The #6 Longhorns (12-1) are somewhat surprising -8.5 favorites in the Kansas State at Texas betting matchup, a number that seems a bit high since KSU has started 12-1 themselves. UT barely squeaked one out against Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve, winning 70-69 at Oklahoma as -3.5 favorites to run their win streak to six in a row.
Something has to give on Tuesday, as K-State has also won six straight. The Wildcats may not have the strength of schedule that Texas does, but KSU’s 82-76 win over West Virginia on Saturday in the Big 12 opener came when West Virginia was ranked #24. Texas had won five straight in the head to head series prior to the Wildcats’ 66-65 win in Austin last January as +10.5 underdogs.
K-State Preparing to Fade Out?
Every game is a learning experience for Kansas State in their first year under Jerome Tang, but they passed another test over the weekend. The Wildcats were down 32-21 against West Virginia on Saturday, but Tang made some adjustments that led KSU on a 31-12 run to start the second half and fuel the 82-76 win even though it did take OT.
K-State players are starting to get more defined roles as well. Markquis Nowell had 7 points in OT against West Virginia as he’s becoming the go-to player in the clutch, while Keyontae Johnson continues to be the major producer while scoring 16+ in 8 of the last 9. Johnson is turning himself back into an NBA prospect which is great to see after his health scare at Florida back in 2020.
Kansas State doesn’t do anything outwardly impressive, ranking 73rd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 38th defensively. On any given night with Johnson and Nowell clicking though KSU has a chance.
Texas Ready for Home Conference Opener
The Longhorns may have failed to cover the -3.5 number against Oklahoma, but that was also the first true road game of the year for Texas and in the Big 12 opener to boot. Now Texas prepares to play their first conference game at the Moody Center, where they have opened the season 9-0.
Texas’ 12-1 start to the season is even more impressive considering they’ve played the last five games mired in a lot of outside noise after coach Chris Beard was suspended following an arrest for domestic violence of a family member. Longhorns administration is likely in no hurry to bring Beard back after interim coach Rodney Terry has led the team to five straight wins.
Kansas State has a pretty talented duo in Johnson and Nowell, but Texas has some scoring depth as well with Timmy Allen having a season high of 21 points, Marcus Carr scoring 41 against Texas A&M CC, and Tyrese Hunter scoring 10.8 ppg despite scoring in the single digits in five of the last six.
Free Kansas State at Texas Betting Pick
Are the Longhorns -8.5 better than the Wildcats on Tuesday night – only 28% of the betting public believe so. K-State didn’t play a road game for the whole month of December, and they lost by 12 in their most recent trip away from Manhattan in a 76-64 defeat at Butler.
The combination of Tang leading K-State on the road in the conference for the first time as well as so much of the betting public on KSU means this is an opportunity to play Texas on the other side.
Free Pick: Texas -8.5
