Pick and preview: Kansas State at West Virginia

KSO will look at a handful of categories each week when previewing the Kansas State game on Saturday. We discuss factors to keep in mind for the Wildcats, what K-State needs to learn, the players to watch and a final prediction.

FOUR FACTORS FOR KANSAS STATE

1. FAST START: West Virginia is 4-6. Because of that, bowl eligibility is within their grasp. But I think that can be an overrated motivation. Most of the time, players don’t care about that and just want the year to end, especially when their head coach probably won’t be around for it. Remember, Neal Brown’s boss was fired earlier this week. A fast start from Kansas State and stepping on their throat early could put an end to any runs from the Mountaineers.

2. WOODS’ AVAILABILITY: Additionally, the West Virginia pass defense is rough. It is one of the worst units in college football. Combine that with Will Howard slinging the pill at a high level, and the recipe is there for an offensive output similar to what we have been seeing from K-State. Beyond that, Kansas State could receive more help because we might not see the Mountaineers’ best cornerback in Charles Woods.

3. TURNOVERS: I said last week that it could be a factor every week. It has been for Kansas State, and it was encouraging to see the Wildcats force their first turnovers on the road when in Waco.

4. PRIMARY FOCUS: If K-State is locked in and not looking ahead to Kansas and dwelling on the fact that they are playing for a Big 12 Championship Game berth, they’ll have no problems with West Virginia, in my opinion. But that starts during the week. That means not being distracted during their preparation and approach beforehand.

WHAT THE WILDCATS NEED TO LEARN

1. ONE GAME TO WIN: The top thing to learn if you’re K-State is that the final road trip of the regular season was a success and all it takes to advance to Arlington is a home win over the in-state rival Kansas Jayhawks.

2. HOWARD’S PREP: For the first time this season, Will Howard is operating the entire week as the unquestioned starter at quarterback for Kansas State. Not only that, the opponent will know it without any doubts for the entire week for the first time this year, too. It would be promising for K-State looking forward if any concerns about that were erased and his performance was the same as we’ve seen in previous weeks.

3. TWO-QB PLATOON: Like K-State in prior contests, West Virginia has some mystery as to who they will unleash at quarterback. Will it be JT Daniels or Garrett Greene? And will it hinder the preparation from Kansas State because they have to be ready for both?

SATURDAY STARS

MALIK KNOWLES: It’s another game removed from when Malik Knowles came up gimpy versus Texas. Coming down the home stretch, it would be nice to see him rise to the occasion and pull off some great performances when K-State needs it the most. And with West Virginia struggling to guard anyone in the passing game, he may have an opportunity to make a splash in Morgantown.

AUSTIN MOORE: Perhaps I am way off, but Austin Moore seems to have hit a wall of some sort and has been a bit quieter and less active the last couple games. Another surge from the Kansas State linebacker would be a great sight to see.

TY ZENTNER: He’s the simple answer. Ty Zentner is far and away the best special teams weapon for the Wildcats.

PREDICTION

I’m very confident in what we see from K-State on Saturday afternoon just like I was last week when they traveled to Baylor. They are focused and the Wildcats are well aware of what is in front of them and will string their best performances of the year in their trek to Arlington.

Howard continues to click with his passing weapons. A fast start leaves the Mountaineers uninterested for the majority of the game and the defense maintains enough spirit and energy in the first game without Kobe Savage.

Neal Brown will have some tricks up his sleeve as an offensive mind as he coaches for his job. But the kitchen sink won’t be enough against Kansas State. The Wildcats race past West Virginia.

Kansas State 38 – West Virginia 20