Horns to have it tough at K-ST.

Penn State’s O’brien or Ohio State’s Meyer for coach of the year?

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Statesman columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden weigh in on 10 Big 12 and national football topics:

1. Which Texas shows up in Manhattan?

Bohls: I’m expecting the Texas team that played Texas Tech, but not in results. I assume the Longhorns will play hard, but be overmatched by a Kansas State team that’s mad about Baylor, has had two weeks of preparation, has more to play for with the Big 12 title and a BCS bowl on the line and has Bill Snyder, who’s a freaking genius. If the Longhorns don’t play with effort, Mack Brown has to seriously look in the mirror when contemplating his future. Call it Kansas State, 38-17.

Golden: That’s just it. The Horns are not going to show up. The team we watched limp through its home finale against TCU doesn’t figure to rebound against a Kansas State team that’s playing for a Big 12 title and a BCS bowl game. The players know it. The fans know it. Mack knows it. Even Kansas State knows it. Texas will be blown out in severe fashion — Wildcats 44, Longhorns 20.

2. Would Texas be better off in the Cotton Bowl or Alamo Bowl?

Bohls: They should remember the Alamo Bowl this season, mostly because of a more favorable pairing against an also-ran from the Pac-12, not the SEC. Texas would have a much better chance against the Pac-12 title game loser or Oregon State than LSU, Alabama, Georgia or Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

Golden: Texas should How Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden are picking Texas-Kansas State: Kansas State, 38-17

Kansas State, 44-20