Kansas State @ Missouri preview
Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field
Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Missouri 38, Kansas State 12
After two straight losses on the road, No. 20 Missouri (7-2, 3-2 Big 12) looks to close out a perfect season at home against Kansas State (6-3, 3-3, Big 12).
After a win against Oklahoma, the Tigers were dominated 31-17 by Nebraska in Lincoln and then gave up a 14-0 lead against Texas Tech, losing 24-17.
Kansas State bounced back from consecutive losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State with a dominating performance against Texas last week. The Wildcats jumped out to a 39-0 lead and went on to win 39-14.
In a surprise move, coach Bill Snyder went with sophomore quarterback Collin Klein instead of senior starter Carson Coffman, who had thrown three interceptions and zero touchdowns in Kansas State’s two previous losses.
Klein only attempted four passes (completing two for nine yards), but he ran the ball 25 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Daniel Thomas carried the ball 18 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
Thomas has been the workhorse for the Wildcats all season. He’s carrying the ball an average of 24 times per game, which has led to 1,102 yards, good for fifth most in the nation. He’s also scored 12 touchdowns.
Kansas State’s defense also came up big against Texas, picking off Garrett Gilbert five times. However, the Wildcats could be without leading tackler, junior linebacker Alex Hrebec. He is listed as questionable for the Missouri game.
While Kansas State seems to have established a true offensive identity against Texas that it can build off, Missouri looked completely lost in the second half against Texas Tech. The Tigers ran for 243 yards in the first half and then seemed to abandon what had been working for them, picking up just 17 more yards rushing in the second half.
Junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert had his worst game of the season for the Tigers, completing just 12 of 30 passes for 95 yards. The Red Raiders had been giving up 317 yards passing per game.
The Tigers' rushing attack has been inconsistent this year, as they lack a go-to back like Thomas. Instead they have rotated a trio of backs (De’Vion Moore, Henry Josey and Kendial Lawrence) in the first half and gone with the best performer in the second half. Last week, freshman running back Marcus Murphy got into the action as well with a 69-yard touchdown run.
With Nebraska’s narrow escape in overtime against Iowa State last week, Missouri’s hopes of a spot in the Big 12 championship were all but eliminated. Missouri appears headed for either the Alamo Bowl or the Insight Bowl.
Kansas State became bowl eligible with the win against Texas and looks to be headed to either the Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl or the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Missouri has won the last four meetings against Kansas State, including a 38-12 win in Manhattan last year. The Tigers have also won their last five Senior Day games by an average of 16.2 points.