Charlotte @ Kansas State preview

Kansas State hasn't started a season 2-0 since 2012. But the 19th-ranked Wildcats are heavy favorites to buck that trend on Saturday when they host a Charlotte squad that has some strong ties to Manhattan, Kan.

The 49ers (0-1), who dropped their opener 24-7 at Eastern Michigan, are led by head coach Brad Lambert who played defensive back for the Wildcats from 1984-87 and was a three-time Academic All-Big Eight choice. His staff includes defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt, a 1988 Kansas State grad who earned honorable-mention All-American honors as a linebacker in 1987. So Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder knows his team -- which is more than a five touchdown favorite and is coming off an impressive 55-19 victory over Central Arkansas -- will get the 49ers' best effort. "The more you watch them on tape, you realize they are coming in in a very positive way," Snyder told the Manhattan Mercury. "I know they are probably a heavy underdog in this particular ballgame, but I'm certainly never one to take anyone for granted."

TV: Noon ET, FSN Midwest. LINE: Kansas State -36.5

ABOUT CHARLOTTE (0-1): The 49ers, beginning their third year in Conference USA after making the move from being an FCS Independent, had three turnovers, 103 yards in penalties and yielded a pick-six in their opening loss at Eastern Michigan. Redshirt junior quarterback Hasaan Klugh rushed for a career-best 101 yards and passed for 114 yards and a touchdown to senior wide receiver Trent Bostick. Linebackers Jeff Gemmell (14) and Karrington King (10) both had double-digit tackles while senior Arthur Hart added a school-record 74-yard punt.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (1-0): Senior quarterback Jesse Ertz got off to hot start by setting a new school single-game record for passer rating (319.8), completing 10-of-16 passes for 333 yards and a school record tying four touchdowns in the win over Central Arkansas. Four different players caught touchdown passes with three of the scores traveling 55 yards or more. Junior cornerback D.J. Reed, who also had an interception, earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning the opening kickoff 96 yards and returning a punt 62 yards for a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas State has a 50-3 record in September home games under Snyder since 1992.

2. Reed is the first Wildcat to have an interception and a punt-return TD in the same game since Terence Newman, now in his 15th NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings, did it against Missouri in 2002.

3. Kansas State is 22-4 all-time against current members of Conference USA.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 48 Charlotte 7