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Kansas State (4-6) is in the midst of a rough season, but it can still end up going bowling with two more wins. Kansas (0-11) is about to finish off a horrific year, but a win over its rival would make this a fun offseason. Check out the Kansas State vs. Kansas prediction and game preview.

Kansas State vs. Kansas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

Network: Fox Sports 1

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Why You Need To Care

Kansas State stopped a six-game losing streak last week with a 38-35 win over Iowa State, but it still needs a win this week and a victory at home against West Virginia to go bowling. Are these the last two Big 12 games for Bill Snyder? Does the team just need to get through this week to set up something big in Manhattan? This hasn’t been a typical Kansas State season, but it’s still solid in several areas, and it’s been competitive. With three of the losses by a touchdown or less, there were some close calls, but this one should be a layup.

Yeah, it’s a rivalry game, and yeah, it’s the final game of the season, and yeah, it’s Senior Day, but will any of that matter for a Kansas team whose lone bright spot was giving TCU a push in a 23-17 loss? This is a total throwaway of a year, but after losing six straight in the series, beating K-State and ending its bowl hopes is still on the table.

Why Kansas State Will Win

Kansas just doesn’t score. It doesn’t take advantage of its opportunities, and it doesn’t have any sort of pop to put more than 20 on the board – because it hasn’t done that since Week Two and the 55-23 loss to Memphis. The bigger problem is on the other side of the ball – the Jayhawks can’t stop the run allowing 200 yards or more in every game but the opener against South Dakota State. K-State won’t run for 425 yards like West Virginia did last week, but it’ll give it a shot.

Why Kansas Will Win

It’s not like the Kansas State defense is slowing anyone down. It’s a long, long time ago since the Wildcats opened up the season beating South Dakota and UTSA by a combined score of 64-3. The defense hasn’t done a whole bunch since then, having a problems against most team’s running games over the last six weeks – allowing 200 yards or more against everyone but Baylor – and the secondary hasn’t been much better, allowing over 1,000 yards over the last three games with three touchdown passes in each one. Kansas, go ahead and turn it loose.

Player Who Matters

Can Fish Smithson come back from his ankle injury? Possibly KU’s best player, the junior safety leads the team with 100 tackles with two picks, making ten stops or more in each of the last five games before having to miss time against West Virginia. On the plus side, he’s one of the Big 12’s best open-field tacklers. On the down side, he’s getting plenty of opportunities, with 78 of his tackles on the year solo stops. The front seven isn’t doing its job, but if he can go, Smithson should put up huge numbers as the K-State runners roll past the second level.

What’s Going To Happen?

Kansas will come up with a decent first half, but the Kansas State running game will take over and grind out a dominant second half to set up a big game next week. And it’ll all be mercifully over for the Jayhawks.

Kansas State vs. Kansas Prediction

Final Score: Kansas State 37, Kansas 13, Line: Kansas State -20, o/u: 54.5

Must See Rating: 5: Creed – 1: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade … 2