Big 12 Week 10 Odds: TCU Aims to Keep Slim Playoff Hopes Alive

The TCU Horned Frogs are getting most of the attention right now in the Big 12. But that’s for good reason, as TCU still has an outside chance to make the College Football Playoffs. If the Horned Frogs win out, it could happen. But the Big 12 Week 10 betting odds suggest this week’s game with Texas Tech isn’t a walk in the park.

This week also features a battle of ranked teams, as No. 24 Texas visits No. 13 Kansas State. The NCAAF standings in the Big 12 have Kansas State second in the conference and the Longhorns are tied for third. The winner will take a step forward in the claiming the No. 2 spot.

No. 18 Oklahoma State visits Kansas in what could be an entertaining game. With the Big 12 Week 10 betting odds showing a total of 65.5, defense could be optional in this one.

Game of the Week

Forget the rankings, as the college football betting odds have No. 24 Texas (5-3, 3-2) favored at No. 13 Kansas State (6-2, 4-1). The total on the game is 54.5.

The Longhorns and Wildcats are both rarities in the Big 12 in that they can actually play some defense. The Longhorns are holding teams to 11.8 fewer points per game than they average. Kansas State limits teams to 11.4 fewer points per game than they score. So this one should come down to the offenses.

Both teams are well-balanced offensively, although the Wildcats rely more on the run and Texas more on the pass. The Longhorns run the ball 35 times a game and have 31 pass attempts. Kansas State runs 40 times and throws 25 times. Whichever team gets its ground game going will have an advantage.

Comparative scores mean little when looking at these two teams. Texas beat Oklahoma 49-0, while the Wildcats scrambled to get past the Sooners 41-34. But Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 48-0, while Texas lost to the Cowboys. Big 12 football at its finest!

Other Games to Watch

No. 7 TCU (8-0, 5-0) is quickly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the college football world. Despite a 7-0 record people still overlook the Horned Frogs. The Big 12 Week 10 betting odds have TCU as a 9.5-point favorite. The total is a lofty 70, but these teams can both score.

Texas Tech (4-4, 2-3) isn’t a bad football team. But they have the misfortune of playing in the Big 12 when the conference is having an up year. USA Today’s Jeff Sagarin has the Big 12 ranked No. 2 and six of his top 17 teams are Big 12 squads. One reason the Red Raiders are battling for bowl game eligibility is an 0-3 road record.

There are no weaknesses for TCU on offense. The Horned Frogs can run or throw the ball. Defense is another story, but TCU’s opponents have averaged 30.5 points per game this season. So maybe the defense isn’t quite as bad as the numbers suggest.

The No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2, 3-2) come limping into this one, having dropped two of the last three games. It’s even worse for Kansas (5-3, 2-3), as the Jayhawks have dropped three straight. The Big 12 Week 10 betting odds have this one close, with the Cowboys favored by 2.5.

Kansas is coming off a bye week in which they look to regroup. The Jayhawks still need one victory to become bowl eligible, which seemed a certainty a month ago. But things can change quickly in college football.

The key here will be Oklahoma State’s passing game. The Cowboys are completing just 57.4% of their passes this season. But Kansas allows 66.4% completions on defense.

Game: Baylor Bears vs Oklahoma Sooners
Date & Time & Streaming: Saturday, Nov. 5, 3 p.m. ET (Big 12/ESPN+)
Line: Oklahoma -3.5

This game isn’t what it once was, but it still looks to be a good one. Both teams have rebounded with a pair of wins after small losing streaks. With the Big 12 locked into seven bowl games, these two are fighting to improve their bowl standing.

Baylor (5-3, 3-2) is averaging 38.4 points per game. But their opponents allow an average of 33.3 points per game, so it’s not as though they’re going up against stellar defenses. The Bears are decent on defense, themselves, holding teams to 5.2 fewer points than they average.

Oklahoma (5-3, 2-3) is scoring 33 points a game but their foes allow just 25.4 points per game on average. Oklahoma does allow 2.2 fewer points than their opponents have averaged.

The Big 12 Week 10 betting odds have the Sooners -3.5 and the winner should be decided by the running game. Both teams run the ball 44 times and throw 30. Whoever has the most success on the ground will be tough to beat.
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