Texas football opens as 8.0-point favorite vs. Iowa State in Week 12

The final road game of the regular season approaches for No. 7 Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian this weekend in Ames against head coach Matt Campbell and the Iowa State Cyclones. In what looked to be the most difficult game on the November schedule for Texas this season, Iowa State stands in the way of Sark’s squad and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

If Texas wins this weekend against Iowa State and gets some help elsewhere around the Big 12, the Longhorns could clinch a spot in the conference title game in Arlington in early December.

Texas survived by the skin of its teeth last weekend to get the top spot in the Big 12 standings outright after a tight 29-26 win over the TCU Horned Frogs on the road in Fort Worth. Sark and the Longhorns won their fourth straight game and moved their record on the season to 9-1 (6-1 Big 12) following the three-point victory over TCU on Nov. 11.

This is the best record the Longhorns have posted through 10 games since the 2009 season.

Iowa State enters Week 12 with a record of 6-4 (5-2 Big 12) after a dominant 45-13 win on the road in Provo on Nov. 11 over the BYU Cougars. The Cyclones need some help, but if Campbell’s team wins out, it could get a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Losses from either of the Oklahoma schools and a win for the Longhorns over Iowa State this weekend would clinch Texas’ spot in the Big 12 title game.

Iowa State has a more difficult path to the Big 12 Championship Game, but they technically still have a shot. Iowa State must win its final two games, over No. 7 Texas and the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats, with at least one more loss from Oklahoma to make the Big 12 title game.

Here’s a look at the opening betting odds as No. 7 Texas travels to Ames on Nov. 18 to face Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium, with the kickoff time set for 7 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. Iowa State: Opening odds for Week 12

Texas opens as an eight-point favorite over Iowa State in Week 12 (per Caesars Sportsbook). The over/under opens up at 48.5 points.

According to the ESPN matchup predictor, Texas has a 78.4 percent chance of beating Iowa State.

Texas is 4-5-1 against the spread this season. The Longhorns fell short of the -10.0 spread pre-game against TCU in Week 11. Texas is 2-2-0 against the spread in road games this season.

Iowa State is 6-4-0 against the spread this season. The Cyclones covered the 24.5-point spread pre-game against BYU in Week 11. Iowa State has also covered the spread in four of the last five games. At home this season, Iowa State is 3-2-0 against the spread.

Texas and Iowa State have both hit the over in four of 10 games this season.