would go on to load the bases again in the inning, still with two outs, Houston made another pitching change to bring in Brandon Bielak to get the third out and stop the bleeding at 6-0. The Astros would get on the board in the fifth, getting a runner on base to set up a two-run homer by Jason Castro to cut the lead to 6-2.



Bielak remained in the game to try and eat up as many innings as possible. While he continued to hold the Tigers to their six runs through the six innings, the Astros clawed back into the game. In the bottom of the sixth, Houston put their first two batters on base with a walk and single before an RBI-single by Yuli Gurriel to make it 6-3. They would threaten for more but be held there for the time being.

Astros can't cash in, Tigers complete sweep

Ryne Stanek was Houston's next reliever in the top of the seventh, getting a 1-2-3 frame to keep it a three-run game, as did Brooks Raley in the eighth. In the home part of the inning, the Astros put their first two runners on base on an error and a walk, then loaded them with a one-out single by Carlos Correa. They'd waste their chance to make something happen, though, with an inning-ending double-play.

Ryan Pressly, who had no save opportunities in recent games, entered to get some work in the top of the ninth. He worked around a leadoff double for a scoreless inning, sending the 6-3 game to the bottom of the ninth. The Astros had yet another chance to make something happen, loading the bases with no outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. After two outs, Yuli Gurriel would bring one run in with a walk, but that's as close as they'd come, extending their losing streak to five games and getting swept by the Tigers.

Up Next: Houston will get a much-needed day off tomorrow to try and leave this poor homestand behind them. They'll pick things up in Seattle on Friday, with first pitch of the opener of three games at 9:10 PM Central. The expected pitching matchup is Jose Urquidy (0-1, 5.23 ERA) for the Astros and Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 3.75 ERA) for the Mariners.

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