Following a loss in the Big 12 opener, Kansas is an even bigger underdog in a home meeting with No. 17 Oklahoma State this weekend.
KU opened as a 21.5-point underdog against Oklahoma State [on FanDuel’s Sportsbook][1]. It marks the second game in a row that the Jayhawks are a double-digit underdog, which will likely be a trend for the remainder of the season.
However, Kansas (0-2, 0-1 Big 12) might be in position to cover this big spread after failing to do so in either of the first two games. KU was favored by nearly a touchdown in its eventual 38-23 loss to Coastal Carolina, and was a 17-point underdog before suffering a 47-14 defeat to Baylor this past weekend.
The Cowboys are undefeated through two games, which includes one conference victory, but they haven’t dominated by any means. Oklahoma State earned a 16-7 win over Tulsa in the season opener, while coming away with a 27-13 victory against West Virginia this past weekend.
Oklahoma State hasn’t looked flashy, but it has done just enough to get the job done. Freshman quarterback Shane Illingworth got the start last week because signal caller Spencer Sanders was sidelined with an ankle injury. Sensational running back Chuba Hubbard, who is considered one of the better backs in the nation by many, had a pair of fumbles against WVU.
The Cowboys have really been led by their defense through two weeks, which could be the case again this week against a KU offense that has scored a total of 37 points in two games. So, if it ended up being another defensive battle this Saturday, then three-plus touchdowns could be too many points in a game with an over/under of 54.5 total points.
Kansas will still likely lose this game, of course, even with [fans allowed in attendance][2] for the first time in 2020. [ESPN’s Football Power Index][3] gives the Jayhawks just a 7.9% chance of victory against the Cowboys, who have won 10 consecutive meetings in this series.
But covering the spread is in play this week, which is not something [I even considered last week][4]. KU lost last year’s meeting in Stillwater by 18 points, and hasn’t been outscored by a three-touchdown margin in this series since 2017.
Find out later this week in [my opponent preview blog][5] if I’m brave enough to pick the Jayhawks to cover.
Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
**Rest of the Big 12 spreads** — All lines via FanDuel’s Sportsbook
Texas Tech (+3.5) at Kansas State — Over/under 63.5 points
Baylor (-3.5) at West Virginia — Over/under 55.5 points
Oklahoma (-8.5) at Iowa State — Over/under 62.5 points
[1]: https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/sports/navigation/11070.3/11071.3
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2020/sep/25/ku-allow-fans-next-home-football-game-other-events/
[3]: http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/fpi/_/id/2305/kansas-jayhawks
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/jacksons_journal/2020/sep/21/ku-football-opens-as-double-digit-underd/
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/jacksons_journal/2020/sep/25/getting-to-know-baylor-football/
