Kansas State vs TCU Betting Odds: Horned Frogs Favored to Win First Big 12 Title Game

Running Backs Could Steal Show in Big 12 Championship Game

There is much more on the line for Texas Christian than just the program’s first Big 12 championship game victory.

TCU needs to win to remain in the top four in the College Football Playoffs while Kansas State will be going after its first Big 12 title since 2003. The Kansas State vs TCU betting odds are favoring the undefeated Horned Frogs.

The game features two of the five 1,000-yard rushers in the conference. Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn has run for 1,295 yards while Kendre Miller of TCU has 1,260 yards with 16 scoring runs.

Texas Christian (+1200) is tied for third with Southern California in the odds to win the national title. When looking at the college football standings, the Horned Frogs are one of three remaining undefeated teams.

TCU moved up a spot to No. 3 in the Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association polls after Michigan’s win over Ohio State. Kansas State is 10th in the coaches’ poll and 13th in the AP ranking.

Game Information

Kansas State Wildcats

Other than Deuce Vaughn, one of two returning 1,000-yard rushers in the Big 12, not many people outside Manhattan, Kansas knew much about the Wildcats.

Former Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez might have joined Vaughn as a 1,000-yard rusher if he hadn’t missed three games and being limited in two others. Will Howard does offer more in the way of a vertical passing game, but he won’t be the threat in the running game that Martinez is. The status of Martinez will play a role in the Kansas State vs TCU betting odds.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah leads the conference with 7.5 sacks and teammate Brendan Mott isn’t far behind with 6 sacks.

After the first four conference games were decided by a total of 27 points, the Wildcats erupted for a 48-0 win over Oklahoma State. Since losing to Texas, Kansas State won the last three games by 28, 17 and 20 points to earn a spot in the conference title game for the first time since winning the championship in 2003.

TCU Horned Frogs

When TCU lost running back Zach Evans to Ole Miss and defensive lineman Ochaun Mathis to Nebraska, expectations were rather subdued in Sonny Dykes’ first season with the Horned Frogs.

Twelve games and 12 wins later, TCU is a win away from the program’s first Big 12 championship game victory and a spot in the College Football Playoffs. The Kansas State vs TCU betting odds favor the Horned Frogs.

TCU was second in the Big 12 in total offense last season so it is not as if the cupboard was bare. The improvement on defense has been crucial with TCU allowing nearly 80 fewer yards than they did a season ago.

The addition of Johnny Hodges from Navy and Mark Perry from Colorado has made a huge difference as they are the top two tacklers.

When looking at the NCAAF scores and trends, TCU is one of the most improved teams in the country. The Horned Frogs were just 2-9-1 against the spread a season ago and are 9-2-1 this season.

Kansas State vs TCU Injury Update

Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez is questionable and linebacker Will Honas is out for the season.

TCU receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle) is questionable. He is tied for second in the Big 12 with seven receptions of at least 30 yards.

Kansas State vs TCU Head to Head

When the teams met, TCU scored the final 28 points to erase an 18-point Kansas State lead.

The college football teams have split the last 10 games with six of those meetings going under the total. Both teams averaged 25.1 points in those matchups.

Kansas State vs TCU Betting Preview

The teams are a combined 17-5-1 against the spread this NCAAF season so something will have to give.

Keep an eye on the status of Martinez for Kansas State as he is considered day-to-day while TCU’s top receiver Quentin Johnston is dealing with an ankle injury that has forced him to miss the last two games.

Quarterback Max Duggan has just three interceptions in 332 passing attempts for the Horned Frogs.

The teams are first and second in the Big 12 in turnover margin so ball security could be a deciding factor as Kansas State has the most takeaways and TCU the fewest giveaways. Quarterback Max Duggan has just three interceptions in 332 passing attempts for the Horned Frogs.

Kansas State is one of three teams in the conference to score touchdowns on less than 60% of the drives into the red zone

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Group of Five Football Betting Odds: Huge Tests on Tap for Tulane Green Wave and Toledo Rockets
• College Football: Expected Totals for NCAA Football SEC Wins
• College Football Big Ten Teams: “Expected to Win” Totals in the West
• NCAAF Team Stats
• Big 12 Week 8 Betting Odds: Undefeated TCU Faces Another Huge Test