Kansas Jayhawks vs. TCU Horned Frogs Betting Odds, College Football Pick

TCU is 3-0 against Kansas since joining the Big 12 three seasons ago, but the Jayhawks have covered the spread in each of those contests as big underdogs. Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Kansas will go off as a huge dog against what will be a mad Horned Frogs outfit.

Point spread: The Horned Frogs opened as 43-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 55.4-3.4 Horned Frogs

Why the Kansas Jayhawks can cover the spread

Kansas, in its first season under new head coach David Beaty, is 0-9 straight up and 2-7 against the spread, but when you start at the bottom with nothing, it takes time and a lot of hard work to grow. The Jayhawks just lost at Texas last week 59-20, missing on the cover as 28-point dogs, although they only trailed the Longhorns 24-14 at the half before letting that game get out of hand.

On the day, Kansas came up with 426 yards of offense, 192 on the ground, although much of that came in catch-up mode. And four turnovers didn't help. Also, Texas scored three times on big plays—two long offensive scores and once on a fumble return.

It's difficult to find a silver lining for the Jayhawks at the moment other than, perhaps, to say things can't get any worse.

Why the TCU Horned Frogs can cover the spread

TCU started this season 8-0 but ran into a buzz saw last week and lost at Oklahoma State 49-29. The Frogs fell down 7-0 four minutes into the game, later trailed 35-9, pulled to within two scores with just over two minutes to go but ultimately came up short.

TCU eventually racked up 663 yards of offense, but Heisman candidate quarterback Trevone Boykin threw four interceptions. Meanwhile, the Frogs defense gave up five touchdowns through the air, four of them from 48 yards and longer.

The loss dropped TCU into third place in the Big 12, but it's not dead yet; the Frogs still get a shot at Oklahoma and get Baylor at home, while the first-place Cowboys still have to play both the Sooners and Bears as well.

Smart pick

This is one of those times when the outcome isn't in question; TCU might come out breathing fireballs after losing last week, while Kansas is just terrible. But that spread is 10 points out of whack, and at some point you'd think the Frogs will call off the dogs. The smartest play here is probably the pass.

Betting trends

Kansas is 0-3 SU and 3-0 ATS in its last three games against TCU.

TCU is 12-1 ATS in its last 13 games at home.

Kansas is 0-20 SU in its last 20 games on the road.

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.