The Kansas State Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks will meet on January 4 and battle at Cowboys Stadium in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
We’ll admit we’re mystified by the enigma known as Kansas State. Nearly every week this betting season, we watched the No. 8 Wildcats get chased up and down the field the entire game – only to emerge with the SU win AND pointspread cover.
In fact, we don’t even think Bill Snyder himself could explain to us how his team went just 3-9 ‘In The Stats’ (0-7 ITS versus fellow bowlers this season) but finished 10-2 SU and 9-2 ATS! On paper, that would make K-State the phoniest 10-win team in the land, especially with the ‘Cats allowing 55 YPG more than they gained his campaign.
Thus, it comes as no surprise to learn the only common opponent faced by Arkansas and KSU this betting season (Texas A&M) found the ‘Cats on the short end of a 193 net yardage deficit.
And when we take a look at recent ATS history for both squads, we start to get sweaty palms and an increased heart rate just thinking about a wager on the Hogs.
For starters, Big 12 bowlers off a win are just 3-17 ATS versus an opponent off a SU and ATS loss and Big 12 bowl dogs are a dead-on-the-slab 0-7 ATS when squaring off with the SEC.
But as soon as we envision snapping the rubber band against these imposters, our betting database warns us that Arkansas owns a few embarrassing stats of its own.
The Razorbacks have been led to the meat processing plant in recent bowl appearances, going 4-14 SU and ATS in the post-season since – including 0-9 ATS versus a foe off consecutive wins.
And Boss Hog himself, Bobby Petrino, has brought home the ATS bacon just ONCE in six trips to the alleys. Even so, we’ll take note of Arky’s outstanding 8-2 ATS success against the Big 12 and offer up a lean to the No. 6 Pigs. Lay it if you play it.
Sportsbooks currently have the Razorbacks listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game's total is sitting at 64.
