Iowa State will keep it close against Red Raiders

Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury has been through the grinder the past two weeks, losing a heartbreaker in a shootout with Texas Christian before getting blown out at Baylor.

In need of a softer spot on the Big 12 Conference schedule, the Red Raiders are 11½-point home favorites over Iowa State on Saturday. This series has been competitive lately, with the past two meetings decided by three and seven points.

The Cyclones' pattern under coach Paul Rhoads has been to put up some mighty fights until about midseason before attrition takes a toll, so it's still early enough in the season to back Iowa State.

The Red Raiders' defense is suspect, and the Cyclones have uncovered a new star in running back Mike Warren. This will be a tough game for Texas Tech to win, much less cover. Expect a kamikaze effort from Iowa State in a crucial game for Rhoads to stay in power.

Texas Tech is 1-4-1 against the spread in its past six games as a favorite.

More technical notes and trends on college and NFL games:

North Carolina State at Virginia Tech: The Wolfpack is 7-1 ATS in its past eight games and 7-1 ATS away from home since 2014. Hokies coach Frank Beamer is 9-17-1 ATS at home since 2011. Tech edge: N.C. State.

Oklahoma vs. Texas: The Longhorns have covered the past two in this series at Dallas and are 6-3-1 ATS against the Sooners since 2005. But Texas coach Charlie Strong is 1-5 ATS in his past five on the board and 4-7-1 in his past 12 as a 'dog. Tech edge: Oklahoma.

Minnesota at Purdue: The Boilermakers are 3-8 as home 'dogs for coach Darrell Hazell since 2013. The Gophers are on a 6-3 run as visiting chalk. Tech edge: Minnesota.

Indiana at Penn State: Indiana is on an 8-2 spread uptick since late 2014. The Hoosiers have covered three of their past four on the road, plus three of the past four versus the Nittany Lions. Penn State is 2-5 ATS in its past seven as a Big Ten host. Tech edge: Indiana.

Arkansas at Alabama: Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema has covered six of his past seven as a visiting 'dog. Nick Saban is 8-0 straight up, 5-3 ATS against Arkansas since arriving as Tide coach. Saban is 4-6 ATS in his past 10 laying double digits. Tech edge: Arkansas.

Wyoming at Air Force: The Cowboys won and covered the past two meetings and have covered six in a row against Air Force. But the Falcons are 11-6 ATS since last year and 7-1 ATS in their past eight at Colorado Springs. Wyoming is on a 3-10 spread skid since early last year. Tech edge: Air Force.

Washington State at Oregon: Cougars coach Mike Leach is 10-3 ATS in his past 13 as a visitor. Leach is 13-6 as a double-digit 'dog with Washington State. The Cougars have covered their past five versus the Ducks. Oregon has no covers in its first three at home this season. Tech edge: Washington State.

Georgia at Tennessee: The Volunteers have covered their past three versus coach Mark Richt, all close games won by the Bulldogs. But Tennessee coach Butch Jones is 4-9 ATS in Knoxville since 2013. Richt is 4-2 in his past six as chalk away from Athens. Tech edge: Georgia.

Navy at Notre Dame: The Midshipmen are 9-5 ATS in the past 14 against the Irish, and Navy is 11-1 ATS in the past 12 at South Bend. Navy is 15-5 in its past 20 as a visiting 'dog. Notre Dame is 3-0 ATS as home chalk this season after a 4-7 mark in its previous 11. Tech edge: Navy.

Texas Christian at Kansas State: Wildcats coach Bill Snyder is 5-1 as a home 'dog since 2011 and 17-7 overall as a 'dog in the same time frame. Snyder is 2-1 straight up versus coach Gary Patterson since the Horned Frogs entered the Big 12. TCU is 3-10 in its past 13 as visiting chalk. Tech edge: Kansas State.

New Mexico at UNR: Lobos coach Bob Davie is on an 8-3 spread run, and he's also 9-3 in his past 12 as a road 'dog. The Wolf Pack are 3-9 ATS in the past 12 as UNR chalk. Tech edge: New Mexico.

San Jose State at UNLV: The Spartans are 7-1 as road favorites since 2012. UNLV coach Tony Sanchez is 4-1 ATS, but the Rebels are 1-5 in their past six in a once-profitable home 'dog role. Tech edge: San Jose.

NFL

Jacksonville at Tampa Bay: Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith is 0-10 straight up (2-8 ATS) at home since last year. Tampa Bay is 13-7 under the total since last year. Tech edges: Jaguars and Under.

St. Louis at Green Bay: The Rams are 5-12 ATS away since 2013. The Packers are 8-1-1 ATS at home in the regular season since 2014 and 10-3 over the total in their past 13 at Lambeau Field in the regular season. Tech edges: Packers and Over.

Arizona at Detroit: The Cardinals are 3-1 straight up and ATS, and 4-0 over the total. The Lions are 0-4 straight up and 1-3 ATS. Arizona is 9-2 ATS in its past 11 games finished by quarterback Carson Palmer. The Cardinals are 12-5 ATS on the road in the regular season under coach Bruce Arians. Tech edges: Cardinals and Over.

New England at Dallas: Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 17-7 over the total in his past 24 games and 25-14-1 over in the past 40 on the regular-season road. Dallas is 12-3 as a 'dog since 2013, but that is mostly a Tony Romo mark. The Cowboys are 20-15-1 over the total in their past 36. Tech edge: Over.

Denver at Oakland: The Broncos are 7-0 straight up and ATS in the past seven meetings with the Raiders. Peyton Manning is 13-7 as road chalk with the Broncos since 2012. Tech edge: Broncos.

— Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall is editor of The Gold Sheet (goldsheet.com).