Biggest Week 13 Game in the Big 12 – No. 4 Baylor at No. 10 Oklahoma State

Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:00pm CST

This may be the biggest game of the year in the Big 12 conference. For one team, it is a chance to tighten its grip on the Big 12, for the other team,  an opportunity pull even and ruin the opponent’s BCS title shot. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]Longhorn’s fans will be watching closely as this has major Big 12 implications.

Ben Kercheval from the Bleacher Report doesn’t seem to think that Baylor will be the offensive juggernaut that they were for most of the season.

With wide receiver Tevin Reese (wrist) and offensive lineman Spencer Drango (back) out (likely for the remainder of the regular season), Baylor is short handed on the offensve side of the ball. Throw in injuries to running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin (both are still day-to-day) and there is some cause for concern for Art Briles.

Meanwhile, the status of Oklahoma State wide receiver Josh Stewart, who plays a key role as a return man, is unclear as he battles an ankle injury.

Great teams are able to say “next man up” and get similar results. So far, Baylor and Oklahoma State have been able to say that.

Baylor should be prepared for an intense atmosphere in Boone Pickens Stadium, as it may need to weather an initial storm if the Cowboys jump out to a quick lead. What Oklahoma State can’t do, though, is give Baylor any opportunity to capitalize on mistakes. Quarterback Clint Chelf has to be smart with the football and avoid turnovers. Similarly, the Cowboys defense needs to do what it does best: take the ball away.

Oklahoma State’s defense also needs to be able to go sideline to sideline and win the one-on-one matchups by limiting big plays.

Bears quarterback Bryce Petty has actually been a little off on his deep passes throughout the past couple of games. With Drango out, there’s an opportunity for the Pokes to get to Petty in the backfield as well.

Baylor is a 9.5-point favorite, per VegasInsider.com, but this definitely has the feel of a toss-up game. Baylor hasn’t won in Stillwater in more than 70 years—an amazing, albeit slightly misleading, stat since the two schools only played there once from 1939 to 1996.

Numbers like those are more entertaining than relevant, but in this game, the key number is going to turnover margin. Both teams are excellent in that category. Whoever wins that battle wins the game.

Score prediction: Oklahoma State 41, Baylor 38

What are your predictions for the score? Sound off below.

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#HookEm