RCT Bets the Big 12: Week 2

Welcome back to RCT’s newest weekly installment, Betting the Big 12. Once again, yes, this is a blatant ripoff of the WRNL series, but why should they have all the fun?

I will also repeat that this really is for entertainment purposes only, as I am not a gambler or a professional handicapper – although based on Week 1 results maybe I should consider a career change.

Last Week:

Kansas State +14.5 @ Stanford, bet WON $38

Oklahoma vs Houston +11, WON $38

Missouruh @ West Virginia -10, WON $19

Rhode Island @ Kansas -29, WON $76

Notre Dame -3 @ Texas, LOST $40

So I ended up plus $131 last week, which puts my bank at $631.

Sweet.

And FYI, if I could’ve bet on Northern Iowa last week, I would have.

I’m gonna warn you up front, I don’t like most of the games out there, so the bets are lower this week. That said, on to this week’s games!

Central Michigan @ Oklahoma State

Line: OSU -21

O/U: 61

The Chippewas destroyed Presbyterian in Week 1, while OSU hammered SE Louisiana. Obviously, neither game tells us much about either team. The general line of thinking is “if you don’t think the underdog can win, don’t pick them to cover.”

My bet: $10 Oklahoma State -21

Youngstown State @ West Virginia

OFF

OFF

My bet: David will be rooting hard for the Penguins, and Dana Holgorsen will still have a job on Sunday – but maybe just barely.

Ohio @ Kansas

Line: Kansas -3

O/U: 59.5

So this game had one of the more interesting opening lines this week, with Ohio coming out as nine-point favorites. Reportedly within 90 minutes the line had moved all the way to KU -3, a 12-point swing. I think I would have been all over the Jayhawks at +9, and call me a homer all you want, but I’ll still take KU at -3. Kansas made plenty of mistakes on offense and still scored 55 points last week. Now the competition gets tougher, but I think Kansas still has the better players on the field.

My bet: $20 Kansas -3

SMU @ Baylor

Line: Baylor -32

O/U: 76

SMU jumped all over North Texas early in week 1 and held on for a 13-point win, while Baylor took its foot of the gas pedal early in the second quarter in a romp over Northwestern State. Basically it comes down to whether or not you think the Ponies can score three or more TDs, cuz I’m pretty sure Baylor is getting into the 50s again.

My bet: $10 on the OVER

Arkansas @ TCU

Line: TCU -7.5

O/U: 58.5

TCU struggled to put away an admittedly good South Dakota State team, but come on – it was TCU versus South Dakota State. Meanwhile, the Hogs needed two fourth-down conversions late in the fourth quarter, including a fourth-and-goal from the four-yard line, to steal a win away from Louisiana Tech in Fayetteville. TCU’s defense showed some flaws but I’m not convinced Arkansas is equipped to exploit said flaws.

My bet: $10 TCU -7.5

UTEP @ Texas

Line: Texas -28

O/U: 59.5

UTEP ran away from New Mexico State in week 1, while Texas figured out a way to knock off Notre Dame. I do not expect this game to be as exciting as ND-UT. I also don’t expect the Longhorns to be as fired up to play the Miners, but even with a letdown, this game shouldn’t be close.

My bet: $10 Texas -28

Louisiana-Monroe @ Oklahoma

Line: Oklahoma -46.5

O/U: 65

Whew boy, Oklahoma is gonna put a hurtin’ on the Warhawks. Or are they? OU may play conservatively, because Ohio State is coming in to Norman in week 3 and the Sooners may be looking at that matchup as a chance to salvage their season after a disappointing loss to Houston in week 1. 46 points is a lot to cover, and I’m not touching this game.

My bet: NO BET

Iowa State @ Iowa

Line: Iowa -15

O/U: 51

WRNL recently posted a pretty hilarious article about how cupcake-soft Iowa’s schedule is this year. That schedule obviously includes their in-state rival from Ames. But, this really is one of those “throw out the record books” games. ISU has won 3 of the last 5 matchups, two of those in Iowa City. The game hasn’t been decided by more than 14 points since 2010. It’s worth noting that past performance is not indicative of future results, but what does the stock market have to do with college football?

My bet: $10 Iowa State +15

Texas Tech @ Arizona State

Line: Arizona State -3

O/U: 79.5

Both squads destroyed FCS opponents in week 1, so we really didn’t learn much about either one. I probably shouldn’t bet this one either, but what the hell.

My bet: $10 on the OVER

DrCrushALot’s Picks of the Week

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

Last Week: 2-2

Notre Dame -3 @ Texas LOSS

Kansas State +14.5 @ Stanford WIN

Hawaii @ Michigan -40 WIN

Southern Miss @ Kentucky -6 LOSS

This week:

My choice would be to not take any lines this weekend, but here are three games I’m most confident in.

Virginia @ Oregon (-24.5): Oregon all the way, Virginia just lost to Richmond by 17.

Western Kentucky @ Alabama (-29): I suppose there’s the possibility of a backdoor cover in the fourth quarter but I think Alabama will be up by 42 at some point, so I’m gonna roll with the Tide.

Eastern Michigan @ Missouri (-25): Missouri has to prove they can score at some point, so until that happens, I’m taking the Eagles.