Kansas State is an enticing underdog in Big 12 opener

Oklahoma State hosts Kansas State successful a Big 12 opener that seems destined to beryllium debased scoring.

The statement full astatine Las Vegas sportsbooks is 46½. Kansas State allows 1.9 yards per carry, which ranks ninth successful the nation, and Oklahoma State gives up 2.6 ypc, bully for 17th.

Cowboys backmost Spencer Sanders completed 6 of 13 passes for 82 yards successful a 21-20 triumph astatine Boise State past week. The Wildcats mislaid QB Skylar Thompson to wounded and are rocking with Will Howard, mediocre astatine champion arsenic a passer.

The biggest difference? Kansas State is tied for 3rd successful violative occurrence rate, and Oklahoma State ranks 112th. In a crippled successful which tract presumption could substance tremendously, the Wildcats are the amended stake to consistently determination the chains.

Sanders and the Cowboys mightiness person a flimsy borderline successful the passing game. I would marque this enactment pick’em connected a neutral field.

Take Kansas State +6.

Four much plays (home squad successful CAPS):

Missouri (-1½) implicit BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles’ play changed erstwhile backmost Phil Jurkovec got injured. Backup QB Dennis Grosel completed 7 of 15 passes for 79 yards past week against a Temple defence that ranks 89th successful SP+. Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers is great, but helium needs idiosyncratic to propulsion him the ball. I don’t spot either defense. The Eagles gave up 28 second-half points to Massachusetts, and Missouri hasn’t been capable to halt anyone. But manager Eli Drinkwitz, QB Connor Bazelak and moving backmost Tyler Badie person formed a bully trio for Missouri.

Texas-San Antonio (+3) implicit MEMPHIS: The Roadrunners person covered successful 5 consecutive games going backmost to past play and are 7-2 consecutive up successful their past nine. Memphis was fortunate to bushed Mississippi State contempt getting outgained by 1 gait per play and allowing the Bulldogs to tally 30 further violative snaps. UTSA moving backmost Sincere McCormick (2,775 yards of full offense, 20 touchdowns past 2 seasons) is owed for a large game. The Roadrunners, who won astatine Illinois, are tied for 29th successful antiaircraft EPA (Expected Points Added) per play; Memphis is No. 102.

Alabama-Birmingham (+3½) implicit TULANE: Bill Clark is 8-3 against the dispersed and 7-4 consecutive up arsenic a roadworthy underdog against Group of Five teams astatine UAB. Clark is 1-6 ATS against Power Five teams and 37-19-1 against everyone else. Don’t fto the information that Tulane frightened Oklahoma and Georgia embarrassed UAB to skew your projections. The Blazers gave up a combined six points and 2.7 yards per play to Jacksonville State and North Texas. UAB mightiness person recovered thing against the Mean Green successful QB Dylan Hopkins, who is 10 for 12 for 261 yards, 4 TDs and nary interceptions.

Toledo (-5) implicit BALL STATE: After pushing Notre Dame to the brink, Toledo laid an ovum astatine Colorado State, but the Rockets didn’t let a antiaircraft touchdown. Ball State’s discourtesy ranks 125th successful EPA per pass. By immoderate metric, Ball State’s defence has gotten obliterated; Toledo’s defence is 19th successful EPA per play and 34th successful occurrence complaint allowed. The SP+ projections favour Toledo by 12.3 connected a neutral field.

Last week: 3-2

Season: 9-6

Christopher Smith of AL.com is providing assemblage shot investigation for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @CFBlocksmith connected Twitter.