Betting the Big 12: Week 3

Well, all of our rooting interest last week was ruined by the outcome of the CyHawk game. Thankfully our wallets recovered a bit. 4-3 with an easy winner on Sunday to cap it off. This week this column becomes the real deal, with an untold number of Cyclones heading to Las Vegas. I’m locked in. Get your bet slips ready and take some cash home with you.

THE GAMES

Nebraska (2-1) at #3 Oklahoma (2-0)

Kickoff: 11:00am | TV: FOX | The Line: Oklahoma -22.5

This line seems too short. All the build up to this game has been about the past, because Nebraska is very much not good in the present. I don’t take much stock in their wins over Fordham and Buffalo. Never forget, Nebraska tried to get out of this game and got bullied into not cancelling it. I think Oklahoma wants to obliterate them, and I don’t see them letting off the gas. Sooners by 30.

Pick: Oklahoma -22.5

#15 Virginia Tech (2-0) at West Virginia (1-1)

Kickoff: 11:00am | TV: FS1 | The Line: West Virginia -2.5

What’s that you see? West Virginia is unranked and a favorite over a ranked team? That screams auto bet to me. West Virginia is winning this game. It’s my favorite trend. The unranked road team covers an absurd amount of the time. Play Country Roads because the Mountaineers are taking care of business.

Pick: West Virginia -2.5

Nevada (2-0) at Kansas State (2-0)

Kickoff: 1:00pm | TV: ESPN+ | The Line: Nevada -2.5

What a strange line. Nevada is pretty good. Kansas State is without Skylar Thompson. But I swear, K-State has a game like this every season where they are missing their best player but win anyway. I think everyone wants to jump on Nevada here as a great G5 team but Purple Kansas will win this game on pure weird Manhattan voodoo.

Pick: Kansas State +2.5

Baylor (2-0) at Kansas (1-1)

Kickoff: 2:30pm | TV: ESPN+ | The Line: Baylor -18

Kansas is 0-2 and 0-2 ATS. I would not be surprised if they keep this close, but we’re not putting money on Kansas until they prove worth it.

Pick: Baylor -18

Florida International (1-1) at Texas Tech (2-0)

Kickoff: 6:00pm | TV: ESPN+ | The Line: Texas Tech -20.5

Texas Tech looked really good against future conference foe Houston. Who knows about FIU? Three touchdowns is a lot, but this game feels like a set up for them to win convincingly.

Pick: Texas Tech -20.5

Rice (0-2) at Texas (1-1)

Kickoff: 7:00pm | TV: LHN | The Line: Texas -26.5

Texas is not back. They will never be back. They will get their teeth kicked in over and over in the SEC. It will be hilarious. Oh, but they’re beating Rice by 4 touchdowns. This is what they do. New QB looks good against a G5 squad.

Pick: Texas -26.5

Oklahoma State (2-0) at Boise State (1-1)

Kickoff: 8:00pm | TV: FS1 | The Line: Boise State -3.5

I’d love this line if it dropped to 3 points. Admittedly I’m going off the Smurf Turf and that’s about it. Oklahoma State hasn’t been great through 2 games so Boise covers at home.

Pick: Boise State -3.5

#14 Iowa State (1-1) at UNLV (0-2)

Kickoff: 9:30pm | TV: CBSSN | The Line: Iowa State -31.5

Prove me wrong. Show me some offense. Until that happens, we can’t expect to cover giant spreads.

Pick: UNLV +31.5

BEST BET FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

USC -8 at Washington State

Few things are more reliable than the fired coach bounce. USC’s interim coach will have the boys fired up. The Trojans will respond well and win by at least 2 touchdowns here against an overmatched Wazzu squad.

NFL PICK OF THE WEEKEND

Vikings +4 at Cardinals

Lets start here, I know Kirk Cousins is the Vikings’ QB. But there won’t be a better time to back him this season. The world will be watching Chargers/Cowboys. This game kicks off at 3:05 central when the early games are still finishing. And the Cardinals looked just a little bit too good last week, so lets count on them to come back to Earth a bit.

PROP OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY CYCLONES IN VEGAS

Breece Hall to have exactly 69 yards rushing vs UNLV?

Yes +5000

SEASON RECORD: 6-10 (-5.0 units)