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Basketball Schools Are Good At Football? ๐Ÿง

5-0 and ranked for the first time since 2009, something might be brewing in Kansas. Is it just an early-season feel-good story, or should the Big 12 be on notice? ๐Ÿˆ (4 min read)

Tonight's parlay is Nebraska ML @ Rutgers and Memphis -2.5 vs. Houston. More info below on a chance to win $100 ๐Ÿ‘‡

Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images

Is Kansas Legit?

#13 Kentucky. #18 UCLA. #19 Kansas. #22 Syracuse. No, these aren't preseason college basketball rankings โ€” believe it or not, these four teams all appear in the AP's latest edition of COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S Top-25 ๐Ÿ˜ณ

The strong play from schools usually known for their blue-blood basketball programs has been one of the biggest early stories in college football, and perhaps the most surprising start of all has been in Lawrence, Kansas ๐Ÿ“ˆ

  • Picked to finish dead-last in the Big 12 (by a pretty wide margin) in the preseason media poll, the Jayhawks have gotten off to a 5-0 start, equalling their win total from the past three seasons combined ๐Ÿคฏ

  • Friendly reminder Kansas is just months removed from a college basketball title, and with a football team ranked for the first time since 2009, fans have a lot to be happy about in Jayhawk country

While it's been a great story, Kansas has yet to prove their mettle against a ranked opponent. Until now. The Jayhawks' biggest test yet is coming to town this weekend in the form of a Horned Frog - here's how the lines are shaping up for the Big 12 showdown ๐Ÿ‘‡

  • Spread: TCU -7

  • Moneyline: TCU -265 (bet $265, win $100), Kansas +215 (bet $100, win $215)

  • O/U: 69.5 Total Points

Touchdown underdogs at home? Oddsmakers don't appear to be fully convinced by the Jayhawks just yet, but either way they're expecting a high-scoring affair tomorrow night ๐Ÿฟ

  • At the very least, you know a sold-out Memorial Stadium will be rocking, especially with College Gameday visiting Lawrence for the first time ever

The Jayhawks' opponent has also gotten off to a surprising undefeated start, and the Horned Frogs now find themselves in the Top-25 for the first time since 2019 ๐Ÿ‘

  • Unranked and pegged as a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team, TCU burst onto the national radar by destroying #18 Oklahoma last weekend to the tune of 55-24

  • Max Duggan, a four-year starter at QB, threw for over 300 yards, while adding five total TDs in the victory, and he has an 11-0 TD-INT ratio over the last three games ๐Ÿ”ฅ

But Kansas' dual-threat quarterback Jalon Daniels, has been even more impressive this season, with 16 total TDs, just one INT and a legit Heisman case โฌ‡๏ธ

With both QBs playing at the top of their game, it's no wonder why heavy scoring is in the forecast tomorrow, and don't be surprised if the matchup comes down to which star signal-caller shines brighter ๐ŸŒŸ

Trivia Question: Which future NFL All-Pro cornerback played for Kansas the last time they were ranked in 2009?

Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images

Other Games To Watch

This weekend's slate of college football games may not be as jam-packed as last week, but there's still must-watch action going down all day long tomorrow. I've specifically got my eye on two more ranked matchups ๐Ÿ‘‡

  • Spread: Tennessee -3

  • Moneyline: Tennessee -156, LSU +130

  • O/U: 64.5 Total Points

Few things are guaranteed in life, but at least one ranked SEC matchup a week during conference play comes pretty dang close. Tomorrow's edition down in Baton Rouge definitely offers some intrigue ๐Ÿ˜ณ

  • If any other program has a shot at challenging Georgia or Alabama for SEC supremacy this year, smart money might be on Tennessee. The Volunteers already have a pair of ranked wins under their belt, with meetings lined up against both of the nation's top two teams later this season ๐Ÿ‘€

They'll have to get through Brian Kelly and LSU first though, and the Tigers shouldn't be overlooked. Since a heartbreaking loss in their opener, they've rattled off four straight victories, including one over Auburn last weekend

  • Spread: Utah -3.5

  • Moneyline: Utah -160, UCLA +132

  • O/U: 64.5 Total Points

I'll own up to it, I thought UCLA was going to be humbled last week by #15 Washington, and despite letting the Huskies make it interesting in the fourth quarter, the Bruins certainly proved me wrong

  • Now comes an even bigger test for Chip Kelly's crew, particularly star quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who you probably caught a glimpse of in last weekend's viral clip โฌ‡๏ธ

Pulling that off against the Utah defense, however, will be easier said than done. The Utes are letting up less than 11 PPG over their last four games ๐Ÿ˜ค

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Tonight's slate of games is admittedly pretty weak, but that doesn't mean I'm not tossing on a little parlay. It's been a rocky season in Nebraska to say the least, but I still like the Huskers over a Rutgers team that has struggled of late, while I also think Houston's disappointing season continues tonight with a loss in Memphis. Check it out ๐Ÿ‘‡

  • Nebraska ML @ Rutgers: -154

  • Memphis -2.5 vs. Houston: -114

$100 on this bet would win you $210 โ€” if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Trivia Answer: Cornerback/safety Chris Harris played four years at Kansas before going undrafted in 2011. He signed with the Denver Broncos and proved to be quite the find, earning All-Pro honors from 2014-16. He currently suits up for the Saints

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