Coming off a bye week, not many people are expecting Kansas football to compete this weekend.
If that sounds familiar, that is because it just happened in October. The Jayhawks promoted Brent Dearmon to offensive coordinator during the bye week before they were ultimately a 22-point underdog at Texas. Kansas ended up falling, 50-48, on a last-second field goal.
There are no changes on the coaching staff last week, but KU is still counted out ahead of its road tilt with Oklahoma State. According to FanDuel’s Sportsbook, the Jayhawks are an 18-point underdog as of Monday afternoon.
Kansas has actually performed well in these situations during Les Miles’ first year at the helm. According to Odds Shark, KU is 3-0 when it is given 15-or-more points as an underdog, which took place against Boston College, Oklahoma and Texas. The Jayhawks have covered just once in the remaining six games.
None of that means KU (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) will cover the spread this weekend, of course. Oklahoma State has won back-to-back games against TCU and Iowa State entering this week’s matchup. The Cowboys (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) are also coming off a bye week.
Oklahoma State is 7-2 against the spread this season, including a 5-2 clip as a favorite. OSU has been a double-digit favorite three times, all of which took place in nonconference play. The Cowboys covered the spread in all three outings as well.
On paper, it is not a favorable matchup for the Jayhawks. KU’s defense has struggled to stop the run all season, and this figures to be the team’s toughest test yet. OSU running back Chuba Hubbard leads the FBS in rushing yards with 1,604 and ranks second in rushing touchdowns with 18.
Kansas, meanwhile, has allowed an average of 235.33 rushing yards per game. Kent State, Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State and Massachusetts are the only teams giving up more yards on the ground this season.
It will be interesting to see if the extra week gave the Jayhawks a solid game plan to slow down the Cowboys’ rushing attack. Given the injuries on the defensive side of the ball, though, that could be easier said than done. I’m not ready to commit to a pick this week, but I’d probably lay the points at this moment.
Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. Boone Pickens Stadium.
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**Rest of Big 12 spreads for Week 12**
TCU (-3) at Texas Tech
Texas at Iowa State (-7)
West Virginia at Kansas State (-14.5)
Oklahoma (-10) at Baylor
