Line: Florida by 27 1/2.
Series Record: Texas leads 7-2.
Last meeting: 2008, Texas 35-7.
What’s at Stake
The Longhorns can clinch their first Big 12 South title since 2005 and quarterback Colt McCoy can set an NCAA record with career victory No. 43. Kansas just needs something positive to salvage a season on the brink of disaster: five straight losses and coach Mark Mangino is facing an internal investigation by the school over an undisclosed personnel matter.
Key Matchup
Texas secondary vs. Kansas WRs Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe. Both Jayhawks players are closing in on 1,000 yards receiving. The Longhorns’ improved secondary has 19 interceptions after just six in 2008. Texas had three last week against Baylor.
Players to Watch
Texas: QB McCoy. The fifth-year senior can get the record win and get his team to the Big 12 title game. Texas hasn’t played for the league title since Vince Young led them there in ’05. It will also be the last home game for McCoy and 21 other seniors.
Kansas: QB Todd Reesing. The senior, who holds most Kansas passing records, grew up in the Austin area and was snubbed by Texas out of high school. It’s his only college game back in front of hometown fans.
Facts & Figures
McCoy is the only quarterback in NCAA history to lead his team to four consecutive 10-win seasons … Texas is 7-0 against Kansas in Big 12 play. The last time Kansas played in Austin, Texas led 52-0 at halftime in a 66-14 win in 2005 … Kansas had only five turnovers when the Jayhawks started 5-0. The five consecutive losses include 13 turnovers.
Iowa State (6-5, 3-4) at Missouri (6-4, 2-4), 1 p.m. Saturday CST
Line: Missouri by 15
Series Record: Missouri leads 58-34-9 and has won five of last six.
Last Meeting: 2008, Missouri 52-20.
What’s at Stake
Both schools became bowl eligible last week, Missouri for fifth straight year and Iowa State for first time since 2005. Missouri has been disappointing at home, losing three in row. Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads is school’s first rookie head coach to win six games since 1915. Home team has won three of last four in series.
Key Matchup
Iowa State QB vs. Missouri defense. Cyclones have allowed only 11 sacks in 12 games, second-best in Big 12. QB Austen Arnaud is dual threat, passing for 1,550 yards and 12 TDs and rushing for 479 yards and 7 TDs. Missouri DE Aldon Smith, a redshirt freshman, needs one sack to tie school record and leads NCAA freshmen in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (17).
Players to watch
Iowa State: RB Alexander Robinson has five 100-yard games and averages 100.2 yards, second-best in conference. S David Sims has four interceptions. LB Jesse Smith has eight double-digit tackle games.
Missouri: WR Danario Alexander has consecutive 200-yard receiving games, totaling 414 yards and 4 TDs last two games. LB Sean Weatherspoon has 43 tackles last four games.
Facts & Figures: Iowa State QB Austen Arnaud set school record with 36 completions in last year’s game. … Iowa State allowing only 1.7 yards on punt returns, third-best in country. … Iowa State has held three conference opponents to 10 or fewer points for first time since 1965. … Missouri WR Jared Perry, second on team with 46 catches, out for rest of regular season with fractured right leg. … Alexander is one of six Division I players with double-figure TD total and averages 44.7 yards on 11 TD receptions.
No. 12 Oklahoma State (8-2) vs. Colorado (3-7), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Oklahoma State by 18.
Series Record: Colorado leads 26-18-1.
Last meeting: 2008, Oklahoma State 30-17.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma State clings to the slimmest of chances in the chase for the Big 12 championship. The Cowboys need to win out while also having No. 3 Texas lose its last two games. Otherwise, there’s still a chance to sneak into an at-large Bowl Championship Series berth. Colorado is trying to stay out of last place in the Big 12 North.
Key Matchup
Colorado RB Rodney Stewart vs. OSU defense. The Buffaloes are 3-1 when Stewart runs for at least 100 yards, and 0-6 when he doesn’t (including a loss to Toledo when he didn’t play). Oklahoma State hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season and ranks seventh in the nation against the run, giving up only 89.6 yards per game.
Players to Watch
Oklahoma State: QB Zac Robinson. The Colorado native left OSU’s game last week with less than 2 minutes left after taking a hard hit and fumbling. Coach Mike Gundy has said he expects Robinson to play, but the Cowboys don’t have an experienced backup.
