A couple of teams that like to deploy their running games, Jayhawks (+15) are set to welcome the No. 11 Texas Longhorns (-15) to Kansas. This Big 12 game will get going at 12:00 p.m. ET and interested parties can watch the action live on FS1.
Betting Preview: Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns
Kansas is a live dog and is currently getting 15 points in this Big 12 matchup. The Longhorns are also receiving -840 moneyline odds while the Jayhawks are +550. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 50.5 points, and if one team can find paydirt early, it’ll likely result in a nice in-game betting opportunity.
The game’s total has been driven down after initially being set at 51.5. The opening spread of 15 has remained consistent.
The Longhorns are 5-6 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.1 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 6-5.
The Jayhawks have lost 2.6 units this season. The team is 6-5 ATS and has an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Longhorns have gone 8-3 straight up (SU), including 6-2 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Jayhawks are 3-8 SU overall and are also 1-7 SU in conference play.
When these two squads met a year ago, Texas earned the win 42-27.
Texas enters this matchup on a zero-game winless skid while Kansas has won zero in a row. The Longhorns hope to keep things rolling after a 24-10 win over Iowa State last week. the Longhorns completed 22-of-25 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Ehlinger went 12-for-15 for 137 yards and one touchdown while Shane Buechele completed 10-of-10 for 89 yards and one touchdown. Tre Watson (93 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and Keaontay Ingram (57 yards on 12 carries) propelled the running attack while Lil’Jordan Humphrey (seven receptions, 86 yards, one TD) and Ingram (five catches, 40 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Back on November 17, Oklahoma got the win against this Kansas team by a score of 55-40. The Jayhawks defense allowed the Sooners to eat up the clock by rushing for 294 yards on 40 attempts, including five rush TDs. Kennedy Brooks was outstanding, recording 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts for the Sooners. For Kansas, Peyton Bender completed 19-of-27 passes for 167 yards. Pooka Williams Jr. (252 yards on 15 rush attempts, two TDs) and Khalil Herbert (64 yards on 15 carries, two TDs) handled the running game while Steven Sims Jr. (six receptions, 49 yards) and Jeremiah Booker (five catches, 58 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each of these teams has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Texas has run the ball on 53.9 percent of its offensive possessions while Kansas has an overall rush percentage of 52.2. The Longhorns have rushed for 157.6 yards per game (including 148.9 per game versus Big 12 opponents) and have 18 scores on the ground this year. The Jayhawks are putting up 160.5 rushing yards per game (136.1 in conference) and have 13 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Longhorns ought to own an edge along both the offensive and defensive fronts, as their offensive line has allowed only 34 sacks while their D-line logged 31 sacks. The Jayhawks O-line has given up 29 sacks and their defense has logged only 19 sacks.
The Longhorns offensive scheme has averaged 266.8 yards in the air overall (275.1 per game versus conference opposition) and has 24 passing TDs so far. The Jayhawks have put up 195.3 pass yards per outing (208 in the Big 12) and have 17 total pass scores.
Defensively, Texas has allowed 136.5 rush yards and 264.5 pass yards per game. The Kansas D has given up 255.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 174.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Longhorns are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.38 to opposing QBs, while the Jayhawks have allowed a 6.97 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ehlinger has amassed 2,308 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 65 percent of his 300 attempts with 17 scores through the air and only two interceptions. He’s got a sparkling 7.87 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.68 over the last two games.
The Longhorns have tried to maintain the pace by feeding their running backs early and often. In addition to wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey (874 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Keaontay Ingram (542 rush yards, two rush TDs, 111 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Tre Watson (519 rush yards, three rush TDs, three receiving TDs) have really been focal points in the Texas offensive scheme.
Peyton Bender has completed 144-of-252 passes for 1,503 yards, 10 TDs and two INTs for Kansas. His ANY/A sits at 5.42 for the season and 6.75 over his last two games.
The Jayhawks also like to keep their running backs featured. Along with Steven Sims Jr. (409 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), Pooka Williams Jr. (952 rush yards, six rush TDs, two receiving TDs) and Khalil Herbert (438 rush yards, five rush TDs) have gotten plenty of touches recently.
Texas Longhorns at Kansas Jayhawks Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Longhorns, ATS Winner: Longhorns, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes,
- Kansas has lost seven fumbles this season while Texas has lost five.
- The Texas D has 25 sacks on the year while Kansas has just 19.
- Texas has produced 3.8 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.6 over its last two.
- Kansas has averaged 5.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.5 over its past two.
- Over its last three matchups, Kansas is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Texas’ last game was set at 51. The under cashed in the team’s 24-10 win over Iowa State.
- Over its last three matchups, Texas is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Kansas’ last match going into it was 68. The over cashed in the 55-40 loss to Oklahoma.
- Kansas has lost eight of its last nine games SU, with a one-point victory over TCU on October 27th accounting for the one win over that span.
