The Thing You Never Knew You Needed But Now Can't Live Without - Week 11

You guys, fair warning, but I'm about to lose my cool with these ESPN trolls.  They are quite clearly pissed that K-State hasn't lost by now and that LSU wasn't undefeated heading into the game of the century and that they have to do research on 4 teams instead of 1.  They're angry and they're irresponsible and I'm pretty sure they're up to no good.  I'm a K-State fan, and that means I'm paranoid all the time.  So enjoy the games today, but don't forget to sleep with one eye open.  Constant vigilance is key.

Big 12 Schedule

Rest in peace, Darrell K.  Thanks for the wishbone.

11:00 a.m. Longhorn Network: Iowa State at Texas
Do you think that Chip Kelly could be wooed?  He has to put up with this monkey business of the weak Pac-12 every year, and has the super high flying offense that is so popular in the Big 12 these days.  Austin is kind of the midwest version of Eugene, right?  I think Dodds would be smart to make a play, especially if Oregon ends up stumbling or getting left out of the championship picture.  Oh, and Texas needs to win this game to help K-State.  Prediction: Chip Kelly.

11:00 a.m. FSN: KU at Texas Tech
The experts seem to think that this is a bad match-up for KU.  I think it is a good match-up for KU, but a bad one to play in Lubbock.  James Sims is the best running back in the Big 12, hands down.  Unfortunately, he's got a lot of knuckleheads on his team that get in the way.  Texas Tech will do their best to lose this game, but I don't think KU can shock someone on the road.  Similar to last week, Tech will pull away in the second half.  Prediction: 35-21, Texas Tech.

2:30 p.m. ABC: West Virginia at OSU
Man, West Virginia really needs to win a game again.  I imagine this one will look like the slop that earned them so much praise in September in victories over Texas and Baylor.  However, I think OSU is the better finisher.  There are health issues at quarterback, but Chelf looked amazing and it won't take much against WVU's "defense."  I don't see West Virginia getting this victory in Stillwater.  Sorry, guys.  Prediction: 49-45, OSU.

2:30 p.m. FSN: Baylor at OU
It's still hard for me to believe that RG3 essentially won the Heisman in this game last year after needing overtime the week before to beat KU.  How is that possible?  Collin doesn't play for 15 minutes in a game because of an injury and all of a sudden, AJ McCarron and Kenjon Barner are nipping at his heels.  Ugh.  I am reaching saturation levels of disgust with ESPN at this point.  Oh, and OU will win this game.  Baylor's been just dreadful this year.  Prediction: OU.  By a lot. 

6:00 p.m. Fox: K-State at TCU (extended preview available)
Why is it that all the games that should be blowouts end up giving you ulcers and heart palpitations?  Even if the final score doesn't reflect it, I'm predicting this one will be more brutal than the Iowa State game.  Get your tums ready.  Prediction: 35-21, K-State.

Best of the Rest

C'mon Aggies.  You owe us one.

2:30 p.m. CBS: Texas A&M at Alabama
Okay guys.  You can't go on and on and on about how good Johnny Manziel is all year long and then give him no chance whatsoever against Alabama's defense.  You can't do it.  It's not fair.  It doesn't make sense.  Why do you insist on being so infuriating?  Personally, I think that a former Big 12 team with an actual quarterback and a basic understanding of offense is the perfect team to keep the SEC out of the national championship for the first time since 2005.  Clearly, other Kansans agree with me.  Prediction: 28-24, Texas A&M. 

2:00 p.m. Fox: Oregon State at Stanford
This game is a must-see for K-State fans, as Stanford and Oregon State are the best possible options for knocking pesky Oregon out of the national championship race.  I'm partial to Mike Riley and the Beavers, but Steven loves that happy, dancing tree.  I'll be interested to see if defense does exist in the Pac-12 after all.  I have my doubts.  Prediction: Oregon really needs to lose soon. 

7:00 p.m. ABC: Notre Dame at Boston College
It took Notre Dame 3 overtimes and an insane amount of luck to beat Pitt, the absolute LAST in the epic tragedy that is the Big East Conference.  (Seriously, have you seen their league ads?  They're all about sportsmanship.  Yikes.)  Top story on College Football Final?  Notre Dame is a championship team because they WIN CLOSE GAMES.  Last year, K-State set an FBS record for winning close games.  Top story in the off-season?  K-State is not a championship team, they just got lucky because they won ALL THOSE CLOSE GAMES.  I just... I can't...  It's not.... GRRRRRRRRRRR.  Prediction: 20-13, Notre Dame. 

9:30 p.m. ESPN: Oregon at Cal
Cal is so very, very bad.  Chip Kelly is a mean, mean man and will beat this team by 60, by the end of the first half.  Or he'll pull a Penny and just wait until the last 5 minutes of the 4th quarter to dump 50 points on them in 5 minutes.  It doesn't matter.  They'll get just as many votes no matter when it happens.  Voters are 100% not watching these late games and it's making me crazy.  Prediction: 63-17, Oregon.