Michigan Wolverines (7-5 / 3-5 big 10)
ORank: 42
DRank: 33
Overall Rank: 39
SOS Rank: 16
2013 schedule with each team's snowbrag rank listed:
L vs 4 Ohio State
L @ 6 Michigan State
W vs 30 Notre Dame
L @ 35 Iowa
W vs 48 Minnesota
L @ 56 Penn State
L vs 60 Nebraska
W vs 67 Indiana
W @ 80 Northwestern
W vs 87 Akron
W vs 93 Central Michigan
W @ 106 Connecticut
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Kansas State Wildcats (7-5, 5-4 B12)
ORank: 30
DRank: 41
Overall Rank: 47
SOS Rank: 79
2013 schedule with each team's snowbrag rank listed:
L vs 2 Baylor
L @ 11 Oklahoma State
L vs 16 Oklahoma
L @ 38 Texas
W vs 63 Louisiana-Lafayette
W @ 66 Texas Tech
W vs 83 TCU
W vs 92 West Virginia
W vs 104 Iowa State
W @ 107 Kansas
W vs 123 Massachusetts
L vs FCS North Dakota State
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This is a great matchup. I expect a very good and evenly matched game. Neither offense is great at holding on to the ball, and both defenses are good at causing turnovers. As you can see above, when Michigan has the ball, it's #42 vs #41, and when KSU has the ball, it's #30 vs #33.
The biggest difference between the teams cannot be measured with stats, and that is momentum. This game will likely come down to a key turnover here or there, combined with Bill's ability or inability to not be absolutely horrifyingly awful in bowl games.
Michigan has lost 4 out of 5, and all 5 of their losses are in the last 7 games. The Wolverines are 2-3 vs the Top 50.
Kansas State has won 5 out of 6, and 4 of their losses were in the first 6 games. The Wildcats are 0-4 vs the Top 50.
Prediction:
Michigan
39 rush / 138 yards (3.57 ypp)
20-32 pass / 240 yards (7.40 ypp)
71 plays / 376 yards (5.30 ypp)
2 turnovers
Kansas State
38 rush / 159 yards (4.16 ypp)
17-29 pass / 231 yards (8.00 ypp)
67 plays / 388 yards (5.78 ypp)
2 turnovers
Score:
Michigan 29
Kansas State 33