Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State Prediction, Game Preview
Oklahoma State at Kansas State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Cowboys and Wildcats.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Cowboys and Wildcats.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State Game Preview
When: Saturday, November 5 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS
Broadcast: ABC or ESPN2
Oklahoma State reentered the Big 12 race with last weekend’s reverberating upset of undefeated West Virginia. Now, the Cowboys hope to stay on first place Oklahoma’s tail when they travel to Manhattan. While Okie State has been somewhat forgotten and overlooked since the Sept. 24 loss at Baylor, that dynamic has changed with four straight Big 12 wins, capped by last Saturday’s over the Mountaineers. Kansas State begins November will a tailwind, too, closing October with wins over Texas and Iowa State. The Cats have yet to lose at home, and are a win away from bowl eligibility.
What To Know About Oklahoma State
The book on the Cowboys changed a little last week. True, they’re still driven by the 40-point-per-game offense, primarily the passing of Mason Rudolph to receivers James Washington and Jalen McCleskey. And that doesn’t figure to change under Mike Gundy. But the defense, maligned in the early going, is coming off its best game of 2016. Oklahoma State made plays at the line of scrimmage, led by DT Vincent Taylor, which helped support the secondary. If the Week 9 Cowboy defense shows up more often in November, winning the Big 12 is a realistic goal.
What to Know About Kansas State
The league’s most consistent defense is, well, winning with defense. There’s not much flash to this Wildcat team, which ranks last in Big 12 passing and is in the second half of the league in most categories. However, K-State won’t be outworked on defense. The unit is especially sound in the front seven with linemen Will Geary and Jordan Willis and linebackers Elijah Lee and Charmeachealle Moore. But the defense has not been immune to breakdowns in coverage, ranking No. 101 nationally in yards per pass attempt. And that’s a potential problem versus this week’s opponent.
Advantages
Offense: Oklahoma State. The passing game is dangerous, plus Justice Hill cannot be forgotten by opposing defenses.
Defense: Kansas State. The Wildcats have been rock-solid against the run, yielding a Big 12-low 3.3 yards per carry.
Special Teams: Oklahoma State. The Cowboys and the Wildcats boast two of the nation’s top special teams unit, with OSU earning a slight edge behind P Zach Sinor and PK Ben Grogan.
Coaching: Push. Gundy and Bill Snyder are consistent winners and two of the premier head coaches in the Big 12.
Intangibles: Kansas State. The Cats are undefeated at home. The Cowboys hit the road trying to avoid a letdown after last Saturday’s big win.
Matchup To Watch
Rudolph vs. the Kansas State secondary
Oklahoma State is unlikely to run the ball with much success against the Kansas State front seven. If Rudolph gets time to survey the field and check down his receivers, he might like what he sees when corners Duke Shelley and D.J. Reed are covering Washington and McCleskey.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State Betting Odds
Spread: Kansas State -2.5
Over/Under: No line as of post
Oklahoma State at Kansas State Prediction
K-State has been unbeatable in Manhattan this year. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has left Stillwater just twice in 2016. Home field edge will matter on Saturday. So, too, will the physicality of the Wildcat defense. It’ll win the line of scrimmage against the Cowboys, which have given up 24 sacks so far this season. And a harried Rudolph is a far less effective Rudolph. The Cats become bowl-eligible on a clutch Matthew McCrane field goal in the waning moments.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State Score Prediction: Kansas State 27, Oklahoma State 24
