Big 12 Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Kansas State Wildcats
This Saturday 30 October sees the no. 17 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys going to play against the unranked Kansas State Wildcats. The Cowboys are itching to rebound from a loss last week to the Nebraska Cornhuskers
while Kansas State is also looking to get back on the winning side after a heart-breaking loss to the Baylor Bears last weekend.
Oklahoma State’s previous games
The Cowboys, who currently sit at 6-1, suffered their first loss last week to the Cornhuskers 51-41. The Cowboy defence quite simply got ripped apart by the Nebraska offence, which had
over 430 yards of total offence. In the games prior to last week’s debacle, the Cowboy defence had been respectable, only giving up a 30-plus point performance twice.
The Cowboy offence is currently ranked second in the nation in points for per game with 48.3. The Cowboys have also scored more than 30 points in every game so far this season. Brandon Weeden has thrown
for an impressive total of 2249 yards with 21 touchdowns with his favourite receiver being Justin Blackmon, who is averaging 17.9 yards per reception. However, because of Blackmon’s arrest earlier in the week, his status for the game on Saturday is still
uncertain.
Kansas State’s previous games
Last week’s tough loss to the Baylor Bears 47-42 knocked the Wildcats out of the rankings. However, the offence has been rolling for the past two weeks, even with the loss to Baylor. Two weeks ago, the
Kansas State offence destroyed their in-state rival Kansas Jayhawks 59-7 with their quarterback Carson Coffman completing 15 of 16 throwing attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Even in last weekend’s loss, Coffman threw for 231 yards completing 20 of
29 attempts.
Kansas State’s defence has given up a total of 181 points and 21 touchdowns this season. The defence has been keeping the Wildcats in every game, with the exception of the massacre they took from the
Cornhuskers three weeks ago, in which they allowed a whopping 587 offensive yards against. The Wildcats sit at 67th in the nation in points allowed per game with 25.9.
Oklahoma State’s keys to the game
With Blackmon likely out, even more pressure will be put on quarterback Weeden and running back Kendall Hunter. Hunter had a great game last weekend, rushing for 201 yards and two touchdowns,
which bring his total yards this year to 1031, third best in the country. In order for Oklahoma to win, they need to forget about the loss last weekend, and forget about the problem plaguing their star receiver.
Kansas State’s keys to the game
The Wildcats need to start right at kick-off and take advantage of their special teams, which averages a kick return of 29 yards, while the Cowboys special teams have given up three touchdowns
on returns and allows an average kick-off return of 34.4 yards.
The offence, which has averaged over 50 points over the last two games, will need to keep on rolling and use running back Daniel Thomas to split the Cowboy defence. Perhaps more play-action plays should
be called, to make the Cowboy defence freeze in their tracks to give Carson Coffman just a little more time in the pocket.
The Wildcats should also remember that the last time these two teams faced off, the final score was 41-39 for the Cowboys, so they'll have a chance for retribution.
What is next for both?
Each team needs the win badly this week to keep their opportunities alive for a bowl berth. After this weekend, the Cowboys will be visiting the Texas Longhorns for another in-conference battle. The
Wildcats will have another tough test next week against the no. 6 ranked Missouri Tigers, at Missouri.
Prediction:
Kansas State 35-32 Oklahoma State
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