THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012
PAGE 11B
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BIG 12 PREDICTIONS
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Monster showdown headlines weekend
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN fvousouughian@kansan.com
IOWA STATE 3-1 (0-1) AT #15
TCU 4-0 (1-0)
TCU got its first dose of Big 12 play earlier this year. Now they're prepped to host a conference match against Iowa State, a team that lost its first game of the season at home against Texas Tech last weekend.
Iowa State Quarterback Steele Jantz threw for a season-high three interceptions and a season low of just 10 completed passes for 73 yards. Going up against Gary Patterson's TCU defense, Jantz will have trouble moving the football against the Horned Frogs. TCU is ranked second in the nation for fewest points given up, as its allowed 7.3 points per game this season.
But the Horned Frogs also have a challenge ahead of them. Iowa State's defense has given up only 14 points per game while impressing many teams in the process. If TCU quarterback Casey Pachall can't make plays on the Cyclones' defense, this game could be closer than projected.
In the end, Patterson's defense will try to use the home field to its advantage to pull out a win.
TCU wins, 20-12
8 WEST VIRGINIA 4-0 (1-0) AT
11 TEXAS 4-0 (1-0)
West Virginia's Geno Smith played the game of his life last week in an insane shootout against Baylor after throwing for a school-record eight touchdown passes and 656 passing yards. It is no secret to anyone that West Virginia will want to go pass-heavy with Smith against Texas.
The Longhorns defense has to play mistake-free, which will be difficult against Smith, who has yet to throw an interception this season. Despite being undefeated, Texas has allowed more than 30 points in its last two games against Ole Miss and Oklahoma State.
Texas quarterback David Ash earned the confidence of his teammates, and his offense wants to try and take advantage of West Virginia's holes on defense after it gave up 63 points last week. Ash has thrown only one interception this season, but the Longhorns' offense is ranked ninth in the nation in scoring. The Mountaineers' defense has to prepare to not allow another offense burn up the scoreboard.
Smith may throw his first interception of the season against Texas this week, but with wide receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin on his side, West Virginia will survive on the road with another conference win.
West Virginia wins, 38-31
17 OKLAHOMA 2-1 (0-1) AT
TEXAS TECH 4-0 (1-0)
The Red Raiders enjoyed their first conference win of the season, propelling them to a 4-0 start. But they are getting started for a grueling five-game stretch.
Texas Tech is playing a team ranked in the top 20 in each of the next five weeks, starting with the Oklahoma Sooners at home.
The Sooners have a chip on their shoulder from two weeks ago when they suffered their first loss of the season at home to Kansas State. Quarterback Landry Jones has been quiet this year. This is his chance to make some noise and for Oklahoma to forget about its loss to the Wildcats.
The biggest question surrounds Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege. Can he continue performing at a high level against more respected teams in the Big 12? Wide receivers Darrin Moore and Eric Ward each have caught four touchdowns on the year, which helped the Red Raiders score over 40 points in three of their four contests.
Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops has identified Texas Tech's weak point to his players, setting them up for a win on the road.
Oklahoma wins, 45-24
BOXING
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson speaks a press conference at the 19th Credit Lynnaux Securities Asia (CLSA) investors Forum at a hotel in Hong Kong. In a reversal, Mike Tyson has been denied entry to New Zealand.
New Zealand trip a no-go
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand canceled a visa for Mike Tyson on Wednesday because of his rape conviction, saying it reversed its earlier approval because a charity that would have benefited from his appearance says it wants nothing to do with the former heavyweight boxing champion.
Tyson had said he had been looking forward to meeting New Zealand's indigenous Maori people, the inspiration for his notorious facial tattoo. But now his whole Downward speaking tour, scheduled for next month, is threatening to fall apart: Australian immigration authorities said they've yet to decide whether to let him in.
Tyson's 1992 rape conviction would normally prevent his entry in New Zealand and could be grounds for denial in Australia as well. New Zealand's denial came days after Prime Minister John Key spoke out against the visit.
event in Auckland, the "Day of the Champions," which is being promoted by Sydney agency Markson Sparks. On Wednesday the agency continued to promote tickets for appearances in New Zealand and five major Australian cities.
