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Baylor (7-0) is still on the outside looking in of the CFP playoff rankings, but it doesn’t matter – win out, and all is fine. But first, the Bears have to prove they can roll on without QB Seth Russell against a Kansas State (3-4) team hitting the skids. Check out the Baylor vs. Kansas State game preview and prediction.

Baylor vs. Kansas State Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
Game Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS

Network: FOX Sports 1

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Why You Need To Care

What’s going to happen when Baylor actually has to play someone, and does Kansas State count as a dangerous team? Beating Texas Tech 63-35 wasn’t bad, but the offense that’s ranked up for 60 points or more five times this year has to find its groove again after putting up 45 points and losing its starting quarterback for the year in the win over Iowa State. Now the Bears get a chance to shine in the Thursday night spotlight, and with what might be the easiest game for a while with Oklahoma and road games at Oklahoma State and TCU to follow.

Kansas State has been a disaster. After losing heartbreakers to Oklahoma State and TCU, the Wildcats have been ripped apart losing to Oklahoma and Texas by a combined score of 78-9, and now they have to find a way to win three of the final five games just to be bowl eligible. It gets easier with Iowa State and Kansas still up, but they have to go to Texas Tech next week and still have to face West Virginia. But more than that, they have to come up with a win over someone decent. Baylor is more than decent – this would be the season-saver if they could come up with the big upset.

Why Baylor Will Win

The Kansas State offense has gone bye-bye. The Wildcats were partying like it’s 1989 against Oklahoma, coming up with 110 yards – and seemed lucky to get those – and sputtered stalled against Texas in the ugly loss to follow. They’ve had two weeks to try figuring it all out, but can the offense crank it back up after scoring just nine points in the last two games? Even a decent day so far for the KSU offense is about half of the normal Baylor production. The firepower is just not that for K-State to keep up.

Why Kansas State Will Win

Grind, grind, grind. Baylor never cares about time of possession, and it’s great at scoring in a hiccup, but if the Wildcats can do what they do – at least when they’re on their game – they should be able to control the game for long stretches of time. Iowa State was able to run on the Baylor D without a problem, taking off for 232 yards after West Virginia did a decent job on the ground, and now the Wildcats have to run and run some more. Come up with one defensive stop here and there against the new guy, and the formula might work.

Player Who Matters

It’s Jarrett Stidham time. Phenomenal in a backup, garbage-time role so far, the star recruit completed 24-of-28 passes for 313 yards and six scores, and ran 12 times for 26 yards and a score. But now the 6-3, 210-pound true freshman has to drive the car for the entire trip, and Kansas State has had two weeks to prepare for him. If he rocks, all of a sudden, Baylor will get even more credit and hype in the playoff chase.

What’s Going To Happen?

Baylor will be just fine. Kansas State will grind it out for a half and create a little bit of excitement, and then Baylor will happen. Stidham will be the talk of next week after a huge game.

Baylor vs. Kansas State Prediction

Final Score: Baylor 52, Kansas State 34, Line: Baylor -17, o/u: 69.5

Must See Rating:5: The Gospel According To Mac – 1: Supergirl … 3.5