The Numbers:
OFFENSE
Rushing: KSU - 208.6 (26th) Tech - 170.0 (44th)
Passing: KSU - 127.0 (109th) Tech - 354.6 (6th)
Points Per Game: KSU - 27.8 (70th) Tech - 47.3 (4th)
Overall Offense: KSU - 96th Tech - 7th
DEFENSE
Rushing: KSU - 92.4 (16th) Tech - 224.2 (112th)
Passing: KSU - 206.4 (36th) Tech - 196.0 (25th)
Opp. PPG: KSU - 16.5 (17th) Tech - 22.8 (45th)
Total Defense: KSU - 17th Tech - 94th
Lets take a look at my predictions so far.
Baylor @ KSU - Predicted a win for the Cats in a "much closer game then anyone realizes." Final Score - 36-35
Missouri @ KSU - Predicted a win for the Cats, 35-28. Actual score, 24-17. got the point spread right, just not the numbers.
GAME PREVIEW
Kansas State went into the game against Missouri as the 20th ranked team in the nation, but still a 3 point projected underdog. The Tigers have a very potent mix of running and passing, able to move the ball either way against most teams. The Kansas State defense, however, showed why KSU is one of the top stories in College Football this year, as they stopped the Missouri offense and held them to 0 yards in the first quarter. After a resurgent effort by the Tigers in the final minutes of the game, the KSU defense proved to be too much to handle as they went down 24-17.
Going into the game against Texas Tech (4-1, 1-1 in big 12), #17 in the AP Poll, Kansas State (5-0, 2-0 big 12) knows that they are going to face yet again a powerful offensive attack. Texas Tech Quarterback Seth Doege is fast becoming one of the most prolific passers in College Football. He has amassed 1,315 yards through the air this year as well as 14 touchdowns to 1 interception. As if he's not enough to deal with, Running Back Eric Stephens is a tough runner who has a nose for the endzone, he has 468 yards through the ground and already 7 touchdown. He is also averaging near 5 yards per carry. To round out the offense of Texas Tech, Doege has to very competent young wide recievers in Alex Torres and Eric Ward, each with upwards of 15 receptions this season.
This season though, the Wildcats have came up against very powerful, efficiently run offenses and each time has shut them down. Voelker is turning into a sack machine, and Arthur Brown can not be stopped by anybody. David Garrett should be a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award by the end of the season. His lack of interceptions just goes to show the respect quarterbacks have for him as they never throw his direction. Nigel Malone is becoming an outstanding playmaker as well, a true ball hawk and natural instinct in finding the ball on every single play. The KSU Defense has bent but not broken once this year, always stopping the opposing team exactly when it needs to. The speed and quickness of our entire defensive unit is a nightmare for any team we go up against, and frustrates just about every offensive player wh goes against them.
Offensively, our running game is truly one of the most exciting to watch every Saturday. The mixture of Hubert, the emerging Pease, and running game of Collin Klein gives us so many options that each defense we play against has no idea who to tackle. They have to go after 3 players on every play, and its a confusing and exhausting thing for the opposing defenses to go through. Braden Wilson is one of the top fullbacks in the nation and when he leads the way for you, your almost guranteed 3 to 5 yards each play. Chris Harper is quickly becoming the go to guy in the passing game, and Brodrick Smith is a very good deep threat. It seems no matter where we turn, we have someone who can make a play for the Kansas State Wildcats.
The game is at Texas Tech, which may pose some problems for our Wildcats. Then again, problems don't really seem to matter to KSU this year.
PREDICTION
Kansas State wins in a tough game at Texas Tech, 28-17. The offense breaks away in the fourth quarter to make the lead bigger then the game really is.
