THE BIG 12 REPORT

Oklahoma and West Virginia will battle it out with Big 12 title hopes on the line

Oklahoma and West Virginia will battle it out with Big 12 title hopes on the line
Kyler Murray and OU face a tough challenge. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

All eyes will be on one matchup in week 13 that will decide who will face off in the Big 12 Championship. This storybook season in the Big 12 could not have been written any better. With a pending win over Kansas the Longhorns will be a lock in the Big 12 Championship game and will be set to face the victor of Oklahoma vs. West Virginia. Fans should be in for a treat no matter who ends up facing off against the Longhorns, because in each of their games vs. Texas the margin of victory was less than a touchdown. Both of these Big 12 powerhouses will have to leave it all out on the field to keep their season alive.

Must watch games week 13

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia

After the Mountaineers suffered a devastating 45-41 loss to Oklahoma State in week 12, everything will be on the line when they face off against the Sooners. Both teams season will come down to this single game and the winner will most likely take on Texas. While a win for the Sooners not only means a chance at redemption against the Longhorns, who defeated them earlier this season, but it also keeps them in the college football playoff conversation. There is no doubt that this showdown will be a high scoring affair as both teams are led by top tier quarterbacks, both of which are ranked top 10 in passing yards and top five in touchdowns this season. Though both of these teams are proven offensive powerhouses, they have shown major flaws defensively. Get ready to find yourself on the edge of your seat this entire game.

Texas vs. Kansas

The Longhorns are just one win away from punching their ticket to the Big 12 championship game. With a big home win vs. Iowa State on senior night this past weekend, Texas will look ahead to their final game of the regular season against an interesting Kansas team. The Jayhawks actually led Oklahoma early in the second quarter of their Week 12 matchup and finished with 40 points. There is always the concern that the Longhorns will overlook their lesser competition, but this game should carry some extra meaning for UT, considering the fact that they have not been Big 12 champs since 2009.  While at first glance the Jayhawks do not seem like much of a challenge for the 8-3 Longhorns, no win is ever guaranteed. Expect the tone for this game to be set early. If the Longhorns come into the game unfocused or lackadaisical I have no doubt that Kansas will give them a run for their money, but if Texas plays with their regular sense of urgency this one should be over early.

Players to watch week 13

Kansas RB Pooka Williams: The first player on the list to watch this last weekend of the regular season is a young, dynamic playmaker who has proven to be the driving force for the Jayhawks offense in 2018. Freshman running back Pooka Williams has accounted for nearly 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns this season for a Kansas team who has had their best season in recent memory. While the Jayhawks have a not so promising matchup with Texas to finish off the season, Williams is coming off a career game in which he ran for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns against Oklahoma. It will be hard to completely count out Kansas if their young star is able to duplicate his last performance.

Texas RB Keaontay Ingram: Another young running back to pay attention to in Week 13 is Texas freshman Keaontay Ingram. While Ingram’s playing time has been limited all season as he has split reps with Senior Tre Watson, the young back has shown big playmaking ability both on the ground and through the air. Ingram has shown the reliability to be deemed serious threat anytime he touches the ball and has helped to give the Longhorns a change of pace option coming out of the backfield. Ingram caught the ball five times last weekend on top of his twelve rushing attempts. Look for Ingram to get plenty of opportunities as coach Tom Herman continues to find different ways to best utilize his young talent.

TCU WR Jalen Reagor: Sophomore receiver Jalen Reagor has been the one bright spot for the Horned Frogs in 2018. The go to target for TCU has scored a touchdown in each of his last six games and has provided college football with some of its most exciting moments in the process. With his elite speed and elusiveness, Reagor is a threat to score anytime he touches the football and gash defenses wide open. TCU will need one last big performance from Reagor if they hope to end the season on a positive note with a win against a dangerous Oklahoma State team.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Astros can breathe a sigh of relief.Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images.

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.

The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.

“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.

Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.

He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.

“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”

His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome