An open-week wishlist for Texas Tech football fans

October 12 has been a date that college football fans have circled for months. That's because today brings a number of high-profile matchups to the table in what is the best slate of games of the regular season.

It is also perfect timing for Texas Tech football fans who can sit back and enjoy all the action without stress given that the Red Raiders are enjoying their first of two open dates of the year. Of course, some of today's top games like No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon, No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU, or No. 4 Penn State at USC won't have a direct impact on Texas Tech.

However, other games this weekend could either help the Red Raiders in the Big 12 standings or simply make the Tech fan base happy. So let's look at the perfect Texas Tech open week wishlist.

No. 18 Oklahoma beats No. 1 Texas

For the first time in decades, the matchup between Texas and Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl won't have any bearing on the Red Raiders' conference race. Still, virtually everyone in Scarlet and Black has residual feelings toward each of their former conference foes.

While Tech fans would love to see both teams lose, since that isn't an option most Red Raiders will be hoping that the Sooners pull off the upset. That's because Texas has far more to play for in this game.

Next week, Texas plays host to No. 5 Georgia but after that, the Horns don't play another ranked team until No. 15 Texas A&M in the last game of the regular season. If Texas Tech fans don't want to see UT in the 12-team playoff (and we don't), then we will probably need Texas to drop all three of their remaining games against ranked teams.

That seems like a long shot, especially given how much of an underdog the Sooners are today. However, funny things happen in this rivalry game. So here's hoping that Oklahoma trots off the field with the golden cowboy hat trophy this afternoon.

Arizona beats No. 14 BYU

Currently, the Red Raiders are alone atop the Big 12 standings as the only 3-0 team in the conference. One team that could join Tech at 3-0 after today is BYU.

Today, Red Raider fans will be pulling for Arizona to take down the Cougars in Provo. That would help keep Tech alone in first place.

Remember that the Red Raiders don't play BYU this year so to finish ahead of them in the conference race, Tech will need some of its Big 12 friends to hand the Cougars a few losses.

Arizona is one team that has the talent to be able to beat BYU. However, the fact that this game is being played in Provo is not going to make that easy. At least it isn't a night home game for the Cougars who are nearly unbeatable at home after dark.

After this game, BYU will probably be favored to win every game left on the schedule other than their November 9 trip to Salt Lake City to face rival Utah. Thus, it would be great to see Arizona knock BYU down a notch today.

West Virginia beats No. 11 Iowa State

Another team that could get to 3-0 in Big 12 play this week is Iowa State. But the Cyclones have a very difficult task ahead of them tonight when they play at West Virginia.

It will be a blackout in the stands and on the field for WVU as they don their "coal rush" uniforms. Hopefully, that helps propel the home team to a win.

Iowa State looks like a real Big 12 title contender this year. Undefeated thus far, they are the highest-ranked team in the conference.

The Cyclones won't play a ranked team until the final two games of the season (Utah and Kansas State) so they could enter late November riding high. But don't sleep on the Mountaineers in this game. WVU is tough to beat at home and Red Raider fans hope the Morgantown magic comes into play again tonight.

No. 18 Kansas State beats Colorado

The final team that can move to 3-0 in conference play is Colorado. Tonight, they are at home against Kansas State looking to match Tech atop the league standings.

Colorado is a team that could be scary if they get rolling. They are currently on a three-game winning streak and they don't play another ranked team after Kansas State until they host Utah on November 16.

Kansas State is another Big 12 contender so they should test the Buffaloes in Boulder. Whichever team comes out on top tonight will have reason to think it belongs in the Big 12 title game.

Tech doesn't play KSU this year but does face Colorado on November 9. The last thing Tech wants when that game rolls around is a red-hot Colorado team coming to Lubbock. So to see the Buffs cooled off a bit, Tech fans should be pulling for the Wildcats to come out on top.