Kansas running back Darrian Miller makes his way through the Northern Illinois defense during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at Kivisto Field.

After two weeks of picking every Big 12 game here in the Conference Chatter blog, I’ve come away with a 12-3 record of predicting games straight up, and a 6-5 record of selecting games against the spread.

Here’s what in store for week 3:

Friday

Iowa State at Connecticut, 7 p.m.
Line: UConn by 4.5
Pick: vs. line: UConn; straight up: UConn
One-line reason: The Huskies’ defense (10th in country in total defense) appears to be considerably ahead of its offense (95th, total offense), and I’m expecting UConn, at home, to create a turnover or two to make it easier on its offense against Iowa State, which is 3-8 on the road the last two years under coach Paul Rhoads.

Saturday

Kansas running back Darrian Miller makes his way through the Northern Illinois defense during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at Kivisto Field.

Kansas at Georgia Tech, 11:30 a.m.
Line: Georgia Tech by 14
Pick: vs. line: Kansas; straight up: Georgia Tech
One-line reason: KU’s suddenly potent offense (43.5-point average in first two games) keeps the Jayhawks close, but the Yellow Jackets are rather potent themselves (56-point average in first two games, second in country) and should have the revenge factor in their favor for last year’s 28-25 loss in Lawrence.

No. 23 Texas at UCLA, 2:30 p.m.
Line: Texas by 4
Pick: vs. line: Texas; straight up: Texas
One-line reason: In an ugly, low-scoring affair, the Longhorns do just enough on offense with their new, two-quarterback system (true freshman David Ash, sophomore Case McCoy) to hold off a UCLA team that struggled to beat San Jose State (27-17) at home last week.

Texas Tech at New Mexico, 2:30 p.m.
Line: Texas Tech by 21
Pick: vs. line: Texas Tech; straight up: Texas Tech
One-line reason: New Mexico has put up only 13 points in two home losses this season.

Stephen F. Austin at No. 19 Baylor, 6 p.m.
Line: n/a
Pick: straight up: Baylor
One-line reason: Stephen F. Austin lost at home to Northern Iowa last week.

Kent State at Kansas State, 6 p.m.
Line: Kansas State by 17.5
Pick: vs. line: Kansas State; straight up: Kansas State
One-line reason: Kent State lost by 41 on the road at Alabama in week 1, and I’m guessing Kansas State can rebound from an embarrassing week 1 (10-7 victory over FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky) and topple the Golden Flashes by at least 18.

Western Illinois at Missouri, 6 p.m.
Line: n/a
Pick: straight up: Missouri
One-line reason: Western Illinois had trouble on the road in week 1 in a 20-6 loss at Sam Houston State.

Idaho at No. 9 Texas A&M, 6 p.m.
Line: Texas A&M by 35.5
Pick: vs. line: Texas A&M; straight up: Texas A&M
One-line reason: Now this will be fun; Idaho lost at home to Bowling Green by 17, and beat North Dakota at home by 30; my guess is the Aggies take this one by 40+.

No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones in NCAA college football game against Tulsa in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Line: Oklahoma by 3
Pick: vs. line: Oklahoma; straight up: Oklahoma
One-line reason: In the nation’s game of the week, Sooners keep their BCS title hopes alive, and Florida State is introduced to the fact that this isn’t Louisiana-Monroe (34-0) or Charleston Southern (62-10).

No. 8 Oklahoma State at Tulsa, 9 p.m.
Line: Oklahoma State by 13.5
Pick: vs. line: Oklahoma State; straight up: Oklahoma State
One-line reason: The Cowboys proved last week they can score in bunches and blow out a decent team (Arizona); OSU’s average margin of victory in its first two games was 25 points.

That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.