LSU Tigers vs. Kansas State Wildcats Odds & Pick

When: 9 pm ET Tuesday, Jan. 4

Where: NRG Stadium

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: K St -2.5 (GTBets – Bankroll down? These guys will give you a 100% REAL CASH bonus up to $500!)

Over/under: 47

The Big 12 meets up with the SEC when an up-and-coming Kansas State team plays a disappointing LSU outfit in the Texas Bowl Tuesday, Jan. 4 in Houston. Louisiana State just won a national championship a couple of years ago; since then, it’s a .500 team and lucky just to make a bowl. The Wildcats, meanwhile, reached 7-3 this season but lost their last two games.

Early betting action flipped the favorite on this Texas Bowl. Who do we like for our free college football betting pick?

Texas Bowl Betting Odds

The college football bowl season betting lines opened LSU as a 2.5-point favorite for this match-up, with an over/under of around 46.5. Early betting action then steamed Kansas State into 2.5-point chalk.

According to Sagarin’s ratings at USAToday.com, Louisiana State should be favored by two points for this bowl.

Texas Bowl College Football Betting Preview

Louisiana State played 6-6 this season and lost its head coach in the process. The Tigers started 3-1, with a win at Mississippi State, but then lost five of its next six games, as the schedule got a little tougher – Auburn, Ole Miss, SEC champion Alabama and Arkansas. Several of those losses were close, though – a blown fourth-quarter lead against the Tigers, a six-point decision against the Crimson Tide, and in overtime against the Razorbacks. LSU then won its last two games, including an upset of Texas A&M in the season finale, to make a bowl after missing out last year.

But the Tigers will play this bowl without Coach Orgeron, who’s gone now just two seasons after winning the national championship.

LSU, playing as a nine-point home dog against the Aggies, scored the first 10 points of the game, fell behind in the fourth quarter but drove 85 yards to a game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left.

The Tigers also out-gained each of their last three opponents.

Louisiana State finished in last place in the SEC West at 3-5 in conference play, although we should point out Sagarin ranks the SEC West as the No. 1 division in the country this season.

Kansas State, meanwhile, played 7-5 this season to make a bowl after also missing out last season. The Wildcats started 3-0, then lost three straight to Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State. K State then won four in a row but lost its last two to eventual Big 12 champion Baylor and Texas.

The Wildcats also finished only 4-5 in Big 12 play this year, but we’d call three of those losses close to the Sooners, Bears, and Longhorns.

Most recently, Kansas State lost its season finale to Texas 22-17, after leading that game 17-16 well into the third quarter.

The Wildcats got out-gained by each of their last three opponents, but they also out-rushed three of their last four foes.

On the injury front, K State QB Skylar Thompson missed the last game with a bad ankle and is listed as questionable for this bowl. Our guess is he’ll play. Meanwhile, LSU is kinda banged-up all over.

These programs met one time before, a 21-0 LSU victory back in 1980.

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College Football Betting Trends

• Over the last six-plus seasons, the SEC is 16-12, both SU and ATS against the Big 12.
• Over the last six Texas Bowls, the Big 12 is 3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS against the SEC.

Totals Report

The Under is 7-5 in Tigers games this season, which are averaging 52 total points.

The Under is also 7-5 in Wildcats games this season, which are averaging 47 points.

Free College Football Betting Pick

Kansas State out-rushed opponents this season by 36 yards per game, while LSU got out-rushed by 28 YPG. And we love betting on teams that win the ground battles. Plus, the Tigers are down 7-8 usual starters for this game. Plus, we give the Wildcats the edge in motivation. So while we don’t like going along with the betting flow, we’re betting K State here. Bet your football picks for FREE this week by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $50 to $300 at MyBookie Sportsbook! (Must use bonus code PREDICT100).