Kansas State..REALLY?
By Tony George
What a week in the Big 12 last week as numerous giants fell, and so did my bankroll because of it. College football this year is more of a flip flop from week to week than I have seen in quite some time, not just the Big 12 but in general. Look like a rock star one week, and act like you never picked up a guitar the next week. Vegas books have to be loving NCAA bettors right now. The frontrunner right now in the Big 12 is clearly Nebraska in the North Division after the Mizzou debacle in west Texas last week, and after OU lost last week, Okie State is the front runner in the South with Texas also going down. Remember NU and OSU already played in Stillwater and the Huskers racked up 51 points on them. Interesting stuff down the stretch in the South, the North is all but done unless Nebraska self destructs.
Mizzou went to Lubbock Texas and let the second worst running team in the Big 12 destroy them on the ground, like the previous week in Lincoln Nebraska as the Huskers rammed it down their throat. Oklahoma was held scoreless at Texas AM in the first half who has a weak defense, and lose in a bad way. Texas goes to K State and gets humiliated, and Nebraska goes to Iowa State with payback in mind as a 19 point fav, and wins by 1 in OT on a miracle. Kansas, yes I said Kansas, scores 35 points in the fourth quarter and beats Colorado, and at day’s end will cost Hawkins his job when the season is over. The only team that really in my mind exceeded expectations who was expected to win was Oklahoma State, who pounded Baylor into submission, and Baylor is a good team, not a great team, but a good one.
Let’s take a look at some of this week’s featured action in the Big 12 and some point spread opinions:
Kansas @ Nebraska -35 – Not interested in Nebraska at this price, and Turner Gill returns to his homeland here as an ex player and coach for Nebraska for over 20 years. While Bo Pellini has no mercy for anyone, word coming down from the press box and Dr. Tom Osborne might in fact play into this getting out of hand for Kansas in terms of a blowout. Turner Gill was runner up for Pellini’s job when he got it and Osborne and Gill are very good friends. I am also not sure Nebraska with Martinez which is a game day decision, not all that p[potent on offense and Nebraska has a huge game on deck with Texas AM next Saturday for all the marbles. Lean to the Visitor and the big points.
Kansas State @ Mizzou -13 – Well Missouri has had their usual mid season slump when playing anyone good. Kansas Sate on the other hand pounded Texas at home last week and have all the confidence in the world. K State giving up 6 yards a carry on the ground, doubt Mizzou will expose it. Synder the far better coach in this one and better to make adjustments during the game to beat Mizzou than the other way around. The talent lies with the hometown Tigers and somehow, someway, I think they pull out a win here, but it will not come easy, K State’s Thomas at RB liable to eat up yards against a weak Mizzou run defense. Lean to the Visitor, this is way too many points.
Okie State @ Texas +5 - BIG 12 GAME OF THE WEEK. Check out my play and win big as I bounce back after last week’s OU disaster
Iowa State @ Colorado +2.5 – EASY MONEY free play here. The Cyclones really gave a good Nebraska team all they wanted and then some, although Nebraska used their 3rd string QB in that game, I like ISU to get it done here. THIS IS A BOWL QUALIFIYING GAME FOR IOWA STATE for win #6. Colorado just imploded last week at Kansas allowing 35 points in the fourth quarter to a bad Jayhawk team and I say with a lame duck coach, they do not recover. ISU solid on offense, have a good QB and know after beating Texas in Austin a few weeks back, they can beat a wounded Buffalo team here on the road. Colorado done boys, Lay the small number and Iowa State for my Big 12 Free Play this week.