RCT Bets the Big 12: Week 8

I hate the University of Texas. That is all.

No, that is not all, although because of the Longhorns, I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad (fake) betting weekend. Or is it Iowa State’s fault? Now that I think about it, I’m not sure who to blame. But this is 21st century America, so obviously someone other than me needs to take the blame for this!

One of the worst defenses in the conference in Texas managed to keep an improving Iowa State offense to under 300 yards and only two field goals. Yikes.

But there were blowouts all around the Big 12 last weekend. Somehow, Texas Tech only scored 17 points on West Virginia. I mean, what? Pretty much everything we thought we knew about these teams is wrong!

Or maybe not. Maybe it was just a one week fluke. Sure makes gambling on these things more difficult, though!

Starting bank: $500

+/- for the year: -$56

LAST WEEK

Kansas State @ Oklahoma +10.5, WON $36

West Virginia @ Texas Tech, Over 83, LOST $40

Kansas @ Baylor, Under 67 and Kansas Moneyline, WON $36 and LOST $10

Iowa State +13.5 @ Texas, Over 69.5 and Iowa State Moneyline, LOST $30, LOST $40, and LOST $20

Week 7 Won/Loss: -$68

Last week’s bank: $429

New bank: $361

Last week: 2-5

Overall picks: 23-25

Well I finally fell below .500 on my overall picks. Sheesh. Probably a good idea to leave this up to the professionals. Or people with lots of money who can afford it! I’ll keep betting aggressively this week, but one more bad week and I may have to tone it down.

Standard reminder that this is purely for entertainment purposes only, and if it ever isn’t, never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Onward!

Oklahoma State @ Kansas

Line: Oklahoma State -24

O/U: 61.5

MoneyLine: +1175

I am probably going to keep throwing $10 or so at the KU Moneyline the rest of the year, because I do think they are going to win another game. Will it be this week? It is Homecoming, but does that really affect player performance? There are just too many questions surrounding this Kansas team right now. Who will start at quarterback? After the debacle in Waco, will the Jayhawks be itching to prove the TCU game wasn’t a fluke? Kansas has met the Under in its last five games; I think if they do that again, they also cover. Deep breath, folks.

My bet: $40 Kansas +24, $40 on the Under, $10 Kansas Moneyline

Texas @ Kansas State

Line: Kansas State -3

O/U: 56.5

MoneyLine: +125

Another game with lots of questions and not very many answers – for both sides. Will K-State get effective quarterback play? Did Texas really turn a corner last weekend against Iowa State? Texas will athletically out-class KSU on the field, but surely the White Wizard of Manhattan will his boys “coached up” and ready. I really don’t know what to do here. I guess I’ll loosely apply the old adage, “If you can’t pick the underdog to win outright, don’t bet on them at all.”

My bet: $50 Texas Moneyline

TCU @ West Virginia

Line: West Virginia -6.5

O/U: 65.5

MoneyLine: +195

So West Virginia beat the snot out of Texas Tech in Lubbock last week. I definitely did not see that coming. The Mountaineers are looking pretty strong, and I think they’ll give the fans in Morgantown something to be happy about on Saturday afternoon.

My bet: $30 West Virginia -6.5

Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

Line: Oklahoma -14

O/U: 85

MoneyLine: +420

If you thought the Tech-WVU Over/Under was high last week, well, this one is even higher. The question here, just as it is in the TCU-WVU matchup above, is how much effect does one weekend’s result have on your perception of any particular team? For Tech, they found themselves on the wrong side of a beat down, and scored less than 20 points in a game in I don’t know how long. Surely their offense will bounce back, and Oklahoma can definitely light up the scoreboard as well – especially against this Tech defense. Oklahoma’s defense has certainly shown its flaws this year in games such as Houston, TCU, and Texas. But I think Mahomes is still hurt from the Kansas game, and Texas Tech may struggle against OU’s superior athletes. Seriously, if West Virginia and Kansas tore up Tech’s O-line, what will Oklahoma do to them?

My bet: $50 Oklahoma -14, $30 on the Under

DrCrushALot’s Picks of the Week

Each week, DrCrushALot will provide a maximum of five games that he likes.

Season record: 12-12

Last week: 1-2

Georgia -14 @ Vanderbilt, LOSS

USC -7 @ Arizona, WIN

Tulsa @ Houston -20, LOSS

And so Doc flutters back down to .500 after his first losing week since Week 4. Whatcha got for us this week, Doc?

This week:

I actually like the Rutgers number vs Minnesota, but like Rutgers, the Gophers aren’t very good at offense either, so 18 points seems right. I’m not betting that one.

As for Kansas – two weeks ago we witnessed why, when you have a chance to win while coaching a bad team, you go for it full force because if you don't win your season is over. Please don't post a “How to Watch” the Kansas game this week article. No KU fan should witness this game – Bang Bang Oklahoma State.

As for my recommendations:

BYU @ Boise State -7. Boise State is surging again and BYU is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this year. I like the Broncos to cover on the smurf turf.

Michigan -35 @ Illinois. Illinois is falling apart again and I will gladly keep riding the Harbaugh “run-it-up-at-all-costs” train - Choo Choo, Michigan.

Middle Tennessee State @ Missouri -6.5. Missouri has proven they can beat non-P5 foes this year and the coach gladly will run up the score to help save his job.