Fact or Fiction Friday: WVU Wins Backyard Brawl, Texas Collapses Down the Stretch
Welcome to Fact or Fiction Friday. Each Friday, I give our Facebook fans an opportunity to ask the most intriguing questions in the Big 12 Conference, and I will tell you whether they come true or if they are set to fail. Let’s crack it open and see what we have in store this week.
Lincoln Riley Will Continue to Live Rent Free in Norman
Fact: Anytime a coach leaves a school like Oklahoma, it is a big deal. If Lincoln Riley would have been fired, that is one thing, but to leave for another school? That is unheard of. Oklahoma has never been a stepping-stone type of job. It is a destination school that many coaches dream of being at. For Lincoln to leave on his own and take key players with him (*cough Caleb Williams *cough) was something we have never seen before at a school like Oklahoma. While Brent Venables is universally loved in Oklahoma, people are still upset with Lincoln and probably will for a very long time. Maybe a title will make people forget about Lincoln Riley.
Texas Collapses Down the Stretch
Fiction: After that Alabama game, I am officially sold on Texas. The defense is physical, and that defensive line of theirs is nasty. Offensively, I would like to see them run the ball more consistently, but Quinn Ewers was money last weekend against Nick Saban’s defense. The Longhorns have a ton of weapons on offense and if Ewers can keep playing like he has been then watch out. I could be wrong on this so check back in a few weeks, but I have a funny feeling that I won’t be.
West Virginia Beats Pitt
Fact: Call me crazy but West Virginia will beat Pitt in Morgantown this weekend. The Mountaineers went from an underdog to a small favorite over the last few days and I agree with that 100%. Pitt isn’t a very good football team and while one could argue that West Virginia isn’t either, I just have more faith in them right now. Neither offense is great but give me the Mountaineers rushing attack with Garrett Greene and CJ Donaldson. Plus, Neal Brown needs this win to cool off his seat a little bit too.
UCF Goes 7-5 Even Without John Rhys Plumlee
Fiction: I don’t know much about backup quarterback Timmy McClain and that is why I can’t put them at 7-5 right now. I figured with Plumlee healthy they could get to 7-5 or possibly even 8-4. But without him? I don’t see that happening. No matter what they will beat Villanova this weekend as they will start the season 3-0. Can they win four more games in conference play? Not unless John Rhys Plumlee comes back. However, I do believe that they will get to a bowl game no matter what.
Farmageddon Will Lead to the Big 12 Championship
Fiction: No offense to Iowa State, but they aren’t on the same level as Kansas State is this year. The Wildcats have Big 12 title hopes with the Cyclones are just trying to get to a bowl game. Don’t get me wrong, Farmageddon is one of my favorite rivalries in the Big 12, but this isn’t going to determine who is going to Arlington in December. While this may be the last game of the regular season for both teams, Kansas State will likely have the Big 12 title game berth clinched by the time this one rolls around. Although it would be interesting to see if the title game was a stake and Iowa State had a chance to play spoiler.
2023 Will be the Biggest Sunflower Showdown Ever
Fact: It’s not often that the two football teams in the state of Kansas are good at the same time. Over the last 15 years or so, Kansas State has been the dominant team while Kansas has been one of the worst programs in all of college football. However, things are changing in Lawrence thanks to Lance Leipold and there is finally some life back in that program. 2007 was the last time Kansas was really good, but unfortunately, Kansas State was not in that year. This season is the first time in history that both of these teams are legitimately competing to win a conference championship.
