In a display of two teams that like to run the football, Coach David Beaty and the Kansas Jayhawks are getting 15 points when they take on their Big 12 foe No. 11 Texas Longhorns to Kivisto Field at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on FS1 and this Friday game is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Texas Longhorns vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
Kansas is a live dog and is currently getting 15 points in this Big 12 game. The Longhorns are also receiving -840 moneyline odds while the Jayhawks are +550. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 50.5 points, and there will probably be some good live betting opportunities in this match.
The game’s total has moved lower after originally being set at 51.5. The opening line (15) has yet to change.
The Longhorns have gained 1.1 units this season and are 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 6-5. The Jayhawks are down 2.6 units for moneyline bettors in 2018. They’re 6-5 ATS and have an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Longhorns are 8-3 straight up (SU), including 6-2 SU against conference opponents. The Jayhawks are 3-8 SU overall and are also 1-7 SU in conference play.
Texas enters this contest on a zero-game winless skid while Kansas has won each of its last zero. The Longhorns want to keep things rolling after a 24-10 victory over Iowa State last week in which the Longhorns completed 22-of-25 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Ehlinger went 12-for-15 for 137 yards and one touchdown while Shane Buechele completed 10-of-10 for 89 yards and one touchdown. Tre Watson (93 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and Keaontay Ingram (57 yards on 12 carries) mounted the ground attack in the win while Lil’Jordan Humphrey (seven receptions, 86 yards, one TD) and Ingram (five catches, 40 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
One game ago, Oklahoma knocked off this Kansas crew by a score of 55-40. The Jayhawks defense allowed the Sooners to eat up the clock by rushing for 294 yards on 40 attempts, including five rush TDs. Kennedy Brooks was outstanding, putting up 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts for the Sooners. For Kansas, Peyton Bender completed 19-of-27 passes for 167 yards. Pooka Williams Jr. (252 yards on 15 rush attempts, two TDs) and Khalil Herbert (64 yards on 15 carries, two TDs) handled the ground game in the defeat while Steven Sims Jr. (six receptions, 49 yards) and Jeremiah Booker (five catches, 58 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
Looking at offensive play-calling, each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Texas has run the ball on 53.9 percent of its offensive possessions while Kansas has an overall rush percentage of 52.2. The Longhorns have rushed for 158 yards per game (including 149 per game against Big 12 opponents) and have 18 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Jayhawks are logging 161 rushing yards per game (136 in conference) and have 13 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Longhorns should have the edge when it comes to applying pressure, as their offensive line has given up just 34 sacks while their D-line registered 31 sacks. The Jayhawks offensive line has given up 29 sacks and their defense has created only 19 sacks.
The Longhorns offense has averaged 267 yards through the air overall (275 per game versus conference opposition) and has 24 passing TDs so far. The Jayhawks have produced 195 pass yards per game (208.1 against Big 12 competition) and have 17 total pass scores.
Defensively, Texas has allowed opponents to run for an average of 136 yards and pass for 265 yards per game. The Kansas defense has allowed 255.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 174.4 yards per game on the ground. The Longhorns are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.38 to opponents, while the Jayhawks have given up a 6.97 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ehlinger is up to 2,308 passing yards on the year, and has completed 65 percent of his 300 attempts with 17 scores through the air and only two interceptions. Ehlinger’s got a pristine 7.87 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.68 over the last two games.
We expect the Longhorns to control tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey (874 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Keaontay Ingram (542 rush yards, two rush TDs, 111 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Tre Watson (519 rush yards, three rush TDs, three receiving TDs) have brought significant production to the Texas offensive scheme.
In the home locker room, Peyton Bender has managed to complete 144-of-252 passes for 1,503 yards, 10 TDs and two INTs. Bender’s ANY/A stands at 5.42 for the year and 6.75 across his last two outings.
The Jayhawks also like to keep their running backs featured. Along with Steven Sims Jr. (409 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), Pooka Williams Jr. (952 rush yards, six rush TDs, two receiving TDs) and Khalil Herbert (438 rush yards, five rush TDs) have seen a lot of touches lately.
When these two schools met a year ago, Texas got the victory over Kansas, 42-27.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Texas Longhorns at Kansas Jayhawks
SU Winner – Longhorns, ATS Winner – Longhorns, O/U – Over
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Texas D has sacked opposing QBs 25 times this year. Kansas has recorded just 19 sacks.
Kansas has lost seven fumbles in 2018 while the Texas offense has lost five.
The Longhorns offense has registered six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Jayhawks have accounted for two such plays.
The Texas defense has allowed 13 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Kansas has given up nine such plays.
The Texas offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Kansas has created 24 such runs.
The Longhorns defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Jayhawks have given up 13 such runs.
The O/U for Kansas’ last matchup going into it was 68. The over cashed in the 55-40 loss to Oklahoma.
Over its last three matchups, Kansas is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matches, Texas is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Kansas has dropped eight of its last nine games SU, with a one-point win over TCU on October 27th representing the one victory over that stretch.
The Over/Under for Texas’ previous game was set at 51. The under cashed in the team’s 24-10 victory over Iowa State.
As a team, Texas has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its past three outings and 3.6 over its last two.
Kansas has averaged 5.5 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.5 over its last two.
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