Today is the next step in a new series on the Big 12 blog that we've never done before. I love predicting the standings from top to bottom, but we're going to do it week by week leading up to the season. The goal is to offer my official prediction for each Big 12 team's record heading into the bowl games.
Remember, these are preseason predictions. We'll obviously still do week-to-week picks once the season arrives, and they might change between now and then. There are a lot of preseason practices, and a lot of games between now and the end of the season.
There are always teams that disappoint and teams that surprise. But here's how I see the Big 12 shaking out in Week 13.
PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS
My predictions for Week 12 in the Big 12:
Texas 24, TCU 21: This one looks a whole lot like an NFL game, and proves to be one of the most physical games of the year. Two of the league's best backfields go head to head and this one finishes with the fewest possessions in any game all season. Texas' defense tightens up and pitches a fourth-quarter shutout to secure the win.
Baylor 48, Texas Tech 44: These two played a wild one in Cowboys Stadium last year and do it again, this time with a bowl berth on the line. Baylor gets it and makes it three consecutive seasons in the postseason. Impressive stuff, but in the process, Art Briles denies Texas Tech a bowl bid for the second consecutive season. That's a shocker.
West Virginia 27, Iowa State 24 (OT): The Cyclones nearly do it again, but West Virginia gets a game-winning touchdown after holding the hometown Cyclones to a field goal. The Mountaineers offense looks out of sorts all day on the first Big 12 trip to Ames, but a steady diet of easy touches to Tavon Austin pays off late.
Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 21: The Sooners won't let Oklahoma State get away with last year's butt-whooping in Stillwater. The Cowboys are headed back to Norman this year, and the Sooners have laid down many a beatdown of late in this rivalry on Owen Field. Chalk this one up as another one. OU is mad, and the Sooners are the better team. Bob Stoops' team leaves no doubt in this one and clinches the Big 12 title with one week to play.
BIG 12 STANDINGS (after Week 13)
1. Oklahoma: 11-0 (8-0)
2. West Virginia: 9-2 (6-2)
2. Kansas State: 9-2 (6-2)
2. Texas: 9-2 (6-2)
5. TCU: 7-4 (4-4)
5. Oklahoma State: 7-4 (4-4)
7. Baylor: 6-5 (3-5)
8. Texas Tech: 5-7 (2-7)
9. Iowa State: 4-8 (2-7)
10. Kansas: 3-8 (0-8)