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Oklahoma (4-1) needs to rebound in a hurry after the embarrassing loss to Texas, while Kansas State (3-2) has to come up with a tough win to get back in the Big 12 race after not being able to keep up with TCU. Check out the Oklahoma vs. Kansas State prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Game Time: 3:30 pm
Venue: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS
Network: ABC

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Why You Need To Care

Can Kansas State finally come up with a big win? The Wildcats might not be all that explosive – at least compared to last season – and the defense isn’t nearly as strong, but it was right there until the end in tough losses to Oklahoma State and TCU. There’s still time to be in the hunt for the Big 12 title, but there’s no margin for error the rest of the way. With a road trip to Texas up next, followed up by Baylor and then a trip to Texas Tech, the Wildcats need this home win – even if it’s against an angry Oklahoma team.

For now, the loss to Texas doesn’t matter for OU. The Longhorns aren’t going to be in the Big 12 title chase – at least not with one more loss – and if the Sooners win out, no matter what they’re the Big 12’s One True Champion. Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State don’t come up until the end of November, so this constitutes the easy part of the slate. Texas was supposed to be a part of that, though. How good is this team? If the talent really is there to do something special, this can’t be that much of a fight, even on the road. It’s gut check time.

Why Oklahoma Will Win

The Kansas State secondary has been a disaster. Jeff Driskel and Louisiana Tech threw for 314 yards and a score, and then came the big problems. Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph was benched last week in the win over West Virginia, but he threw for 441 yards and four scores against the Wildcats. Last week, Trevone Boykin made his Heisman statement with a brilliant day throwing for 301 yards and two scores in the win. Held in check by Texas, OU’s Air Raid attack should bust out again with the deep receiving corps about to blow up. As the last few weeks have shown, Kansas State might have a decent offense, but it’s limited – it can’t keep up the pace.

Why Kansas State Will Win

So how did Texas do it? The Longhorns were just tougher in the trenches, pounding away for 313 rushing yards and stopping the Sooner backs cold. Jerrod Heard ran wild through the OU second level, and that’s what Joe Hubener has to do. The veteran Wildcat QB didn’t run all that effectively through the first four games – getting knocked out for a stretch against Oklahoma State – but he ripped through TCU for 111 yards and four scores. Soft on third downs and not great at keeping the ball for too long, Oklahoma might not have control of the tempo if Hubener can own third downs. If he runs like he did against TCU and KSU keeps possession for way over 35 minutes, Oklahoma won’t find a groove.

Player Who Matters

Tyler Lockett put on a show in last year’s 31-30 thriller of a Kansas State loss to Oklahoma, but Sooner receiver Sterling Shepard ended up coming away with the win. Lockett is off rocking and rolling in the NFL, but Shepard is back trying to repeat a 15-catch, 197-yard, one score performance. In just his third game ever, Shepard came up with 108 yards and a score against KSU in 2012, showing glimpses of what he’d become. This year he’s been solid catching 26 passes for 416 yards and three scores. Watch out for him to destroy the KSU secondary – again.

What’s Going To Happen?

Oklahoma will bounceback. The defense will rise up after a bad week, and Baker Mayfield won’t struggle for two weeks in a row. The Sooner passing game will start working again like it’s supposed to, while the defense will put the clamps down on Hubener.

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State Prediction

Final Score: Oklahoma 34, Kansas State 24, Line: Oklahoma -4, o/u: 54.5

Must See Rating: 5: Trojan War – 1: The Muppets … 4