No. 11 Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday, 10/22/11, 12:00 PM EST, TV: N/A
Opening Point Spread: Kansas State -11.5
Current Betting Line: Kansas State -11
Opening Total: 62.5
Current Total: 62.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Kansas State is coming off a 41-34 win over Texas Tech as 3.5-point road underdogs, but the team has now been out-gained in its last four contests. The Wildcats have also been an underdog and covered in four consecutive games, which makes this price seem a little inflated. The team is ranked in the top 25 in three defensive categories, which include scoring defense, rush defense and turnover margin. Kansas State has won two straight in this series and hold a 15-4 advantage under the direction of head coach Bill Snyder. Over the last two-plus seasons, the program is 14-5 ATS against conference opponents.
The Wildcats are led offensively by quarterback Collin Klein, who finished last week with 110 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. “Coach Snyder says all the time you’ve got to keep sawing wood and eventually you’re going to get somewhere,” commented Klein. “It makes it exciting because we’re hanging together.” The program is fully focused on moving its record to 7-0 for the first time since the 1999 campaign.
Kansas has played the toughest schedule in the country and the defensive numbers show it, ranking last in college football in giving up 49 points and 565 yards per game. The Jayhawks have been outscored by a 228-103 margin over the last four games. Head coach Turner Gill still believes that his squad has something left for this in-state rivalry. “It’s the Sunflower Showdown,” commented Gill this week. “We’re ready for this one.” Overall in this rivalry, Kansas is 65-38-5, including a 37-16-2 mark in games played in Lawrence. Facing conference opponents hasn’t been a good money-making venture in backing this team, posting a 5-14 ATS mark over the last two-plus seasons.
The Jayhawks will need to score some points offensively due to the defense, but gained just six yards on 27 offensive snaps in the second half last week against the Oklahoma Sooners. Many around the Big 12 Conference expect this team to start playing better in terms of the scoreboard, as 71 players on its roster are underclassmen, which means the experienced gained against the toughest schedule in the country will help them down the road. Quarterback Jordan Webb finished with 228 yards and an interception last week, while running back James Sims has ran for 455 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Bettors will likely back the Jayhawks due to their 3-1 ATS mark in home games, while the Wildcats are 2-11 ATS as road favorites.
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