Colorado: WR Marques Simas. A sophomore who was academically ineligible last year, Simas has broken through in the last two games with 14 receptions for 263 yards and a touchdown.
Facts & Figures
After allowing only four sacks in their first nine games, the Cowboys gave up three sacks in last week’s win against Texas Tech. Colorado has allowed 38 sacks. … The Buffaloes blanked Oklahoma State 34-0 in their last visit to Stillwater. It was Gundy’s first Big 12 game as OSU’s coach and the last time the Cowboys were shut out. … Colorado has won six of its last seven games at OSU.
Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2 Big 12) at Texas Tech (6-4, 3-3), 12:30 p.m. EST Saturday
Line: Oklahoma by 6 1/2.
Series record: Oklahoma 12-4.
Last meeting: 2008, Oklahoma 65-21.
What’s At Stake
Texas Tech hasn’t beaten a Big 12 South opponent this season and needs a victory to become bowl eligible (a win over FCS team North Dakota does not count) for a 16th straight season. Oklahoma, unranked last week for the first time since 2005, hopes to win only its second road game this season and build momentum before hosting the rivalry game against Oklahoma State.
Key Matchup
Oklahoma’s pass defense vs. Texas Tech’s offense. The Sooners, ranked 18th in the nation against the pass (178 yards per game) will likely face QB Taylor Potts. The Red Raiders’ passing offense is No. 2 in the nation, averaging 391 yards.
Players to watch
Oklahoma: DT Gerald McCoy, a 6-4, 297-pound junior, ranks fourth in the Big 12 and 15th nationally in tackles for loss (13.5 for 55 yards). He was a second-team All-American last year.
Texas Tech: Potts, who leads the Big 12 in passing yards per game (301) and started in the Red Raiders’ 24-17 loss to Oklahoma State. He was replaced for about two quarters by backup Steven Sheffield, who is hobbled with a bad foot.
Baylor (4-6, 1-5) at Texas A&M (5-5, 2-4), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST
Line: Texas A&M by 7 1/2.
Series Record: Texas A&M leads 65-31-9.
Last Meeting: 2008, Baylor won 41-21.
What’s at Stake
Both teams are down to their last chances to earn bowl eligibility. The Aggies blew a 10-point lead against Colorado on Nov. 7, then lost 65-10 at Oklahoma last week. The Bears have dropped five of six after a 3-1 start. This is A&M’s best chance to reach six victories with its annual showdown against No. 3 Texas looming on Thanksgiving. Baylor, which needs to win out to be considered for postseason, wraps up the regular season against Texas Tech on Nov. 28.
Key Matchup
Special teams. The Aggies have fumbled two punts and a kickoff the past two games. Cyrus Gray returned a kickoff for 99 yards and lost a fumble on another against Colorado. Baylor punter Derek Epperson leads the Big 12 in average yards per punt (45.6).
Players to watch
Baylor: WR Kendall Wright ranks seventh in the Big 12 in receptions per game (5.7) and 10th in receiving yards per game (65.4). The Aggies are last in the Big 12 in pass defense (263.4 ypg) and total defense (428.2 ypg).
Texas A&M: Uzoma Nwachukwu is one of seven receivers nationally who averages more than 20 yards per catch. The freshman has 30 catches for 608 yards and six touchdowns this season, all close to single-season school records for a first-year player.
Kansas State (6-5, 4-3 Big 12) at Nebraska (7-3, 4-2), Saturday, 7:45 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Nebraska by 16 1/2.
Series Record: Nebraska leads 76-15-2.
Last meeting: 2008, Nebraska 56-28.
What’s at Stake
The Big 12 North title. Nebraska is looking to get back to the conference championship game for the first time since 2006 and the Wildcats for the first time since 2003. Bowl eligibility also is on the line for K-State.
Key Matchup
Nebraska defensive line vs. Kansas State running game. Husker nose tackle extraordinare Ndamukong Suh says he welcomes the challenge of going against a Wildcat rushing attack averaging 184 yards. K-State’s Daniel Thomas is running for a league-leading 106 yards.
Players to Watch
Kansas State: KR Brandon Banks has run back four kickoffs for touchdowns this season and school-record five in his career, including last year’s 98-yarder against Nebraska.
Nebraska: RB Roy Helu Jr. has gotten over his shoulder injury and is back in top form. The Huskers have tweaked their offense to feature the power running game, and Helu is the focus, having gone over 100 yards two straight games.
