The LSU Tigers (6-6) meet the Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) Tuesday for the TaxAct Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the LSU vs. Kansas State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Tigers have some issues ahead of this game. Offensive line coach Brad Davis is expected to serve as the interim head coach with Ed Orgeron already retired and living in Destin, Fla.
LSU has major questions at quarterback, too, as Max Johnson has hit the transfer portal and QB Myles Brennan isn’t expected to play. True freshman Garrett Nussmeier is the only scholarship quarterback on the roster, and the Tigers would have to burn his redshirt status if he plays. WR Trey Palmer also entered the transfer portal, sapping some of the team’s depth.
The Wildcats are expected to get QB Skylar Thompson back from injury to start this game, so they have a major leg up on LSU.
K-State hopes for better success than its last trip to the Texas Bowl, a 37-10 loss to Rutgers in 2006. The Wildcats are just 3-8 SU in their last 11 bowl games.
See also: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
LSU vs. Kansas State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.
- Money line: LSU +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Kansas State -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): LSU +7.5 (-122) | Kansas State -7.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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LSU vs. Kansas State odds, lines, picks and predictions
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Prediction
Kansas State 26, LSU 18
Money line
Kansas State (-280) is on the expensive side, costing more than two and a half times your potential return.
PASS, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
KANSAS STATE -7.5 (-102) is the better play in this bowl game, as the Wildcats just have a lot more certainty. LSU is playing under an interim coaching staff, and there are major issues under center.
If Nussmeier, the true freshman starts, they’re still going to have trouble moving the ball on a K-State team that allowed just 348.0 total yards and 21.1 points per game.
Over/Under
The UNDER 47.5 (-107) is the slight lean in this Houston bowl game.
LSU is going to struggle to move the ball with QB issues and a patchwork coaching staff. LB Damone Clark and DL Neil Farrell Jr. have opted out on the defensive side of the ball, so that helps the K-State offense.
However, the Wildcats have struggled offensively, averaging just 26.3 PPG and 355.7 total yards per game, so it will be a slow go.
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