Pete F...

[Bookcat]

Kansas State at Auburn 7:45 PM ESPN
Why to Watch: When we last saw Kansas State, it was unable to do much of anything in a lousy 37-10 Texas Bowl loss to against Rutgers. QB Josh Freeman couldn't throw, the defense couldn't tackle, and the team basically looked like it needed to go back to the drawing bowl. A good showing here would change all of that. When we last saw Auburn, it looked underwhelming in a 17-14 Cotton Bowl win over Nebraska. Sort of in the national title hunt all season long, but not really, the Tigers couldn't seem to get their mojo back after a midstretch against a slew of overmatched teams. While an impressive win over the Wildcats wouldn't necessarily mean it's time to start booking tickets for New Orleans, it would do a lot to ease concerns about what the team might be able to do, and a little confidence would be nice before a tough battle with South Florida next week.
Why Kansas State Might Win: The Wildcats have to take advantage of an Auburn offensive line that's still a work in progress. While the Tigers won't be awful up front, they lose four starters and have to deal with a defense that finished sixth in the nation in sacks and 18th in tackles for loss. The new Wildcat 3-4 D should free up Ian Campbell to wreak even more havoc; Auburn QB Brandon Cox could be under pressure all day long.
Why Auburn Might Win: Is the Kansas State offensive line ready to be under attack from Quentin Groves and the Tiger defensive line? Yes, in theory, but all the experience and all the depth doesn't account for much without the tackles to keep Freeman upright for a full sixty minutes. For Kansas State to win, the skill players need room to roam and can't be pressured too much by the speedy Tiger D. That won't happen. Expect plenty of mistakes and just enough turnovers to give Cox and the offense short fields to work with. On the other side of the ball, the KSU defense can be shoved around against the run. Auburn's O line might not be ready for prime time, but it doesn't have to create much room for the speedy backs to produce.
Who to Watch: All eyes will be on the quarterbacks. Cox has to go from caretaker to playmaker, and he has to make his mediocre receiving corps shine. That could be a problem considering the pass rush he'll likely face, and the good KSU secondary that could grow into the team's strength. This is his team now. For the Wildcats, the season, and each game, will depend on the play of Freeman. Can he be the confident bomber who managed to overcome adversity and beat Texas, or will he be the lost passer who completed just ten of 21 passes for 129 yards and two interceptions against Rutgers and was lousy in spring ball?
What Will Happen: Kansas State will get its licks in on defense and should force a few mistakes, but the Auburn defense will make the Wildcats look worse in an ugly, mistake-filled game.
CFN Prediction: Auburn 27 ... Kansas State 14 ... Line: Auburn -13.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hef wants you to take his place on The Girls Next Door, but you can’t because you have to watch this game - 1 Cavemen) ... 3
Final Score:   

[kstate16]

Sounds about right. I don't think we realize how important Freeman's performance is this year. If you don't have a good qb, you're not going to be good at all, simple as that. What if Freeman fails? Can Coffman pick up the slack? A lot of weight is on his shoulders.

[Bookcat]

Sounds about right. I don't think we realize how important Freeman's performance is this year. If you don't have a good qb, you're not going to be good at all, simple as that. What if Freeman fails? Can Coffman pick up the slack? A lot of weight is on his shoulders.

Short routes. I hope he doesn't try to win the game with a few long passes.

Roberson got caught up with that in 2001...and he was horrible...but as soon as he figured out that you needed to take what they give you...he became a weapon and tough to defend.

[ChicagoCat]

Sounds about right. I don't think we realize how important Freeman's performance is this year. If you don't have a good qb, you're not going to be good at all, simple as that. What if Freeman fails? Can Coffman pick up the slack? A lot of weight is on his shoulders.

No way Coffman ever sees a legit shot at being the starter.  The only way he could ever start is Freeman injury or if the season is already deemed over and Prince wants to pretend that Coffman is competing.  So goes Josh, so goes the game, so goes the season.

[KSU4ME]

Short routes. I hope he doesn't try to win the game with a few long passes.

Roberson got caught up with that in 2001...and he was horrible...but as soon as he figured out that you needed to take what they give you...he became a weapon and tough to defend.

If we let Auburn focus on just defending 15 yards from the LOS, this will be a 6+ turnover game.

Don't get crazy going deep, but just try and picture winning the Texas game without throwing it 20+ downfield.

[NorthChamps07]

The real issue remains the  o-line.  JF has never had a bad game when he's had adequate protection.  Check the numbers.  He was sacked 3 or 4 times are more in each bad performance. If he struggles at Auburn, it will be because he had no time to throw.  Also, check out the rushing stats.  If we become one dimensional early on, it will be more difficult.

That being said, against Texas we rushed for a whopping 23 yards and still won.  If we have a legit deep threat (Jordy-Murphy-Pierce) and JF will tuck and run instead of trying to force plays the Purple Nation will love Sunday's headline!

[steve dave]

Purple Nation

We are not OU with Sooner Nation.  We are also not NU copying OU with Corn Nation. 

[KSU4ME]

Purple Nation

We are not OU with Sooner Nation.  We are also not NU copying OU with Corn Nation. 

QFT.

We are Wildcat!

 

[HugeCat]

Purple Nation

We are not OU with Sooner Nation.  We are also not NU copying OU with Corn Nation. 

QFT.

We are Wildcat!

 

We are the Grapes of Wrath!!

[FBWillie]

You guys are missing the biggest thing there.   Our Loss to ku is not important to anyone.  When talking about Josh ending the season with horrible performances, it was Rutgers and the Spring game - where clearly the ku game was his worst and would have been better support for how bad josh can be.    A texas sized win will always be bigger than a win against a crappy rival.

[pissclams]

I think you guys talk about the Texas win way too much.

[steve dave]

I think you guys talk about the Texas win way too much.

You don't understand major rivalries

[KSU4ME]

Then let us talk about the OSU win.

There were two drives where the offense scored TDs.

The two drives covered 150 combined yards.  111 of those 150 yards came on pass plays of greater than 15 yards.

[stormnut]

Then let us talk about the OSU win.

There were two drives where the offense scored TDs.

The two drives covered 150 combined yards.  111 of those 150 yards came on pass plays of greater than 15 yards.

and don't get us started on CU.

 

[pissclams]

I think you guys talk about the Texas win way too much.

You don't understand major rivalries

Sure I do.  Real rivals don't talk about their true rival, they're too busy looking for their next (higher up) rival.