Undefeated Kansas untested
Kansas has played four games this season, and most college football handicappers probably know as little about coach Mark Mangino’s team today as they did five weeks ago.
The Jayhawks are undefeated, having pummeled a quartet of virtual 98-pound weaklings — Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International — by an average score of 54-6.
Despite Kansas’ bullying of its nonconference opponents, I am backing a more tested Kansas State team as a 3-point home favorite today.
Kansas redshirt freshman quarterback Todd Reesing has had four warm-up games against inferior opponents but now gets his feet wet in the real world of big-boy college football against a Kansas State defense that has performed well this season against Auburn and Texas.
The Wildcats’ defense, led by linebacker Ian Campbell, who has prospered in a 3-4 alignment, has averaged 3.75 sacks per game and figures to force young Reesing into hasty, questionable decisions.
Offensively for Kansas State, sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman, a former big-time recruit, is getting better each week, and wide receiver/return man Jordy Nelson has developed into one of the Big 12’s top playmakers.
Last year, after upsetting Texas in Manhattan as double-digit underdogs, the Wildcats laid an egg the following week, losing to Kansas 39-20 despite being 2-point road favorites.
I do not see this more experienced and talented bunch of Wildcats doing the same. Kansas State has covered 11 of the past 13 meetings between the rivals.
Other selections for today (home team in CAPS):
• Georgia (-1) over TENNESSEE — The Bulldogs have been Southeastern Conference road warriors, winning 19 of their past 23 league games straight up away from Athens.
Tennessee ranks an uncharacteristic 95th in total defense, giving up an average of 439 total yards per game, and that does not bode well for the Volunteers as they face Georgia’s one-two running punch of Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno.
Entering the season, the Volunteers lacked offensive playmakers, especially at wide receiver, and that remains the case at the one-third mark of their season.
• Oklahoma (-12) over Texas — Both teams are coming into this game in Dallas off upset losses, and both historically have been moneymakers after straight-up losses. Although defeats have been few and far between during his tenure, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is 11-2 against the spread off a straight-up loss.
An edge for the Sooners is their passing game against the Longhorns’ inexperienced, vulnerable secondary. Big, rangy wide receiver Malcolm Kelly should have a big day against the Longhorns, while the wild card for the Sooners in the aerial game is developing 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound tight end Jermaine Gresham.
• MISSOURI (-6) over Nebraska — The Cornhuskers’ defense proudly has gone by the moniker “The Blackshirts” in recent seasons. After getting torched for more than 600 yards against Ball State earlier this season, I am not sure what color shirts the Nebraska defenders are donning these days. Perhaps green, as in lots of grass stains.
Last week, Iowa State had a season-high 415 yards of offense against Nebraska.
Missouri, led by sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel, has one of the nation’s most prolific offenses, averaging 544 total yards and 42 points per outing. Look for the Tigers to take a significant step toward the Big 12 North title with a double-digit victory.
• Texas Christian-WYOMING (Under 401/2) — I relied partially on The Weather Channel in arriving at this selection as winds of between 15 and 25 mph are forecast today in Laramie, with gusts exceeding 40 mph.
The Horned Frogs recently regained the services of talented tailback Aaron Brown but have averaged only 20.2 points per game this season against a mediocre slate of defenses including the likes of Baylor, Air Force and Southern Methodist.
Offensively, neither team averages 5 yards per play as Wyoming checks in at 4.8 and TCU at 4.7.
The Cowboys’ defense has allowed opponents to gain an average of 3.9 yards per play, while the Horned Frogs are slightly behind that standard at 4.5.
Last week: 2-3 against the spread
Season: 15-9-1
Texas-based handicapper Paul Stone of Vegas Sports Authority (vegassportsauthority.com) is providing weekly college football analysis for the Review-Journal this season.
