Sportsbook Betting – Nebraska Tries To Move Closer To Big 12 North Title

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are closing in on the Big 12 North Division championship. Sportsbook odds makers know that they’ll try to take another step toward that goal when they host the Kansas Jayhawks.

Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers

Saturday, November 13th – 7:05 PM ET
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Broadcast: Fox Sports Net
Sportsbook Odds: Kansas +35, Nebraska -35
Sportsbook Total: 61

When Turner Gill returns to a very familiar place this Saturday afternoon, he’ll receive a lot of love and affection before kickoff. His name will be cheered throughout Memorial Stadium. He’ll bask in the glow of a very special reception.

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And then his Kansas Jayhawk team will have to play a game against the Big Red and its legion of fans.

Sportsbook Handicapping: What Kansas Has To Do To Win

Kansas came back from a 35-10 halftime deficit last week, and scored 35 unanswered points over the final 11:05 to shock Colorado by a 52-45 count. The Jayhawks won their first conference game of the year and saved face in a season that’s been difficult and trying from day one. Running back James Sims ran for 123 yards and four touchdowns, including a 28-yard touchdown in the final minute to give KU the seven-point victory. Quarterback Quinn Mecham, making his second career start, threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, but the true triumph for Mecham and the rest of the KU crew was that they didn’t quit, even in the face of long and seemingly insurmountable odds that were actually able to be overcome. Kansas had been blasted by 30-plus, 40-plus, and even 50-plus-point margins this season, so the ability to wipe away a 28-point deficit in the fourth quarter says a lot about Gill’s ability to keep his team interested and passionate into the month of November. KU is still playing for pride even though a bowl game is a pipe dream at this point. If the Jayhawks can get a few turnovers from rusty (and not fully healthy) Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez in the first half, they can stay close… and they won’t need to score 35 points in the fourth quarter to win a game.

Sportsbook Handicapping: What Nebraska Has To Do To Win

The Cornhuskers narrowly avoided being upset by Iowa State for the second straight year.  Nebraska pulled out a 31-30 overtime win after the Cyclones failed on a two-point conversion attempt on a fake PAT. Nebraska won without its top two quarterbacks, Taylor Martinez and Zac Lee.  Third-stringer Cody Green took over as the Nebraska signal caller.  Green attempted just 12 passes, completing seven, for 79 yards.
Martinez, who sprained his ankle in the second quarter of a win over Missouri two weeks ago, will reportedly return to the lineup against the Jayhawks.  The electrifying freshman quarterback leads an offense that ranks sixth nationally with 288.1 rushing yards per game. If Martinez can avoid injury in this game and take every snap for the Huskers, that along will help Nebraska’s chances. The other thing the Huskers must do is avoid turnovers. A fumbled kickoff is what allowed Iowa State to tie the game last week and take Nebraska into overtime, when coach Bo Pelini’s team very nearly lost. The only way Nebraska can lose is if it turns the ball over a lot.

Sportsbook Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

Nebraska won’t turn the ball over more than once. Kansas has virtually no chance of being competitive in this game as long as Martinez is under center for the Huskers. Take Nebraska minus the large number.

Sportsbook Pick: Nebraska -35