Texas vs. Kansas point spread: Picking Longhorns vs. Jayhawks

A crucial Big 12 showdown is awaiting on Saturday as Texas welcomes Kansas to DKR Texas Memorial Stadium. Both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25 and are trying to cement their case as a contender in the conference with October looming.

The Longhorns are 16.5-point favorites in the game, according to FanDuel, which shows what the oddsmakers in Las Vegas think of the Longhorns.

But according to the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo, Texas still has to prove it can play well in one game with a big game looming. This time, it’s a Kansas team that might be even better than last year one week before facing off against Oklahoma. Still, he’s taking Texas to cover.

“We’re expecting Texas — yeah, we know you show up in the big games. But let’s take care of business in the not so big games,” Russo told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “That’s why I’m interested see what they do here. Kansas is good. But you got Oklahoma next week. You’re still feeling good about Alabama. I like Texas, and I think I’m giving up them points.

“This is the thing, I think Kansas is better this year than they were last year. … I thought Kansas’ 5-0 start last year was a little bit more fortunate. I think this 4-0 is a little more legit. I think this Kansas team, no matter what happens this week, is going to have a better back half of the season than it did last year. That said, I want to see it. I do want to see Texas do this.”

What life without Bijan Robinson means for Texas against Kansas

Last year, Bijan Robinson accounted for about 45% of Texas’ total offense in the 55-14 victory over Kansas. He had 243 yards and four touchdowns to lead the charge while Jonathon Brooks added 108 yards and two touchdowns as the Jayhawks allowed 427 rushing yards.

But Robinson is now in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. That means someone else will have to emerge as Texas’ top playmaker, especially considering the Longhorns’ second-leading rusher in 2022 — Roschon Johnson — is with the Chicago Bears.

Considering Robinson’s absence, Staples is on the other side and taking Kansas to keep it within 16.5 points.

“I believe in Texas too. Yet, I am still going to take Kansas to cover,” Staples said. “I think Texas will win and Kansas will cover. I just think Kansas is good this year. And I think that they will give Texas a good game because the thing that Texas did to them last year, I’m not sure — they don’t have a Bijan Robinson this year to do that. Maybe they just maybe they just throw it to Ja’Tavion Sanders and he does it to them.

“But I do think that Kansas has a chance to make this one at least semi-competitive. Again, Texas can win by two touchdowns and I still win. This is this is a lot of points. But I’m really excited to see this game. Again, if Texas can cover this spread, I’m going to be even more in on them because they do feel like they’re made differently than what we’ve seen from Texas in the last few years.”