A couple of schools that like to run the football, Coach Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats (-12) are ready to take the field against their conference rival Kansas Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Kickoff for this matchup is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action live on FSN.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big 12 game, Kansas State is projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 12 points. The Jayhawks are also receiving +340 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are -475. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 45.5 points. There should be multiple good live betting opportunities in this contest.
The Jayhawks are 4-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 1.6 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-4. The Wildcats have lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 2-6.
The Jayhawks have gone 3-6 straight up (SU), including 1-5 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Wildcats are 3-6 SU overall and are also 1-5 SU in conference play.
The Jayhawks fell to Iowa State 27-3 in a blowout where their defense allowed the Cyclones to eat up the clock by running for 121 yards on 38 rush attempts. Hakeem Butler was unmatched for the Cyclones in that one with 164 yards and two touchdowns on five catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Peyton Bender completed just 19-of-41 passes for 185 yards. Khalil Herbert (91 rushing yards on 21 attempts) and Pooka Williams Jr. (58 yards on 17 carries) led the ground attack in the loss while Steven Sims Jr. (seven receptions, 71 yards) and Williams Jr. (six catches, 42 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Kansas State most recently fell 14-13 to TCU. The defense held its ground in the loss, keeping the Horned Frogs to only 218 passing yards and 57 yards on the ground. Jalen Reagor had a good outing in the win for TCU, recording 92 yards on three catches. For Kansas State, Alex Delton completed 15-of-25 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Alex Barnes (102 yards on 23 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Delton (36 yards on 23 carries, one TD) led the ground game in the defeat while Zach Reuter (four receptions, 60 yards) and Dalton Schoen (four catches, 42 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Kansas has run the ball on 52.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Kansas State has an overall rush percentage of 62.8 percent. The Jayhawks have run for 145 yards/game (including 104 per game against Big 12 opponents) and have nine touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Wildcats are averaging 180 rushing yards per game (181 in conference) and have 15 total rush TDs.
The Jayhawks offensive scheme has averaged 193 yards in the air overall (210 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Wildcats have recorded 158 pass yards per contest (147.7 in the Big 12) and have seven total pass scores.
Defensively, Kansas has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 161 yards and pass for 268 yards per game. The Kansas State defense has allowed 247.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 176.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wildcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.14 to opponents, while the Jayhawks have given up a 6.96 ANY/A.
Offensively, Bender is up to 1,087 passing yards this year, and has connected on 106-of-196 attempts with eight passing scores and only two interceptions. He’s got a 4.83 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.16 over the last two outings.
We’re looking for Jayhawks to maintain tempo by getting the ball in the hands of their running backs. Stephon Robinson Jr. (217 yards, one TD) has contributed in the passing game lately, but the RB tandem of Pooka Williams Jr. (667 rush yards, four rush TDs, 162 receiving yards) and Khalil Herbert (336 rush yards, two rush TDs) have really been focal points in the Kansas offensive scheme.
On the other sideline, Alex Delton has connected on 33-of-63 passes for 428 yards, two TDs and two INTs. Delton’s ANY/A stands at a terrible 3.90 for the season and 4.83 over his past two outings.
The Wildcats will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Alex Barnes (160 receiving yards), Dalton Schoen (333 receiving yards and two receiving TDs) and Zach Reuter (153 receiving yards) have gotten plenty of touches lately.
When these two schools faced one another a year ago, Kansas State emerged victorious by a score of 30-20.
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Kansas’ last game was set at 47. The under cashed in the team’s 27-3 defeat to Iowa State.
Kansas has produced 2.8 yards per carry across its past three outings and 2.6 over its last two.
Kansas State has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.5 over its last two.
Kansas State has lost nine fumbles this season while Kansas has let five get away.
In its last three games, Kansas is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Kansas State’s last outing was set at 44.5. The under cashed in the team’s 14-13 loss to TCU.
In its last three games, Kansas State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Kansas State has lost six of its last seven games SU, with a 19-point win over Oklahoma State on October 13th accounting for the only victory over that span.
The Jayhawks offense has created one pass play of 40+ yards, while the Wildcats have accounted for three such plays.
The Kansas defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Kansas State has given up six such plays.
The Kansas offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Kansas State has created 15 such runs.
The Jayhawks defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Wildcats have given up 14 such runs.
The Kansas defense has 16 sacks on the year while Kansas State has 11.
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