Week 3 in the Big 12 is kicking off with a bang on Friday night, and you better believe all eyes are on No. 22 Houston squaring off against No. 13 Texas Tech on Fox. After an insane Week 2 where Oklahoma State just straight up punked Oregon for the biggest upset, this is the first conference matchup between two ranked teams, and it is gonna tell us a ton.
The Big 12 Championship Picture Gets Clearer Friday Night
This Houston versus Texas Tech game is flat-out the best of the week, no question. It is an intrastate rivalry, the kind of game that gets the blood pumping right from kickoff. For Texas Tech, this is their first real test if they actually want to be considered the undisputed favorites in the conference. Houston, remember, was being talked about as a dark horse for the Big 12 title in the offseason. Now, if they pull off this win against the Red Raiders, they could legitimately be in the driver’s seat for the conference championship game. That is a massive deal for either squad this early in the season, setting up a huge narrative for the weeks to come. This is not just a regular game, it is a statement.
London Chaos and Wildcard Wins Across the Conference
Looking for a sneaky upset that could totally flip the script? You gotta watch Arizona State versus Kansas, playing all the way in London. It might not feel like a huge upset on paper with both teams sitting at 1-1, having won their opener and then dropped their second game, but this is the first college football game in London since 1988! If NFL games across the pond teach us anything, it is that weird stuff goes down when you travel halfway across the world. ASU got there a few days before Kansas and seems to have the more explosive offense, so I would lean that way for the win, but an upset is certainly possible with all the travel. Then there is Colorado heading to Northwestern. The Buffaloes are slight underdogs, but their electric offense, strong run game, and a much-improved run defense make them a real threat to snag that win against the Wildcats. And do not sleep on West Virginia facing No. 25 Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. Virginia is a double-digit favorite and for good reason after a dominant win over NC State. West Virginia’s best win is over UT Martin, and they barely survived Coastal Carolina in their opener, so I am not expecting a massive upset, but you gotta hope they can at least keep it interesting.
Outside of these bangers, most of the Big 12 is taking on non-Power Four teams this week. Oklahoma State, after upsetting Oregon, is a ridiculous 57-point favorite over Murray State. No. 17 Utah is also a massive 28-point favorite over Utah State, while Cincinnati is heavily favored against Miami Ohio. Kansas State takes on Tulane, and Iowa State needs to bounce back against Bowling Green after their first loss of the season to Iowa. Baylor is looking to build off their first win of the season with a victory against LA Tech on Saturday, and UCF is trying to get back in the win column when they face Georgia State. No. 11 BYU will take on Colorado State, and TCU faces Arkansas State. The stakes are getting real already in the Big 12, folks. This week’s matchups, especially that Friday night clash, are going to set the tone for who is for real and who is just riding the hype. Get ready, because Week 3 is gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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