Big 12 baseball power rankings: You’re up, Arizona State

Generations of sports fans knew of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, a belief that bad luck’s right around the corner for an athlete or team who landed on the front of the magazine. On a smaller scale, we have something similar brewing: The Big 12 baseball power rankings jinx. Does anyone want the No. 1 ranking this season?

Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Arizona all have coughed it up. Preseason and pre-conference No. 1 OSU has been a mess. WVU took the top spot and lost a home series to Arizona. Arizona moved to No. 1 and lost a home series to Baylor.

Know who’s not losing? Kansas State and Arizona State. Both have won their first three Big 12 series. K-State leads the Big 12 standings by a game. We slightly prefer Arizona State’s résumé, reinforced by the Sun Devils’ better RPI and strength of schedule.

That in mind, here are this week’s power rankings with records and other information through Sunday.

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1. Arizona State (19-9, 7-2 in the Big 12)

Last week: 3

What to know: The Sun Devils have been doing it without third-team all-America outfielder Kien Vu, who’s missed 10 games with an injury.

2. Kansas State (19-8, 8-1)

Last week: 4

What to know: If the trend holds, Arizona State will lose this week’s home series to Arizona and it’ll be K-State’s turn at No. 1.

3. Arizona (20-7, 6-3)

Last week: 1

What to know: Did Baylor catch the Wildcats looking ahead to Grand Canyon and Arizona State?

4. Kansas (23-6, 6-3)

Last week: 8

What to know: A week ago, we said Dominic Voegele had to get that ERA under 6.00. His response: Eight innings, 10 strikeouts, two runs allowed to start a sweep of Oklahoma State.

5. West Virginia (22-4, 4-3)

Last week: 2

What to know: Wherefore art thou, Derek Clark? Mountaineers starting pitchers have gone five innings once in seven Big 12 games.

6. TCU (21-8, 5-4)

Last week: 7

What to know: Horned Frogs play 13 of their next 16 in Fort Worth and neighboring Arlington, including conference series against BYU, Kansas and Baylor.

7. Baylor (19-8, 4-5)

Last week: 12

What to know: Taking two at Arizona — Pac-12 champion last year, ranked No. 20 last week — arguably the Bears’ best weekend yet under third-year coach Mitch Thompson.

8. Central Florida (17-10, 3-6)

Last week: 6

What to know: If Knights are 3-6 after opening against BYU, Houston and Cincinnati, how far are they going to fall facing Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and West Virginia?

9. Oklahoma State (12-13, 1-6)

Last week: 5

What to know: Are the preseason favorites going to miss the NCAA postseason for first time since 2012?

10. Texas Tech (8-16, 4-5)

Last week: 9

What to know: Sunday starter Zane Petty has a 2.37 ERA over his past four starts.

11. Cincinnati (16-11, 4-5)

Last week: 14

What to know: Past seven games for third baseman Kerrington Cross: 15 for 24 with 3 homers, 7 RBI and 8 walks.

12. Brigham Young (14-11, 4-5)

Last week: 11

What to know: Won series opener against West Virginia, then gave up 39 runs in the last two games and dropped to last in the Big 12 in team ERA at 6.56.

13. Houston (15-12, 3-6)

Last week: 13

What to know: If this were pro ball, Cougars could trade Antoine Jean for prospects. Lefty reliever has 51 strikeouts in 31⅓ innings, a .161 opponent batting average and sewed up a 3-2 win over TCU last Friday.

14. Utah (13-13, 2-7)

Last week: 10

What to know: Excitement of taking a series from Oklahoma State faded with being swept by Arizona State.