The Week 4 college football slate is a little shorter than the previous three weeks, but that just means our fearless handicapper has fewer games to cull through in search of the top NCAAF picks.
Duke Blue Devils vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday, September 24, 2022 –12:00 PM EDT at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Let’s just call this Duke vs. Kansas, Part I. And no, you’re not alone in thinking that Part II about seven weeks from now when the Blue Devils and Jayhawks meet on the hardwood at the 2022 Champions Classic has the potential to be a much better matchup.
We can expect the Fox Sports 1 broadcast team in Lawrence this Saturday to remind us of the upcoming Duke and Kansas meeting in Indianapolis on November 15, and we can’t blame them since it’s difficult to focus on a football game between these two basketball powers.
Spread Coming Down, Total Going Up
You can count on the top sportsbooks being focused on this gridiron clash, and they’re all in agreement with Kansas favored by 7½ after the Jayhawks opened a couple of points stronger, with 66½ points for the total after that number started a couple of points lower.
Clash of Unbeaten 3-0 Teams
Just a few months after Mike Krzyzewski coached his final basketball at Duke, Mike Elko stepped onto the sidelines in Durham to begin his career as the Blue Devils’ football coach, and things have gotten off to a splendid 3-0 start, albeit against some light opponents.
Ditto for the Jayhawks who are off to a 3-0 start in Lance Leipold’s second season at the helm, their first 3-0 start in 12 years with the most recent victory coming against a Houston Cougars team that began the year ranked in both conventional polls.
KU In Revenge Mode
There isn’t a lot of pigskin history between the two schools with Saturday marking just their fourth matchup, but what little info we do have is all recent with the three previous meetings taking place since 2014 and including a 52-33 Duke win at home last season that covered a 16½-point spread.
Both teams are healthy with the Blue Devils and Jayhawks each ranking top 50 in the country in total offense, so another high-scoring affair like last season is the way we’ll recommend on our free NCAA football pick.
NCAAF Pick: Over 66½ (-110) at FanDuel
Texas Longhorns vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 03:30 PM EDT at Jones AT&T Stadium
With a hostile – and that’s being nice – bunch of fans ready to pack their way into the stadium, the Texas Tech Red Raiders eagerly await the arrival of the Texas Longhorns for what promises to be some good smashmouth football, Big 12 style.
It certainly makes for an intriguing conference opener for both the Red Raiders and Longhorns, and the environment Texas is heading into only adds to the plot as the first road game for Steve Sarkisian’s squad.
Early Action on ‘Horns
Like the rest of the shops, FanDuel opened Texas as a 5½-point favorite, and just like the rest of the shops, FanDuel has raised that to -6½ after early action on the Longhorns forced the increase. The total is sitting at 60 at most books, with some listing it 59½.
No Letdown for Texas
Following their tough loss to then-No. 1 Alabama in Week 2, the Longhorns came out a little sluggish in a Week 3 matchup against their sister school down 1-35, but Texas got things going eventually and smothered UTSA in the second half for a 41-20 victory to remain perfect against the NCAA odds.
With Hudson Card and the passing game bogged down a bit, Bijan Robinson and the offensive line took matters into their hands to run roughshod over the Roadrunners. Robinson ran for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead Texas.
Tech With 4 Turnovers at NC State
Following an exciting double overtime win over Houston, Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech team also started flat in their Week 3 game on the road at NC State. Unlike Texas, however, the Red Raiders couldn’t overcome an early 20-0 deficit and dropped a 27-14 decision to the Wolfpack.
Offense Has Ruled in Recent Meetings
Texas has won the last four meetings, covering three of the triumphs, but the contests have all been remembered for lighting up the NCAA scoreboard with finals that accounted for at least 73 points each game on totals that ranged from 62-71.
That won’t be the case this time around, prompting a play on the final tally coming up short on the old Jones Stadium scoreboard.
NCAAF Pick: Under 60 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
