Pick and Preview: Kansas at Kansas State

FOUR FACTORS FOR KANSAS STATE

1. PROTECTION: I’m not sure that Kansas has the defense to really stop the Kansas State offense unless they just outplay them in the trenches and make life a little uncomfortable for quarterback Will Howard. Can K-State give him time to throw? If they can, he has a big day. Also, the Jayhawks protect the quarterback better than anyone in the league. Kansas State has the most sacks. What gives? Is it the same Jalon Daniels? He looked a bit off a week ago.

2. TURNOVERS: K-State has made a living off of winning off turnovers this season. They have forced the most in the entire conference and it could be a wet football for most of the night. How well can Howard and the Wildcats secure it themselves?

3. FULL 60: Look, the Jayhawks aren’t going to lay over. A showdown with Kansas State has been circled on the schedule for an entire year. Daniels shared that tidbit at Big 12 Media Days in Arlington back during the offseason. Even a fast start won’t fracture their motivation or what Lance Leipold has now built in Lawrence. K-State can’t be complacent at any point and must stay in the fight for the full 60 minutes because that is what we will see from Kansas.

4. WEATHER: The reports have not been consistent. Whether or not there is rain and how much of it we receive in Manhattan is anyone’s guess. It has went back and forth quite a bit. If it is wet, if it is windy and if it is downright cold, that will play a role in the contest. Who benefits the most? It could make teams more predicated on the run. While the Jayhawks are more reliant on the passing game, they do have Devin Neal. Kansas State has been more reliant on the passing game lately, but they do have Deuce Vaughn. Can he break free? And is depending on the running game a realistic path even without the threat of the quarterback run game?

It's time pic.twitter.com/KWu3cI4k3l

— K-State Football (@KStateFB) November 26, 2022

WHAT THE WILDCATS NEED TO LEARN

1. GOING TO ARLINGTON: A Big 12 Championship Game berth is on the line for K-State. Go defeat your arch-rival and clinch the opportunity to play TCU in Arlington.

2. NAVIGATED THE DISTRACTIONS: Head coach Chris Klieman pointed it out earlier in the week, but it is a unique one. The players aren’t in class. They leave for a brief moment to enjoy Thanksgiving with their family. It’s Senior Day and that can cause some distractions as well because of the sentiments and emotions that are attached to that. Meanwhile, it’s the Sunflower Showdown and the stakes are as high as they have been in decades.

3. BANNER YEAR: Let’s not kid ourselves. It would be a banner year for both the program, Klieman and Gene Taylor if Kansas State finds a way to defeat the Jayhawks. They maintain their streak over their rival, they will head south to play for a conference championship, they’ll have an opportunity to win 10 games, they’re riding high on offense, have one of the best quarterbacks in the country committed and both basketball teams are also still undefeated thanks to the work of Jerome Tang and Jeff Mittie.

SATURDAY STARS

OFFENSIVE LINE: I really have a hard time seeing it not go the way of K-State if they win at the line of scrimmage. It will be even more exaggerated if the weather conditions are sloppy.

JOSH HAYES: One of the best players for Kansas State all season has been safety Josh Hayes. However, he had his first rough game of the year when he was exploited a bit in the first half versus West Virginia in Morgantown? Was it because of the loss of Kobe Savage? We’ll find out soon, but I think he bounces back and they’ll need him against the pass-happy Jayhawks.

PHILLIP BROOKS: I’m not sure we see a big special teams play in the game, but one can’t not pick Phillip Brooks on special teams when Kansas is the opponent.

DY’S PREDICTION

I’ll stick with the prediction that I have explained all week, but I have to admit that the weather could disrupt the effectiveness and realism of it.

While the Jayhawks will play above their heads tonight, I think that happens on the offensive side of the ball for the most part. Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will throw the kitchen sink at Joe Klanderman and the K-State defense and have some success because of that.

They’ve been a great unit all year.

However, on the other side, the Jayhawks shouldn’t be able to stop the Kansas State offense. They haven’t really stopped anyone all season and it won’t begin on Saturday night. K-State wins and begins to plan for the Big 12 Championship Game.

Kansas State 38 – Kansas 30