The Big 12 Report

One of the most historic rivalries in college football history will have all eyes on the Big 12 in Week 6

Tyler Frisby
Oct 2, 2018, 6:16 am
Sam Ehlinger will need to have a big game. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

The chips fell into place in week 5, as the top teams in the Big 12 were able come out on top in each of their matchups.The two lead dogs and only remaining undefeated teams in the Big 12, (7) Oklahoma and (9) West Virginia are now both considered among the Top 10 programs in the Nation. Texas (19) and Oklahoma State (25) also remain in the championship hunt, each with only one loss. Big 12 action will be a little light in Week 6 with TCU and Texas Tech both enjoying their bye week. With that said, all eyes will be on one classic Big 12 matchup, Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Red River Showdown.

Must watch games Week 6

(19) Texas vs. (7) Oklahoma

Once again, the Red River Showdown looks like it could turn out to be another instant classic. Both the Longhorns and Sooners are legitimate competitors in college football this season and will both undoubtedly put on a show this coming Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. This historic rivalry with have a new chapter written with two new stars at the helm of each team. Texas QB Sam Ehlinger and OU QB Kyler Murray will go head to head for the very first time, and fight to etch their name in the story books. The big questions of the day will be can the Longhorns defense can slow down the high-powered Sooners offense? And can Ehlinger be the difference maker Texas will need to bring down a college football Goliath? Since 2010 the Sooners have won 6 of the last 8 showdowns, but the last three games have been decided by 7 points or less. There is no telling who will take home bragging rights in 2018.

Iowa State vs. (25) Oklahoma State

Another Week 6 matchup in the Big 12 worthy of attention is Iowa State vs. No. 25 Oklahoma State. While the Cowboys held on to a spot in the Top 25 with a win over Kansas, Iowa State fell to TCU in a 17-14 nail biter. Iowa State now sits at a disappointing 1-3 but could possibly be one of the best 1-3 teams in the nation and have the potential to turn their season around at any point. Do not count the Cyclones out of their matchup vs. the Cowboys.

Players to watch week 6

Texas RB’s Keaontay Ingram & Tre Watson:

While there is no question that the Longhorns defense is talented, they are sure to have they hands full against one of the most dynamic and elusive playmakers in the country, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Alongside Murray, the Sooners have an abundance of athletes that create matchup problems for any defense. With that said, I believe that UT’s best defense vs. the Sooners will be a good offense. What I mean by that is, the best way for the Longhorns to defend against Murray and the high powered OU offense is to control the clock and limit their time on the field. What this will require is strong performances by young running backs Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson. Ingram and Watson have split time in the backfield all season and have both shown their ability to make big time plays at any moment. Look for this duo to have a major impact on whether or not the Longhorns can knock down their arch rivals.

Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray has lived up to every bit of the hype so far this season and set the field on fire in week 5 with 432 yards passing and 6 touchdowns vs. Baylor. Through 5 games Murray has racked up nearly 1,500 yards passing with 21 total touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. There could be an argument made that Murray has yet to play a worthy opponent or on a big-time stage, both of which he will experience in full force on Saturday. Murray has a prime opportunity vs. Oklahoma’s biggest rival to solidify himself not only as one of the elite quarterbacks in the nation, but also as an unquestionable Heisman candidate.

Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace

Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace has quietly been having one of the top receiving seasons in college football. Wallace currently has the seventh most receiving yards this season and will be looking to move up in the rankings with a Week 6 matchup vs. the 1-3 Iowa State Cyclones. With the help of four 100 yard receiving performances already this season, Wallace has collected 546 total yards and 3 touchdowns. Expect head coach Mike Gundy to look to get his reliable playmaker involved early and often.

 

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Houston can win series on Sunday

Timely hitting helps Astros edge out D-backs to even series

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

The Astros had two losses over the last 24 hours; one a game against the Diamondbacks in the series opener on Friday night, the other the news that their recovering ace, Justin Verlander, announced Saturday afternoon that he is opting to undergo Tommy John surgery. The decision and surgery will likely sideline Verlander through 2021 when his current contract with Houston ends.

With that, the Astros headwinds continued to increase, meaning a win to even the series with Arizona on Saturday would be a much-needed pick-me-up. Here's how they did:

Final Score: Astros 3, Diamondbacks 2.

Record: 26-26, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Enoli Paredes (3-2, 2.84 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Luke Weaver (1-8, 6.51 ERA).

D-backs score two on Javier who is pulled early

Kole Calhoun, who drove in four runs, including a home run in Friday's game, would start the scoring on Saturday with a solo home run off of Cristian Javier in the top of the second, giving Arizona an early 1-0 lead. Javier allowed another run in the top of the third, giving up a leadoff single that would move to third on a groundout then score on a sac fly, doubling the lead to 2-0.

Javier finished the third and tossed a 1-2-3 fourth, but whether it be due to a pre-determined pitch count or other situation, he would not go any further, ending his night there on just 77 pitches. His final line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 77 P.

Astros grab a lead in the sixth

The Astros were able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third, getting a leadoff single by Josh Reddick, who would move to third after a walk and fielder's choice before scoring on an RBI-groundout by Jose Altuve, making it 2-1. Enoli Paredes was first out of Houston's bullpen, taking over for Javier in the top of the fifth and retiring six straight batters for two perfect frames.

Houston would get to Luke Weaver in the bottom of the sixth, getting a leadoff single by George Springer, who would score from first on an RBI-double by Altuve to tie the game. Altuve would come around as the go-ahead run later in the inning on an RBI-single by Kyle Tucker, knocking Weaver out of the game as the Astros took their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Houston evens the series and moves back up to .500

Josh James was the next reliever for Houston in the top of the seventh, and despite getting into a jam by issuing a one-out walk and hitting the next batter, he was able to get out of it. It was thanks to a great play by Michael Brantley, who started a double play by catching a lineout and throwing a runner out at second to end the inning.

Brooks Raley had the eighth and erased a one-out walk by retiring the next two batters to maintain the one-run lead. After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Astros turned to closer Ryan Pressly to get another save and finish the one-run game. Pressly would do so, as Houston would move back up to .500 and even the series 1-1 heading into the rubber game on Sunday.

Up Next: The finale of this series between Houston and Arizona, and Houston's last regular-season home game of 2020, will get underway at 1:10 PM Central on Sunday. Madison Bumgarner (0-4, 8.53) ERA will be on the mound for the D-backs, while Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.70 ERA) will start for the Astros.

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