A bowl game is at stake when the Kansas State Wildcats welcome West Virginia for their season finale on Saturday. Kansas State is in the hunt for a bowl appearance with a 5-6 record, while the Mountaineers have already secured theirs after winning their seventh game last week. Can the Mountaineers build on their four-game win streak? Or will Kansas State win for the third straight time? Read on for a look at this do-or-die game.
For more college football games to come check out our complete preview Texas vs. Baylor.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas State Wildcats Preview
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Kansas
When: Saturday, December 5, 3:30 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers at Kansas State Wildcats – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (7-4, 4-4 Big 12)
West Virginia showcased a very suffocating defense in a 30-6 win over the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday. The Mountaineers held an opponent out of the end zone for the third time this year and retaliated with a very strong offense. West Virginia limited Iowa State to just 284 total yards, while roaring for 415 of their own.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Quarterback Skyler Howard didn’t have the best of games, though. He completed just 12 of 26 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception. But he made up for the bad passing day with a team-high 73 yards rushing and a score on 13 carries. Howard had some more help from running back Wendell Smallwood, who ran for 72 yards on 15 carries.
West Virginia’s rushing offense may slow down a bit against Kansas State. The Wildcats have the third-best rushing defense in the Big 12 this season, allowing 164.7 yards per game. But they have one of the worst passing defenses with 290 yards allowed per game. Mountaineers wide receiver Shelton Gibson is due for a big game against Kansas State’s weak passing defense. He hauled in six passes for 148 yards and the game’s only receiving touchdown on Saturday.
The Mountaineers could also have a big day on the other side of the ball. They have the Big 12’s most interceptions this season (19). Kansas State hasn’t thrown the ball too much this year, ranking ninth in passing offense with 178.2 yards per game. But have thrown almost as many interceptions (nine) as they have touchdowns (12).
Senior defensive back Karl Joseph shares a team-high five interceptions with Daryl Woodley this season. The two should be terrors in West Virginia’s secondary.
The Mountaineers are 3-0 ATS in their last three games.
Betting on the Kansas State Wildcats (5-6, 2-6 Big 12)
The Kansas State Wildcats won for the second straight time, signifying that their six-game losing streak is a thing of the past. The Wildcats beat down on in-state rival the Kansas Jayhawks 45-14 on Saturday. Kansas State’s special teams fuelled their scoring party, scoring a pair of touchdowns off botched punts in the first quarter.
The offense was clicking as well. Quarterback Joe Hubener passed for just 133 yards, but ran for 88 yards and two scores. Winston Dimel added two more on five carries for 25 yards. Meanwhile, lead running back Charles Jones ran for a solid 70 yards on 13 carries. But the Wildcats’ rushing offense could slow down against West Virginia. The Mountaineers have allowed the least rushing touchdowns in the Big 12 (eight).
If Kansas State fails to get points on the board with its rushing offense, then they’ll need to keep West Virginia from scoring with a spirited defensive effort. The Wildcats held an opponent to under 20 points for just the third time this season against the Jayhawks. They’ll have a good chance to stop West Virginia’s passing offense, which ranks just seventh in the Big 12 with 225.4 yards per game.
Stopping the pass will force West Virginia into a more one-sided approach to this game, which falls right into Kansas State’s strength. The Wildcats have the third-best rushing defense in the conference, limiting opponents to just 164.7 yards rushing per game. Kansas State has a pretty solid run stopper in defensive lineman Jordan Willis, who has 11 tackles for loss this season.
The total has gone over in four of Kansas State’s last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Wildcats win their season finale to qualify for a bowl berth. Create a betting account now and catch some wild season finales in college football.
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