What year is this? Traditional Big 12 doormat Kansas is one of the nation's biggest surprises at 5-0 and actually has shorter Caesars Sportsbook odds at +1200 to win the Big 12 Championship Game than the conference's usual superpower, disappointing two-loss Oklahoma (+1500). Before the season, OU was the +190 favorite and Kansas had the longest odds at +30000. ESPN College GameDay has taken notice. The show will broadcast from Lawrence on Saturday for the first time ever when the No. 1 9 Jayhawks host No. 17 TCU.'The Horned Frogs are 7-point favorites.
At this point, KU coach Lance Leipold might be able to name his next job if he decides to leave basketball-first Kansas, although regardless he's going to get a big raise with the school entering the AP Poll this week for the first time since 2009. One offshore book lists Leipold as the third-favorite at +500 to be the next full-time Wisconsin coach behind interim Badgers coach Jim Leonhard and Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien (+300). Leipold was a former player and head coach at Wisconsin-Whitewater and a graduate assistant at Wisconsin.
Saturday will be the first game in Lawrence to feature two top-20 teams since Oct. 25, 2008, when No. 19 Kansas hosted No. 8 Texas Tech. KU's all-time highest ranking in the AP Poll came when the program was No. 2 on Nov. 18, 2007.
Kansas escaped at home this past Saturday, 14-11 over Iowa State. Even with those offensive struggles, t he Jayhawks rank 12th nationally in scoring at 41.6 points per game. They are also No. 3 in third down conversion percentage (60%) and No. 16 in rushing offense (220.4 yards per game). Dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels is +2800 to win the Heisman as he has thrown for 983 yards and 11 scores and rushed for 329 and five TDs. To make the College Football Playoff, KU remains a +2200 long shot with No at -20000.