New Zealand's Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson said she initially granted entry because a children's health charity would get some of the proceeds from Tyson's speech. She said in a statement her decision was "a finely balanced call" but that the charity that would have benefited, the Life Education Trust, withdrew its support Tuesday.
The charity's chief executive, John O'Connell, however, said the charity long ago decided not to accept any money from the event due to its concerns over Tyson's character, O'Connell said a volunteer trustee mistakenly sent a letter to immigration authorities supporting Tyson's plans.
Promoter Max Markson said he's continuing to sell tickets — at between 69 and 300 Australian dollars ($71 and $308) — and will give refunds if Tyson cannot appear. He said he had been "hoping it might be a smoother run", but remained confident Australia would grant Tyson a visa and that New Zealand would reverse its decision when he found another suitable charity.
— Edited by Stéphane Roque
"He'll only be in the country for 20 hours, I don't think he's a danger to anybody, and thousands of people want to see him," Markson said.
Would-be visitors to Australia normally must pass a character test. Those who have a "substantial criminal record" — including people who, like Tyson, have been sentenced to more than a year in prison — fail the test. But the department can use its discretion to grant such people visas.
BASEBALL
Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison for the 1991 rape of an 18-year-old woman in an Indianapolis hotel room. He served three years before being released on parole.
Cabrera wins Triple Crown
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Miguel Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to achieve the Triple Crown in the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers' 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Cabrera went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, then left in the fourth inning of the regular-season finale. He received a standing ovation from the opposing fans.
He finished with an American League-leading .330 average, 44 homers and 139 RBIs, becoming just the 15th player to achieve the milestone and the first since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Max Scherzer pitched four innings for Detroit to test his sore right shoulder ahead of the playoffs, which the Tigers will open Saturday at home against Oakland. The bullpen took over from there, with Luis Marte (1-0) picking up the win and Luke Putkonen his first career save.
Austin Jackson drove in the only run off Royals starter Luis Mendoza (8-10).
The outcome of the game was secondary to Cabrera's historic accomplishment.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig offered his congratulations, calling the Triple Crown "a remarkable achievement that places him amongst an elite few in all of baseball history."
"Miguel has long been one of the most accomplished hitters in the game," Selig said, "and this recognition is one that he will be able to cherish for the rest of his career."
The crowd at Kauffman Stadium gave Cabrera a standing ovation before he fled out in the first inning. He struck out in the fourth inning but remained in the game, allowing Tigers manager Jim Leyland to remove him with two outs to another standing ovation.
"I would say without question he's enjoyed it. How could you not enjoy what he's done if you're a baseball player?" Leyland said before the game, "I would also add to that I doubt very much, knowing him, that he necessarily enjoins all the extra attention.
Cabrera high-fived his teammates as he descended into the Detroit dugout, and then sheepishly walked to the top step and waved his helmet, almost as if he'd been playing at home.
"It's kind of out of his realm
in personality, to be honest with you."
Cabrera's milestone wasn't official until the Yankees pinch hit for Curtis Granderson in their game against the Boston Red Sox. Granderson had homered twice to reach 43 for the year, tied with the Rangers' Josh Hamilton and one shy of Cabera.
Cabrera finished four points better than the Angles' Mike Trout, his biggest competition for MVP, to win his second straight batting title. Cabrera was the runaway leader with 139 RBIs.
"When he's over the plate, he can do anything. He's the best hitter in the game." Trout said. "I think his approach, the way he battles with two strikes — you leave one pitch over the plate that at-bat and he's going to hit it. He had an unbelievable year."
The Hall of Fame outfielder said in a statement, "I am glad that (Cabrera) accomplished this while leading his team to the American League Central title."
The year Yastrzemski won the triple Crown, he was part of Boston's "Impossible Dream Team," which won the AL title and reached the World Series for the first time in more than two decades.
QUINTILES