THE BIG 12 REPORT
Oklahoma and West Virginia will battle it out with Big 12 title hopes on the line
Nov 20, 2018, 8:12 am
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.
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The Houston Astros walked out of Phoenix with a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks, but the biggest win of the series might not have been in the standings, it could’ve been the emergence of their latest young spark plug.
Once again, the pitching carried the load. Brandon Walter continued his breakout season with another strong showing, and right now, he looks like Houston’s third starter if the playoffs began today. Behind him, Ryan Gusto and Colton Gordon have quietly helped stabilize a rotation ravaged by injuries. All three own ERAs under 4.5, a luxury the Astros couldn’t have anticipated heading into the year. Another thing they couldn't have anticipated was Lance McCullers' ERA this season being almost seven.
Walter’s rise comes at the same time the McCullers situation grows murkier. After starting the season late, he’s on the injured list again, this time with a blister on his pitching hand. Though the issue isn’t related to his arm, the “vibes” simply haven't been there. He’s struggled in four of his last five starts, and one wonders whether a "phantom" IL stint might be in his future, especially with Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti progressing in rehab assignments. The roster squeeze is coming, and McCullers might not make the cut.
Crushing dingers!
Offensively, the conversation begins and ends with Brice Matthews. The first-round pick has quickly shifted from injury fill-in to potential staple, nearly winning the series by himself with three home runs across the first two games. His athleticism has popped in the field, and while contact concerns remain, the power and energy are real. Matthews is the only prospect of his pedigree ready to contribute, so the club made a wise decision to take a shot on upside, and Matthews delivered. That's why we were so emphatic about the Astros elevating Matthews. Get him in the lineup as a DH if you have to, whatever it takes, this offense needs pop. Then lo and behold, not only does he give the offense a lift, his defense also helped seal a win against Arizona.
Veteran slugger Christian Walker might be heating up too, posting a .348 average with three home runs and an .895 OPS in July. That’s a promising development, especially in a month when the Astros have flipped their typical formula. The pitching has been average — 18th in ERA, 18th in WHIP, 21st in opponent batting average — but the offense has been elite: top-five in slugging, OPS, and runs scored.
Injury bug
Still, questions persist. Chief among them is the health of Yordan Alvarez. His recent comments about his hand injury — specifically, his uncertainty and acknowledgement that rest hasn’t helped — were troubling. If surgery isn’t an option and time off isn’t working, what is the long-term solution? At this point, fans are right to worry about whether Alvarez will ever fully return to the dominant form he once showed.
Trade deadline
With the trade deadline one week away, general manager Dana Brown has to weigh all of this. The pitching could soon be bolstered by returns from the IL. But the offense, especially with no clear return dates for Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers, and Isaac Paredes, might need immediate help. Despite the sweep, Houston scored just three and four runs in the final two games of the Diamondbacks series. If they’re serious about contending for a championship, another bat may be required. They'll see much better pitching in the postseason.
If the Astros do decide to add an arm, a power right-handed reliever could make sense. With Bryan Abreu the only truly dominant righty in the bullpen, a little late-inning muscle wouldn’t hurt.
Bottom line: the Astros are winning, and they're doing it in multiple ways. But with health concerns piling up and playoff positioning tightening, there’s still plenty of work ahead. Fortunately for Houston, they may have just found another foundational piece in the most unexpected place, a rookie who’s already changing the conversation.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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