Big 12 Football Predictions: Our Insiders Predict Week 12 Matchups

Nov 14, 2024, 3:08 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s time for another week of Big 12 football predictions.

The Big 12 slate for Week 12 includes six games as the race to the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, Texas, heats up.

Every week during the 2024 Big 12 season, our insiders here at KSL Sports, Mitch Harper and Steve Bartle, will share their weekly Big 12 football predictions. Follow their coverage throughout the season on their personal X accounts: @Mitch_Harper & @BartleKSLsports.

Big 12 Standings Entering Week 12

BYU – 6-0 in the Big 12 (9-0 overall)
Colorado – 5-1 (7-2)
Arizona State – 4-2 (7-2)
Iowa State – 4-2 (7-2)
Kansas State – 4-2 (7-2)
West Virginia – 4-2 (5-4)
TCU – 4-3 (6-4)
Texas Tech – 4-3 (6-4)
Baylor – 3-3 (5-4)
Cincinnati – 3-3 (5-4)
Houston – 3-3 (4-5)
Kansas – 2-4 (3-6)
UCF – 2-5 (4-6)
Utah – 1-5 (4-5)
Arizona – 1-5 (3-6)
Oklahoma State – 0-7 (3-7)

Season Totals

(Through Week 11)

Mitch Harper: 69-27
Steve Bartle: 67-29

12. Teams. Left.

What's Next Is Decided Now. pic.twitter.com/7238vcA9v5

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 13, 2024

Big 12 Football Predictions throughout 2024 season

Houston at Arizona

Friday, November 15
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. (MST)
TV: FS1

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Arizona
Mitch Harper: Houston

The only team that can rival Utah in terms of injuries and turmoil is Arizona. They’ve had more than their fair share of issues. Meanwhile, Houston has found life with wins over Utah and Kansas State in recent weeks. Going on the road to get a win over the Wildcats is going to prove too difficult a difficult task for this squad. -Bartle

Arizona has been playing poorly since their September win at Utah. Houston’s comeback win over Kansas State was impressive. QB Zeon Chriss has changed everything for this team. He was a perfect 11/11 for 103 and 75 rushing yards two weeks ago. Give me the Coogs. -Harper

Utah at No. 17 Colorado

Saturday, November 16
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MST)
TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Colorado
Mitch Harper: Colorado

As much as I want to see a win, mostly because the players deserve to catch a break. I think the hangover effect is real. That rivalry game takes its toll. This is a tough turnaround for Utah. Colorado is playing genuinely good football. They have two of the top players in the country and Heisman contender. -Bartle

Utah’s quarterback situation, paired with its losing streak, makes me struggle to picture Utah being competitive in this game. The Buffs are for real. Do you believe? I do. It’s Prime Time in Boulder. -Harper

Baylor at West Virginia

Saturday, November 16
Kickoff: 2 p.m. (MST)
TV: ESPN2

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Baylor
Mitch Harper: Baylor

Baylor is coming off their bye week and is on a three-game win streak. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson has truly turned a corner for the Bears and has played good ball. West Virginia snuck by the Bearcats last week, the Bears get the win in this one. -Bartle

Baylor is playing at a high level right now. They have been one of the best teams in the league in recent weeks. West Virginia’s record reflects the tough schedule they have played this season. This is a good matchup on the week 12 slate. The Bears keep the hot streak going and clinch bowl eligibility. -Harper

Arizona State at No. 16 Kansas State

Saturday, November 16
Kickoff: 5 p.m. (MST)
TV: ESPN

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Kansas State
Mitch Harper: Kansas State

Coming off of a bye week, Kansas State should get the win. That extra time to prepare is super important for Avery Johnson. Cam Skatteboo could make a difference in this one but Wildcats are too much. -Bartle

If ASU wins this game and BYU beats Kansas, could we be looking at College Gameday in Tempe next week? Indiana/Ohio State would have a strong argument against that happening. However, the loudest detractor of that idea will be K-State. The Wildcats take care of business in what feels like a rare home game for them this season. -Harper

Cincinnati at Iowa State

Saturday, November 16
Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MST)
TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Iowa State
Mitch Harper: Iowa State

The Cycles have been struggling of however, I think they right the ship this week against the Bearcats. Injuries seem to be mounting for Iowa State but Rocco Becht has a big game against the Bearcats porous pass coverage. -Bartle

I can’t get a good sense of Cincinnati. Despite the two-game skid, I still like this Iowa State team. I don’t see Cincinnati going off for 532 yards of offense as Kansas did a week ago on the Cyclones. But if they do, the season might nosedive quickly for Iowa State. -Harper

Kansas at No. 6 BYU

Saturday, November 16
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. (MST)
TV: ESPN

Insider Predictions

Steve Bartle: Kansas
Mitch Harper: BYU

BYU got the big win last week. They earned it. It was an emotionally charged game. The hangover effect of that game is very real. How much will that impact BYU? We will see. If you are BYU, there’s certainly room for a loss here, given the context of the previous week’s game. I think BYU is playing with house money in this one and win or lose will ultimately be fine. Kansas has been competitive in most games this season and I think take advantage of a Cougars team coming off the rivalry win. -Bartle

This is a dicey game. It’s the first time this season that I have wavered on whether to pick BYU or not. Look at the previous weeks above. I’ve picked BYU every week this season. I’ll do it again, but I expect this game to be close. Close games are a good thing for BYU, as they know how to pull out wins. Kansas, on the other hand, can’t figure out to pull out a victory with a game on the line. Look for BYU’s special teams unit to pull out more heroics in this one. -Harper

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.