Happy Homecoming everybody! With the season almost halfway over already (which I can hardly believe), we are still neck and neck at the top of the leaderboard with no clear favorite. Let’s take a look at the standings.

1 - Dustin: 8
T2 - Micah: 7
T2 - “Pete”: 7
4 - Joel: 6
5 - Cade: 3

After taking the bye week off, our pickers are coming back refreshed and ready to go. Let’s see who they take for this week’s matchup between your 4-1 Oklahoma State Cowboys and the BayLLLLLor Bears.

---

Cade

Oklahoma State

Offense - Justice Hill

I believe this is the first time I've picked Hill all season, but it just feels like a potential breakout game for him. Baylor has been gashed on the ground repeatedly this season. Oklahoma ran for over 300 yards, and I believe Hill is superior to any back in the OU backfield. I think Hill could have his first 200+ yard game this weekend.

Defense - Tre Flowers

Baylor is going to try to test the young Oklahoma State corners, but Flowers will be the last line of defense for the Pokes. I could see him having 6+ tackles, and even grabbing an interception.

Baylor

Offense - Denzel Mims

This dude is scary. A true sophomore, standing at 6'3", 195 lbs., he'll be the best receiver Oklahoma State has faced all season. Mims is a budding superstar in the Big 12, and against these young corners for OSU, I worry about their ability to contain him. He could have a big game.

Defense - Taylor Young

He may be undersized for an inside linebacker, but he's a wrecking ball for the Bears. He's only 5'9," 225 pounds, but he's incredibly physical and fast from sideline-to-sideline. Young had two sacks against Oklahoma, and figures to be crucial to the Bears success on defense.

---

Joel Penfield

Oklahoma State

Offense - Justice Hill

Hill has gotten a heavy workload the past couple games. But, if Oklahoma State is trying to establish the run, they are going to keep doing it. Baylor gives up around 234 yards per game on the ground. With the shiftiness of Hill, he might break his own career high that he set last game.

Defense - Ramon Richards

His play has been essential to the success of the Cowboys this season. He's been the team's best open-field tackler, and has led the team in tackles in multiple games. The Bears have talented wide receivers so the secondary will get tested. I think this might finally be the week Ramon gets an interception.

Baylor

Offense - Denzel Mims

Mims is having a great season so far. Through five games he has 25 catches for 533 yards, along with seven touchdowns. He's clearly WR1 for the Bears, so look for Zach Smith to get the ball to him early and often.

Defense - Clay Johnston

Johnston is far and away the best player on that defense. He has 45 tackles this season, the next closest has 26. This is an easy pick here.

---

Micah Allen

Oklahoma State

Offense - James Washington

I'm picking “The General” again. After the stellar game against Texas Tech, I think he breaks out again. He's had a great season so far and I don’t see why that doesn't continue this weekend.

Defense - Ramon Richards

Richards was close to getting picked last week when I didn't pick him. That being said, I'm back on the train. I think he has another great game this week.

Baylor

Offense - Zach Smith

It looks like the change at quarterback was a piece of what Baylor needed to turn the season around. The team has a lot more production with him in the QB spot, and the passing game has gotten significantly better.

Defense - Clay Johnston

He leads the team in tackles with 45 on the season so far. He's also got 8.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Look for him to give the Cowboys some trouble.

---

“Hoodie Pete”

Oklahoma State

Offense - Justice Hill

Facing a somewhat weaker conference team, I think Coach Gundy may see this as an opportunity to get the offense firing on all cylinders before running through the gauntlet of Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma. Hill went for 164 against Tech two weeks ago, which was his best of the season. It's clear that this offense runs smoother when Justice Hill is getting his. I expect the running game to be well utilized this week against Baylor.

Defense - Calvin Bundage

I've said it many times, this guy plays like he is set ablaze. He's our best edge rusher and has the ability to make a few momentum swinging plays.

Baylor

Offense - Denzel Mims

Mims is very clearly Zach Smith's favorite target. He absolutely torched OU earlier in the season. Glenn Spencer would be very wise to have his game plan centered around this dynamic receiver.

Defense - Taylor Young

This linebacker is one of Baylor's most experienced defensive players, and it shows. He is second on the team in tackles (25) and in sacks (2). The Cowboys are no stranger to Young, and the Baylor defense may be looking his way to lead them to its first victory of the season.

---

Dustin Ragusa

Oklahoma State

Offense - Justice Hill

Baylor has allowed 243.2 rushing yards per game this season. That’s good for 177^th in the nation. This Bears defense gave up 342 yards on the ground against OU! With how successful Justice has been this season, and the workload the coaches have given him (30 carries last game), I expect him to have a huge day against the awful Baylor rushing defense.

Defense - Tre Flowers

Tre has gotten me the point the past two weeks. He’s my pick until he doesn’t win.

Baylor

Offense - Zach Smith

Baylor hasn’t been able to get much going in the running game this season, and they now have all four of their running backs healthy. Which is good for Baylor, and bad for my MVP pick because the carries will most likely be spread around. So, that really narrows it down to wide receiver Denzel Mims, who’s been an absolute freak, and quarterback Zach Smith.

I went with Smith this week because Mims recently lost the Batman to his Robin in Chris Platt. Baylor does have other talented receivers, but I expect the Cowboys to key on Mims and try to eliminate his big play ability. Also, it doesn’t hurt that Smith has thrown for 754 yards, 5 touchdowns and only one interception in Big 12 play this season.

Defense - Clay Johnston

Linebacker Clay Johnston has been one of the lone bright spots on this Baylor defense this season. He has almost 20 more total tackles than the next closest guy on the roster, including 8.5 for loss and a sack. He’s leader of this Baylor Bear defense.