Kansas at Texas Tech Betting Spread & Expert Pick

Posted by Jordan Walters on Tuesday,September 27, 2016 9:22, EDT in

If betting or watching the Thursday night matchup on ESPN this week between No. 6 Houston and Connecticut in American Athletic Conference action don’t interest you, there’s another option: a Big 12 game Thursday between Kansas and Texas Tech on Fox Sports 1. The Red Raiders are huge home favorites in online college football betting.

Taking a Closer Look at the Kansas at Texas Tech Betting Spread, Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Thursday, Sept. 29, 8:30 PM ET
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Foxsports.com
Radio: Kansas / Texas Tech
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Texas Tech -28.5 (80)

Why Bet on Kansas?

The Jayhawks (1-2) were off last week and come off a 43-7 loss at Memphis. Three first half fumbles – two on its first three drives of the game – and six turnovers overall put Kansas in an early hole it couldn’t escape. The Tigers had 394 yards of offense – 205 rushing and 189 passing – with an average drive start at their own 48-yard line.

Kansas freshman running back Khalil Herbert accounted for 35 percent of the team’s offensive output with 74 rushing and 35 receiving yards, to go along with the Jayhawks’ only touchdown of the day. Herbert had a career-long 66-yard touchdown run on the Jayhawks’ third play of the second quarter to put them on the board with 12:28 to play in the first half. That rushing touchdown by Herbert was the longest rush by a freshman in the last 10 years with Todd Ressing setting the mark to beat at 63 in 2006 against Colorado (Oct. 28).

Sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart threw 13 completions on 22 attempts for 87 yards, but tossed two interceptions. Also taking snaps behind center were sophomore Ryan Willis (9-of- 13, 80 yards) and redshirt-freshman Carter Stanley (4-of- 6, 26 yards) for KU.

For the second straight game, the Kansas defense tallied 10 or more tackles-for- loss at Memphis. finishing the game with 10 TFLs. That double-digit mark pushed the Jayhawks season total to 29, tying for the most TFLs in a three-game span since 2007. KU ranked 100 or worse in seven of eight defensive categories in the FBS a season ago, but turned it around to rank in the top 35 in six of those same categories compared equally through the first three games of each season.

Why Bet on Texas Tech?

KU is 0-36 in true road games dating back to 2009. Adding three neutral-site losses to Missouri in 2009, 20 and 11 gives Kansas its 39-game winless streak in games played outside of Memorial Stadium.

Texas Tech (2-1) also was off last week. It last took the field on Sept. 17 and beat Louisiana Tech 59-47. Patrick Mahomes II threw for five touchdowns, three to Jonathan Giles, and ran for another to lead Texas Tech. Giles finished with six catches for 186 yards. Mahomes threw touchdown passes of 64, 36, 9, 42 and 4. The junior, who came into the game leading the nation in total offense, completed 26 of 36 passes for 470 yards. Demarcus Felton rushed for 123 yards on 16 carries and had two touchdowns. The Red Raiders didn’t punt at all and scored on six of their first seven possessions.

Texas Tech boasts one of college football’s most explosive offenses as the Red Raiders lead the country in passing yards per game (547.7) and also rank second nationally in total offense (678.7 per game) and scoring offense (61.0 points per game).

Texas Tech, ranked 117th in total defense coming into the game, showed improvement. The Bulldogs tallied 572 total yards, fewer than the 652 the Red Raiders gave up in their 68-55 loss the week before at Arizona State.

This will be the first Thursday night home game for Texas Tech since beating then-No. 24 TCU 20-10 on Sept. 12, 2013, Kliff Kingsbury’s first season with the Red Raiders. Texas Tech has historically dominated the series against Kansas as the Red Raiders are 16-1 all-time against the Jayhawks. Tech enters the Thursday night contest with wins in each of its last nine games against Kansas, including a 30-20 victory last season in Lawrence.

My Expert Pick

Jayhawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Jayhawks are 2-8 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Jayhawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Red Raiders are 6-1- 1 ATS in their last 8 games in September.
Red Raiders are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a bye week.
Red Raiders are 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.

Take Texas Tech in online NCAA Football Betting and under that huge total