Kansas State Wildcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Odds: Analysis and Prediction

One of the great victories in Kansas State football history, and the game that validated Bill Snyder as one of the best coaches in the business, came in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game—a stunning 35-7 rout of Oklahoma. However, since that game, the Wildcats have lost six of seven meetings with the Sooners, going 3-4 against the spread. Kansas State will try to turn around that trend when the teams meet again Saturday afternoon in Norman.

Point spread: Sooners opened as 12-point favorites at Memorial Stadium, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick via Odds Shark computer: 39.3-24.3 Sooners

Why the Kansas State Wildcats can cover the spread

The Wildcats are 3-0 against the spread in their last three games after beating Texas Tech 45-13 two weeks ago, covering as two-touchdown favorites.

Kansas State then had last week off. The Wildcats, 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, grabbed an early 17-0 lead over the Red Raiders and then coasted home from there, eventually outgaining Tech 535-347, holding the ball for 40 minutes and picking off Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb four times.

Meanwhile, Wildcats quarterback Jake Waters threw for 290 yards and four scores and ran for 105 yards and another touchdown. On the season, Kansas State is averaging 189 yards on the ground while allowing just 81.

Why the Oklahoma Sooners can cover the spread

The Sooners recovered from a loss to TCU two weeks ago to beat Texas 31-26 in the Red River Shootout last week. Oklahoma had an off day offensively, garnering only 232 yards, but returned both a kickoff and an interception for touchdowns.

The Sooners haven't lost two games in a row since 2000. For the season, Oklahoma—now 5-1 overall and 2-1 and tied for fourth place in the Big 12—is outrushing foes by a margin of 191-116 yards per game while averaging 41 points per game.

Smart pick

Over the last 10 seasons, including the 2003 conference championship game, Oklahoma has been favored over Kansas State by double digits six times. The Wildcats covered that number in four of those games. Kansas State is also 12-1 ATS the last 13 times it's been dogged on the road, so the smart money here is with the underdog Wildcats.

Betting trends

• Kansas State is 2-4 straight up in its last six games when playing on the road against Oklahoma.
• Oklahoma is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates, and get the free odds tracker app.