The Kansas State Wildcats are set to face the Texas Longhorns this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Kansas State-Texas prediction, odds, and pick.
Texas has crashed and burned this year, an obvious background detail when considering a Kansas State Texas pick. Steve Sarkisian came to Austin with the moniker “Seven-Win Sark,” a commentary on how regularly he won seven games — and nothing more — at Washington and USC. This year, it's “Seven-Loss Sark,” since Texas has eaten seven losses, the biggest humiliation being a 57-56 home-field loss to Kansas. Sarkisian is watching former USC colleague Lane Kiffin thrive at Ole Miss. Sark clearly hasn't unlocked the secrets of head coaching the way Kiffin has. The people who make it their business to study college football odds are aware of this.
Kansas State hasn't had a bad year. The Wildcats don't have the most talent of any team in the Big 12, but they win all the games they are supposed to win. That translates to a 7-4 record with a chance for eight wins. Kansas State has lost to the top four teams in the Big 12 in 2021 – Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Iowa State — but beaten everyone else. Coach Chris Klieman is a competent, professional, attentive coach who is giving the Wildcats a solid foundation. With better injury luck, especially at quarterback, this program has a higher ceiling than its 2021 season might suggest. The floor is already high, which gives this program the knowledge that it won't crater … unlike Texas, its opponent on Friday.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:
College Football odds: Kansas State-Texas Odds
Kansas State: +2.5 (+102)
Texas: -2.5 (-124)
Over: 52.5 (-110)
Under: 52.5 (-110)
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Why Kansas State Could Cover the Spread
Let's not pretend the Kansas State argument has much to do with Kansas State. This is a game in which you either trust Texas to figure something out, or you are convinced Texas will not solve its massive problems. There is definitely talent on the Longhorns' roster. Sark just isn't able to coach it especially well. The thing to realize about Sarkisian, compared to Lane Kiffin, is that Kiffin finally swallowed his pride and was willing to go to the Group of Five ranks and coach at Florida Atlantic. After doing that, Kiffin gained noticeable maturity as a head coach, catapulting him to success at Ole Miss. Sarkisian has not taken that step, and his lack of maturity shows as a head coach. Klieman can eat him for breakfast in a game which starts just after 11 a.m. in Austin. Keep this in mind when making a Kansas State Texas prediction.
Why Texas Could Cover the Spread
The Longhorns have talent. It just has to be unleashed. Xavier Worthy at wide receiver and Bijan Robinson at running back are luminous talents. They give the Longhorns a lot of upside. Can this team get out of its own way? Can the defense show up, which it plainly hasn't done in weeks? Texas is a far more talented team than Kansas State. It just has to show up on the field. It's hardly ridiculous to think that the Longhorns can win this game. They hammered Kansas State in their last trip to Manhattan.
Final Kansas State-Texas Prediction & Pick
The responsible, mature team will beat the poorly-coached and wayward team. Is there anything else we need to discuss here?
Final Kansas State-Texas Pick: Kansas State +2.5
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