Quote Originally Posted by McGuire87:
Kansas State at Texas-San Antonio +17 ... 3 units
Texas-San Antonio +600 ML ... 1 unit
Power ratings: Kansas State (46th) at Texas San-Antonio (90th) = projected spread of +8
If you analyze the logos, you'll probably say "Kansas State is always a traditional power in the Big 12. They will route UTSA here."
Last week, UTSA might have been the Cover of Week 1. Going into Arizona (#25 on my powers) they were a 32.5 point dog. Nobody gave them a chance because they returned 5 starters from last year's team.
QB Blake Bogenschultz: 7.7 ypa, 332 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. UTSA gained 3.9 yards/clip on the ground. UTSA held super soph QB Anu Soloman to 6.4 ypa. Held Arizona to 4.3 yards/clip on the ground. UTSA outgained Arizona by 133 total yards. UTSA was 8/19 on 3rd down.
After reading all that - you might believe UTSA might be BETTER than Arizona...not a 32.5 point dog despite the final score (and maybe they are!). Conservatively, I bumped them about 20 spots in my power ratings - but they could keep going up and could be underrated.
Kansas State in Week 1 was very unimpressive vs. FCS South Dakota. KSU QB Joe Hubener threw for 50% completions, 147 total passing yards...against an FCS team. Translation = KSU doesn't have a QB. Hubener is the backup, but Jesse Ertz is out indefinitely with an injured knee and "likely to miss the rest of the season" -KansasCity.com
Kansas State outgained USD by 66 total yards (25% more yards). USD was 8/18 on 3rd down. KSU only 5/12 on 3rd down.
Starting SS and leader of the DBs Dante Barnett (leading tackler last year, 8 PBUs, 3 INTs) is quesitonable for Saturday's game. I'll take that as a bonus when I'm capping but not banking on it. Don't need it - but it's nice if he doesn't play.
KSU team briefing: Lost a ton from last year's team. Nickle Randall Evans was drafted in 6th round. Star QB Jake Waters is gone (3500 yards, 22 tds, 7 ints). WR Tyler Lockett was a 3rd round pick at #69 overall- he's gone. #2 WR Curry Sexton (1,059 yards) is also gone. These two WRs averaged 10.1 yards/target. The next two WRs that return: 4.2 and 8.4 yards/target. Kansas State also lost its top 2 LBers in Jonathan Truman (15% of team tackles with 103.5, 4.5 TFLs) and Dakorey Johnson (9 TFLs).
While Bill Snyder is a great coach and gets results, I think this is the year that his mediocre recruiting catches up to him. Kansas State does not have a size or speed advantage over UTSA. As a handicapper, this game has double digit underdog upset potential written all over it. KSU lost a ton of talent in losing QB Waters, WR Lockett, WR Sexton, top 2 LBers, #1 DE (Mueller), with their best DB being questionable for the game in SS Barnett. To boot, UTSA played outstanding vs. a good Arizona team and Kansas State was unimpressive vs. South Dakota (went 2-10 in 2014 and 4-8 in 2013).
After I did all this research, I realize I was also giving credit for team logos in my power ratings. Kansas State should really be around 70-80 in my powers...they just don't have the personnel to be that great. Even if I was being conservative here, I'd say Kansas State should be a 3 point favorite or so...but definitely nothing more than 6 points. 17 points is insane and definitely based off on last year's stats. Everybody is giving UTSA crap for what they lost from last year's team...but what about Kansas State????
Taking UTSA +17 for 3 units. I'm also going to put in a patented CRAZY MAN MONEYLINE PICK INSPIRED BY TRAIN69 1 unit on UTSA +600.
Bogenschultz annihilates Zona - plays like crap vs. KSU at home. After UTSA's first drive, they punted or turned over on downs on all of their other possesions for the game. After what they did that is truly unbelievable - much less at home.