Our games are limited this week with Texas and Texas Tech on a bye and one of the big matchups, TCU at Oklahoma, without a line at the moment. And we wasted one of our games in our Lockness Monsters, so that only leaves us with two matchups.
The Sooner/Horned Frogs line has been delayed because of the health of TCU’s top players, Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson, so nothing is available yet for that game. With or without the playmakers, we still anticipate Oklahoma to be favorites.
If they play, the game would likely feature a spread within a touchdown. Without them, we see nothing but double digits.
Here are two games we’ll keep an eye on this weekend. Last week’s betting guide for each major college football conference went 3-7 and was 0-2 in the Big 12. Overall for the season, the betting guides have been 10-12 in the Big 12 and 56-50 overall in the power-five conferences.
Iowa State (+6) at Kansas State
We can’t imagine too many eyeballs will be glued to their television sets for this game.
The Wildcats have underachieved mightily this season, while the Cyclones have come close in a few games, but haven’t been able to pull anything out of substance.
We’ve gone back-and-forth on this game, and we’re backing the Cyclones. The Wildcats haven’t done anything this season to deserve to be an almost touchdown-favorite, and the Cyclones have gotten better.
Iowa State played four quality quarters against Texas, two against Oklahoma and three against Oklahoma State. For most teams, that wouldn’t be much of a win, but for the Cyclones, we believe it’s showing improvement. The Cyclones jumped all over the Cowboys last week and hung with the Sooners, who are playing arguably the best football in the country, for a half.
We haven’t seen the same improvement by Kansas State. That’s why we’re backing Iowa State. — Go against the chalk with Iowa State
West Virginia at Kansas (+28)
Kansas is nothing short of being one of the worst power-five conference teams in the history of college football, but it’s shown some life lately.
The Jayhawks, without a victory this season, has stayed within four touchdowns for the most part against the second-tier Big 12 teams.
Games against Iowa State, Texas Tech and TCU (without Boykin and Doctson), were all within that four-touchdown mark. The only game against one of those second-tier teams that didn’t end in a 28-point cover was at Texas, which ended up 59-20.
But last week gave us a little hope, with a six-point loss to the Horned Frogs. Last week was a perfect opportunity for TCU to have a major letdown, but we’ll give a little credit to the Jayhawks for at least hanging in there.
And now, Kansas returns to home for two games to close out the regular season. And while West Virginia has been likely the top second-tier Big 12 team, they haven’t destroyed teams, winning by less than three touchdowns against Texas and Texas Tech at home. On the road this season, West Virginia is 0-3, and lost by 20, 24 and 30 points respectively, failing to cover each time.
The covers won’t start this week on the road. We’ve lost our mind and are going with the Kansas. — Go against the chalk with Kansas
Other Big 12 games
TCU at Oklahoma (No line available)
Baylor at Oklahoma State (Even)
