NCAAF Week 9 Lines – Texas Tech Red Raiders at Kansas Jayhawks
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-0 SU, 2-2-1 ATS) keep that national championship fire burning, but on Saturday they will have a major hurdle to overcome in that quest as they face the Kansas Jayhawks (5-2 SU, 4-2 ATS) in NCAA football action in the Big 12 Conference, scheduled to kick off at Noon ET at Memorial Stadium (artificial turf) in Lawrence, KS.
Saturday, October 25
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: KANSAS -2
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* TT has won its last nine games SU
* TT has won five of its last six road games SU
* KAN has won 17 of its last 20 games SU
* KAN has won 13 of its last 14 home games SU
* KAN has covered 10 of its last 11 home games
* TT has won five of the last six meetings SU
Texas Tech is 7-0 and theoretically still in the hunt for the national title. The Red Raiders, by virtue of their record, have achieved a #8 ranking in the BCS, in addition to 8th in the AP and sixth in the coaches’ poll. However, that undefeated record and ranking are being put squarely on the line in each of the next four games, as the Raiders battle against Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, which represents three of the top six BCS-ranked teams and the #23 squad.
Mike Leach was dead set on getting some balance in his offense, and he has done just that. There are actually a couple of backs with over 400 yards – Baron Batch (491 yards) and Shannon Woods (402). Don’t get us wrong – Texas Tech still leads the nation in passing yards, but now it has something to use as a Plan B if Graham Harrell fails to hit the mark. Harrell’s numbers are not as eye-popping as they were last season (2761 yards, 23 TD’s), but they don’t have to be. And who is going to effectively cover Michael Crabtree (724 yards, 12 TD’s) anyway?
At home, can the Jayhawks trade points? Well, Todd Reesing is not dazzling with his numbers like he did last year either (17 TD’s, 5 INT’s, 2322 yards), and he just does not have the kind of go-to runner he needs. Sure, KU can hold the fort a little on defense (55% completions against, 9 INT’s), but this is a highly efficient offense they’re dealing with, as Texas Tech has converted on 56% on third down situations.
Kansas has covered in ten of its last 11 at home. That can’t be ignored. But this KU team was burned by quality passing attacks from Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (468 yards) and former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar (340 yards). That doesn’t bode well.
We’ll grab the short stack with the Red Raiders, the two-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.
