You never know what will happen in the Big 12 Conference.

You might get rain in Tucson for a clash between 4-1 Arizona and 5-0 BYU.

You might get a quarterback injury that completely changes the outlook of a game.

We recorded the latest episode of The Wildcast podcast on Wednesday. The next day, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was downgraded from probable to doubtful. By Friday, he was ruled out for ASU's game at Utah.

The picks below courtesy of staff prognosticators Michael Lev and Justin Spears, plus 2025-26 guest picker Jordan Hamm of Sports360AZ.com, were made before that news broke. The spread for ASU-Utah subsequently has climbed from 5.5 to 9.5.

For more on our predictions — plus an in-depth breakdown of the Arizona-BYU matchup — check out The Wildcast. It’s available on AppleSpotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Oklahoma State cornerback Kenneth Harris (23) and linebacker Wendell Gregory (4) manage to break up the pass intended for Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter (11) during the first quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.

SATURDAY, Oct. 11

Matchup: Houston (-14.5) at Oklahoma State

Time/TV: 9 a.m., TNT

Hamm's prediction: Houston to win and cover

Lev’s prediction: Houston to win, OSU to cover

Spears’ prediction: Houston to win and cover

Matchup: UCF (+11.5) at Cincinnati

Time/TV: 9 a.m., FS1

Hamm's prediction: Cincinnati to win, UCF to cover

Lev’s prediction: Cincinnati to win and cover

Spears’ prediction: Cincinnati to win, UCF to cover

Matchup: TCU (-1.5) at Kansas State

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m., FOX/11

Hamm's prediction: TCU to win and cover

Lev’s prediction: KSU to win outright

Spears’ prediction: KSU to win outright 

Iowa State running back Abu Sama III (24) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Arkansas State on Sept. 13, 2025, in Jonesboro, Ark.

Matchup: Iowa State (-2.5) at Colorado

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m., ESPN

Hamm's prediction: Iowa State to win and cover

Lev’s prediction: Iowa State to win and cover

Spears’ prediction: Iowa State to win and cover

Matchup: Kansas (+14.5) at Texas Tech

Time/TV: 4:30 p.m., FOX/11

Hamm's prediction: Kansas to win outright

Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) celebrates after ramming home a touchdown and losing his helmet in the process against Oklahoma State during the first quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.

Lev’s prediction: Texas Tech to win, Kansas to cover

Spears’ prediction: Texas Tech to win and cover

Matchup: BYU (-1.5) at Arizona

Time/TV: 5 p.m., ESPN2

Hamm's prediction: BYU to win and cover

Lev’s prediction: BYU to win and cover

Spears’ prediction: Arizona to win outright

Matchup: Arizona State (+5.5) at Utah

Time/TV: 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Hamm's prediction: Utah to win, ASU to cover

Lev’s prediction: Utah to win, ASU to cover

Spears’ prediction: ASU to win outright

LAST WEEK'S RECORDS

Hamm: 7-0 straight up, 4-3 against the spread

Lev: 6-1 SU, 3-4 ATS

Spears: 7-0 SU, 4-3 ATS

SEASON TO DATE

Hamm: 34-12 SU, 24-22 ATS

Lev: 32-14 SU, 23-23 ATS

Spears: 35-11 SU, 25-21 ATS


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Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social