Big 12 Football: Week 2 Matchups and Predictions

No. 11 Texas at No. 3 Alabama highlights this week’s games.

The first week of college football is behind us. It had some big blowouts, expected wins, and surprising upsets. This week’s slate has more of the same in store.

There are some intriguing Big 12 versus Power 5 matchups in Week 2. The preeminent game of the week, and perhaps one of the most important of the entire college football season, is a matchup of No. 11 Texas at No. 3 Alabama on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

Other Power 5 games to watch include Illinois at Kansas, soon-to-be-conference-foe No. 12 Utah at Baylor, No. 13 Oregon at Texas Tech, Cincinnati traveling to Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State at another soon-to-be-conference-foe Arizona State, and the annual CyHawk rivalry in Ames, Iowa.

All 14 teams in the Big 12 are in action, all playing nonconference games. Rice gave some first-half trouble to Texas in Week 1 and hosts crosstown rival Houston this week. UCF travels 2,500 plus miles to the blue field in Boise. SMU travels up I-35 to play No. 18 Oklahoma. Kansas State hosts Troy. TCU, BYU, and West Virginia all host FCS teams.

2023 Big 12 Predictions Results

I started out going 10-4 in Week One. We had Houston losing (they won), and I had Baylor, TCU, and Tech all winning (they lost).

Week 1 – 10-4

Big 12 Week 2 Games

All times listed are Central Time.

Kansas (1-0) vs. Illinois (1-0)

Friday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

Welcome to “Friday Night Lights.” The Jayhawks get their second-straight Friday night game in Lawrence, this time against a Power 5 team, Illinois. Kansas is currently a 3-point favorite. Look for the crowd to keep the Jayhawks in it and for KU to start 2-0 for the second straight year.

Pick: Kansas

Kansas State (1-0) vs. Troy(1-0)

Saturday, 11 a.m., FS1

EMAW! I’ve said it before: I’m all on board the Chris Klieman train. Until I see a reason to say otherwise, expect the Wildcats to roll on into Arlington and then on to Houston.

Pick: Kansas State

Baylor (0-1) vs. #12 Utah (1-0)

Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN

It was a tough night in Waco last weekend. And it doesn’t get any easier as the current two-time Pac-12 champion and future Big 12 opponent Utah rolls into town. Utah is favored by more than a touchdown. Maybe Aranda and Team can figure it out. Otherwise, the Bears could easily start 0-2.

Pick: Utah

BYU (1-0) vs. Southern Utah (0-1)

Saturday, 2 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

It is one of three games this week with a Big 12 team hosting an FCS opponent. Let’s hope the Cougars can rack up more than 14 points as they did last weekend.

Pick: BYU

Iowa State (1-0) vs. Iowa (1-0)

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Fox

It’s CyHawk time. Weird and funky things happen in this game. Every year. Both teams are under investigation for the gambling scandal. But I think that’s going to hurt the Cyclones more. Look for Iowa to squeak by in this one. Barely.

Pick: Iowa

#18 Oklahoma (1-0) vs. SMU (1-0)

Saturday, 5 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

Wait. SMU fans have been all a buzz in the last two weeks because of their moving to the ACC. But the team about to play in the third-best conference (as they think) traveling on the road to play a Top 20 team only warrants ESPN+? Maybe it’s because SMU, though cocky, is a mediocre team – this year and next.

Pick: Oklahoma

West Virginia (0-1) vs. Duquesne (1-0)

Saturday, 5 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

See BYU above. Despite struggling against Penn State last week, look for West Virginia to handle Duquesne easily.

Pick: West Virginia

Cincinnati (1-0) at Pittsburgh (1-0)

Saturday, 5:30 p.m., The CW

Who knew? College football on The CW. The Bearcats had a good first win as a member of the Big 12. Look for them to hit the road and get their first bad loss as a conference member.

Pick: Pittsburgh

# 11 Texas (1-0) at #3 Alabama (1-0)

Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN

It’s the Game of the Week. ESPN’s College GameDay will be there. The Eyes of Texas will all be upon Tuscaloosa. Sark’s team played them close last year in Austin. Is Texas back? A win over Nick Saban would certainly indicate that they are, and a loss would still mean good things could come this season. The Crimson Tide are currently a 7.5-point favorite. I think, because it’s in Tuscaloosa, Alabama wins the game, but Texas covers the spread.

Pick: Alabama

Houston (1-0) at Rice (0-1

Saturday, 6 p.m., NFL Network

Rice gave the Longhorns a little trouble last week in Austin. And Houston got a 4-point win over UTSA in a game where they were a 1.5-point underdog. Look for the Cougars, though, to take control early in this one and get the win on the road (though it’s just crosstown).

Pick: Houston

Texas Tech (0-1) vs. #13 Oregon (1-0)

Saturday, 6 p.m., Fox

Over the summer, this game looked to be a very intriguing matchup, with both teams potentially ranked. However, after a 2OT loss last week in Laramie, the Red Raiders dropped out of the rankings this week. Look for Joey McGuire and Company to rebound. Night games in Lubbock are tough, especially when the stakes are high. Tech for the win.

Pick: Texas Tech

UCF (1-0) vs. Boise State (0-1)

Saturday, 6 p.m., FS1

The Knights hit the road – a very long road, with a 2,500+ mile journey to Idaho. They get to experience the Smurf Turf at Boise. The Broncos got their butts whipped last week by Washington. UCF is a slight favorite, and Boise State is good at winning at home. But I'll give UCF a slight edge here. 

Pick: UCF

TCU (0-1) vs. Nicholls (0-1)

Saturday, 7 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

Last week, the Prime Hype Show rolled into town, and TCU looked unprepared. This week, look for both sides of the ball to find improvement on the field and in the play calling. TCU wins big. The true test comes in Week 3 with a road conference game at Houston.

Pick: TCU

Oklahoma State (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0)

Saturday, 9:30 p.m., FS1

Big 12 After Dark. Sure, this is a nonconference matchup this year. But let’s get used to it. The late-night slot will soon have lots of Big 12 games as this becomes the third Big 12 game of the season to be a possible preview of a 2024 conference game (Colorado at TCU in Week 1 and Utah at Baylor earlier on Saturday in Week 2. Sorry, Sun Devils, but I give the edge to the Pokes in this one.

Pick: Oklahoma State

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