Welcome back to Craven's Corner where we breakdown each FBS game involving a Texas program while also listing gambling odds and providing a possible wager. The block is hot in 2022 with a 50-33-1 record against the spread on the season. We went 5-3 in Week 9. 

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Texas Tech at TCU 
Viewing info: Saturday at 11 a.m. on FOX
Gambling odds: TCU -9.5; O/U 71
TCU is undefeated and a win keeps the Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff picture. The Red Raiders hope to play spoiler against their Big 12 rivals. This is a matchup between head coaches in their first years at these respective schools. Sonny Dykes inherited much more talent, especially in the trenches, and that is evidenced by the results. TCU is 8-0, while Texas Tech is 4-4 after a five-turnover game in a loss to Baylor last week. 
TCU quarterback Max Duggan leads the top scoring offense in the state with the Horned Frogs averaging 44.3 points per game, which is third in the nation. Baylor showed the formula to dominate Texas Tech, and that’s by pounding the rock. Expect a big game from Kendre Miller on the ground. TCU also holds the best turnover margin in Texas at +6, which is bad for a Texas Tech squad that is 118th in the country with a -7-turnover margin. 
Craven’s bet: Under 71 

Texas at Kansas State 
Viewing info: Saturday at 6 p.m. on FS1
Gambling odds: Texas -2.5; O/U 54.5
Books peg Texas as the favorite coming off an open week even though the Longhorns are 1-6 in true road games in the Steve Sarkisian era. Sark is 10-10 through his first 20 games in charge on the 40 Acres, which is worse than Tom Herman and only one game better than Charlie Strong. Texas does boast one of the best defenses in the nation, and it’ll need a big game from the front seven to stop running back Deuce Vaughn and the Kansas State rushing attack. The Longhorns only allow 21.1 points per game, which is tops in Texas. 
To win on the road, Texas needs a better performance from quarterback Quinn Ewers than it received in the loss to Oklahoma State heading into the open date. The offensive line is giving him decent protection, and we all know the Longhorns don’t lack weapons. Sark needs to lean on the run game and give Ewers some easy throws early in the contest to build confidence. 
Craven’s bet: Kansas State +3 (buy the hook), over 54.5  

UTSA at UAB 
Viewing info: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on Stadium 
Gambling odds: UTSA -1; O/U 52 
UTSA received a much needed off week prior to the showdown with UAB. The Roadrunners are on a five-game winning streak and sit atop the C-USA standings with four games remaining. A win over the Blazers almost puts one foot in the championship game for Jeff Traylor’s squad considering they already hold tiebreakers over North Texas and Western Kentucky. Health, specifically on the offensive line and in the secondary, remain a concern for UTSA despite the extra week to heal. The good news for UTSA is that UAB is poor in the red zone on both sides of the ball. The offense and defense rank in the 100s in touchdown scoring percentage in the red zone. 
Craven’s bet: UTSA -1, over 52  

WIDE ZONE

Houston at SMU 
Viewing info: Saturday at 6 p.m. on NFL Network
Gambling odds: SMU -3; O/U 67.5
One of three intra-state matchups in Week 10 between Texas programs. Houston makes its first trip to Dallas in four years due to the 2020 cancellation. Houston is quietly on a three-game winning streak and playing its best football of 2022 in the two weeks following an open date in Week 7. Clayton Tune is completing 76 percent of his passes and has thrown nine touchdowns to zero interceptions in that time. SMU beat South Florida but lost quarterback Preston Stone to a season-ending injury. The good news is that Tanner Mordecai should return from concussion protocol in time to start. 
Craven's bet: Houston +3, over 67.5

Texas A&M vs. Florida 
Viewing info: Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN 
Gambling odds: Texas A&M -3; O/U 54 
The Aggies are on a five-game losing streak entering this contest. Texas A&M must win three of the final four games of the year to reach a bowl game. Florida is one of those games Jimbo Fisher’s team needs to win with a surging LSU waiting in the season finale. True freshman Conner Weigman helped revitalize the Aggies offense, but the front seven defensively is a major concern for them. A&M is 97th in the nation with only 13 sacks. The unit allowed 390 yards rushing last week to Ole Miss. 
Craven’s bet: Texas A&M -2.5 (buy the hook)

Baylor at Oklahoma 
Viewing info: Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ 
Gambling odds: Oklahoma -3; O/U 57.5 
The Bears looked to have found the formula for success in 2022 over the last few weeks, and especially in the blowout win over Texas Tech in Week 9. Baylor controlled the tempo on offense behind true freshman running back Richard Reese and an efficient passing attack while creating turnovers and pressure on the defensive side of the football. Baylor is rounding into form heading into the final month and could make a push at a Big 12 title berth if things break right. 
Craven’s bet: Baylor +3 

UTEP at Rice 
Viewing info: Thursday at 6 p.m. on CBSSN 
Gambling odds: Rice -3.5; O/U 47
This one feels like a bowl game eliminator on Thursday night. Both teams lost at home in Week 9 in crushing fashion considering the stakes. UTEP is hoping to reach consecutive bowls for only the third time in program history. Rice hasn’t played in the postseason since 2014. The Owls do get homefield advantage, and they’ve fielded the more explosive offense when not turning the ball over. Rice is much better at scoring touchdowns in the red zone. 
Craven’s bet: Rice -3 (buy the hook), over 47 

North Texas vs. FIU 
Viewing info: Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Gambling odds: North Texas -21; O/U 64
A win puts North Texas into bowl eligibility for the sixth time in seven years under head coach Seth Littrell. A victory would also put the Mean Green one step closer to a spot in the C-USA championship game. Quarterback Austin Aune is playing the best football of his college career and the defense put in one of its best performances of 2022 in the Week 9 win over Western Kentucky. FIU is improving, but still not a challenger against teams with the size and quality of North Texas. 
Craven’s bet: Under 64

Texas State at Louisiana-Monroe 
Viewing info: Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN3
Gambling odds: Even; O/U 51.5
The Bobcats were idle last week, which is good because Texas State is on a two-game losing streak entering a winnable game against Monroe. Texas State’s defense is the best unit in the game. The Bobcats rank 53rd in the nation in scoring defense allowing 24.1 points per game. The problem is that the offense only averages 21.6, which is 107th in the land. Luckily for the Bobcats, Monroe also struggles to score. 
Craven’s bet: Texas State