The Big 12 Report
Find out which two Big 12 Title contenders are in danger of a late season upset
Nov 13, 2018, 7:30 am
Week 11 was full of excitement as the Longhorns and the Sooners escaped with narrow wins to keep their Big 12 championship hopes alive. With just two weeks remaining in the college football season, there is no room for error as the Big 12 title still remains a four-team race. Week 12 has potential to provide fans with plenty of excitement as two of the conference’s top programs will face off against middle of the pack teams that are known for seizing the opportunity to collect a big upset win.
The Longhorns will have their hands full with the Iowa State Cyclones who took down No. 7 West Virginia to spark their five-game winning streak. Also, the 8-1 Mountaineers will take on an Oklahoma State team who upset Texas earlier this season and came just one point away from defeating No. 6 Oklahoma in week 11. Find out the specifics of each of these matchups and which players need to have big performances for their teams to walk away from week 12 victorious.
(13) Texas vs: (18) Iowa State: After losing two straight the Longhorns saved their season with a big win against rival Texas Tech. Despite getting off to a slow start, Texas scored 17 points in the second quarter and continued to fight until they came out victorious 41-35. The game came down to the wire before a last-second touchdown catch by one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers Lil’Jordan Humphrey. A big story following the game was the absence of Humphrey’s counterpart WR Colin Johnson. The Longhorns will hope to have Johnson back vs. an Iowa State team who has now climbed to No. 18 in the nation after five straight victories. Both programs have talented playmakers on the offensive side of the ball that have given college football some of its most spectacular moments this season. Look for this matchup to come down to which defense can step up in the big moments. The winner stays alive in the Big 12 race.
(7) West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State: Another big-time matchup in week 12 will be the West Virginia Mountaineers vs. the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Mountaineers and quarterback Will Grier have been red hot in recent weeks, scoring 40+ points in each of their last three games. This offensive dominance can be attributed to the high level of play by quarterback Will Grier who has thrown for at least 340 yards and three touchdowns in those last three 40+ point performances. Oklahoma State on the other hand has struggled in their last two games, falling to Baylor by just four points and to Oklahoma by only one point. While these have been very disappointing losses for the Cowboys, it also shows just how dangerous they can be. West Virginia will need to make sure they don’t get ahead of themselves looking forward to their end of the season showdown with Oklahoma, because a slight laps in focus could be just enough of an opportunity for the Cowboys to steal a big win.
Texas Longhorns defense: The balance has shifted for a Longhorn team whose unexpected success in 2018 was sparked by a tenacious defense early in the season. Now Texas has survived by its offense in recent weeks who has scored nearly 40 points in their last three games. Despite their uptick in offensive production, the Longhorns defense has been on a downward spiral giving up 114 points since returning from their bye week. UT has a matchup with Iowa State this coming weekend who is one of the hottest teams in college football, winning their last five games. Because of the multitude of dangerous playmakers, the Cyclones possess, the Longhorns will need their defense to step up to keep their Big 12 championship hopes alive.
Iowa State QB Brock Purdy: The Longhorns were torched in week 11 by third string Texas Tech quarterback Jeff Duffey. The Texas defense allowed Duffey to throw for over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, as well as rush for 80 yards. This should be reason for optimism for the Cyclones dual threat quarterback Brock Purdy. Since taking over as the starter Purdy as thrown for 1,315 yards and 13 touchdowns on his way to leading Iowa State to five straight wins. Not only has Purdy been extremely successful through the air, but he has also had at least ten rushing attempts in each game and has two rushing touchdowns. Look for the Cyclones to utilize their young quarterback's dual threat abilities to pick apart the Longhorn defense much like the Red Raiders did with Duffey.
West Virginia WR David Sills: One of the nation’s most reliable receivers has been playing at his highest level in recent weeks as he rides an impressive scoring streak. Sills has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last five games and is currently tied for fourth in the nation with 12 total touchdown receptions this season. On top of that, Sills also has also hauled in multiple touchdowns in four games. With this season coming to an end there is no doubt that the connection between Sills and QB Will Grier is reaching its peak as the two have combined for five touchdowns in their last three games. The Oklahoma State defense will have its hands full trying to slow down them down.
The Houston Astros return to action Wednesday night with a chance to get back on track and even their three-game set against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
White Sox continue to have Houston's number
After falling 4–2 in Tuesday’s opener, the Astros now trail the season series 3–1 and will turn to Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in hopes of steadying the ship and reinforcing their grip on first place in the AL West.
Houston enters the matchup at 36–30 overall and 22–13 at home, a mark that reflects just how comfortable they've been playing in front of their fans. Though the offense has been inconsistent at times, the Astros are an impressive 19–4 when they manage to keep the ball in the yard — a stat that will be key with Gusto on the mound. The young right-hander has had an up-and-down season, but he'll be tasked with limiting a White Sox offense that did just enough to sneak away with a win in the opener.
Chicago, meanwhile, continues to play with a bit of unexpected edge despite sitting in last place in the AL Central. At 23–44, the White Sox have struggled most of the season — particularly on the road, where they’re just 7–26. Still, they've now won four of their last five games and will hand the ball to Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA), a righty who’s shown flashes of command and competitiveness in his rookie campaign.
The Astros will once again lean on their veterans to lead the way at the plate. Jose Altuve continues to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup with nine home runs and 24 RBIs on the year. Yainer Diaz, who’s 10-for-39 with three home runs over his last 10 games, has started to find his swing again and could be a factor in the middle of the order. Houston will need more of that timely hitting if they want to avoid dropping their second straight at home — something that hasn’t happened often this year.
On the other side, Chase Meidroth has quietly become one of Chicago’s more reliable bats. Hitting .293 with five doubles and a pair of homers, Meidroth’s emergence adds some much-needed spark to a lineup that’s lacked consistency. Andrew Benintendi, hitting .257 over his last 10 games with four doubles, has also begun to warm up at the plate.
Both teams come in with nearly identical offensive production over their last 10 games — the Astros hitting .227 to the White Sox’s .226 — but Houston holds the edge in ERA at 3.44 compared to Chicago’s 4.04. That said, the Astros have been outscored by five runs over that stretch, and will need to clean up a few things on both sides of the ball to avoid falling into a mini-slide during this six-game homestand.
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET from Daikin Park, with Houston looking to reassert itself against a team it hasn’t solved yet this season. A win would not only even the series — it would also be a reminder that the Astros remain very much in control of their own narrative heading into the summer grind.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.
Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2
Wednesday night matchup.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
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Jacob Melton is hitting last and remains the left fielder with Altuve back at second base. Diaz is once again in the cleanup spot as Walker is hitting fifth. Victor Caratini will hit behind Walker and serve as the DH. Otherwise, a pretty typical lineup for Joe Espada's club.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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