Charlie Weis took over a Kansas team last season that returned 15 starters; however, the 2011 Jayhawks averaged just 22.3 points per game while giving up 43.8 per contest. Not surprisingly, Weis had a difficult time making chicken salad out of...well, you know the saying. It is hardly shocking either that the odds makers are predicting another tough season for Kansas this year. The latest 2013 College Football Predictions at offshore bookmaker 5Dimes have the Jayhawks pegged for another last place finish in the Big 12 at +10000 odds to win the conference ($100 wins $10000). Kansas is, however, expected to win more than one game this season. The team's win total is presently set at three games and the Over is favored at -145 odds ($145 wins $100).
Charlie Weis did some major house cleaning at Kansas last year and his work to rid the roster of Turner Gill recruits continued in the offseason. Consequently, the Jayhawks return just nine starters and 35 lettermen from last season's squad. That is not a bad thing, though, considering KU posted a 1-11 record a season ago and was a miserable 5-19 under Gill.
Kansas is still no where near being ready to compete for a Big 12 title, but it may outperform last place expectations with Jake Heaps, a former top quarterback recruit at BYU, taking over under center and a host of junior college transfers joining the ranks in Lawrence.
The Jayhawks, who averaged 212 rush yards per game last season, also return some talented running backs in James Sims, Tony Pierson, and Taylor Cox. Heaps presence, coupled with a strong ground game, should lead to some vastly improved offensive numbers for Kansas this season.
Kansas Jayhawks 2013 College Football Predictions:
Kansas Odds to win the 2014 BCS National Championship +250000
Kansas Odds to win the Big 12 Championship +10000 (10 of 10)
Kansas Regular Season Wins: Over 3 (-145), Under 3 (+105)
2013 Schedule with LVH and Golden Nugget Early College Football Game Lines:
9/7 South Dakota
9/14 at Rice
9/21 Louisiana Tech
10/5 Texas Tech
10/12 at TCU
10/19 Oklahoma
10/26 Baylor
11/2 at Texas (Golden Nugget: Kansas +31.5)
11/9 at Oklahoma State (Golden Nugget: Kansas +29)
11/16 West Virginia
11/23 at Iowa State
11/30 Kansas State (Golden Nugget: Kansas +19.5, LVH: Kansas +14.5)
College Football Free Picks: Mississippi State vs Oklahoma State
What college football bettors need to know about betting Mississippi State vs Oklahoma State on Saturday (8/31/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Steve Fezzik, with Bryan Leonard.
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