Oklahoma @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) Kansas State 30, Oklahoma 42

THE STORY: No. 12 Kansas State is 7-0 for the first time since 1999 and continues to be one of college football’s biggest surprises. Its matchup with 9th-ranked Oklahoma was expected to be an opportunity to knock off the top-ranked team in the country, but the Sooners were upset by Texas Tech 41-38 last week, snapping their 39-game home win streak. Prior to taking the Oklahoma job in 1999, Bob Stoops served on Bill Snyder’s staff at K-State from 1989 to 1995. Stoops is 5-1 all-time against his former mentor and has won three straight in the series, most recently a 42-30 win in 2009.

TV: ABC. Line: Oklahoma -13.5

ABOUT NO. 9 OKLAHOMA (6-1, 3-1 Big 12): Oklahoma’s national title hopes took a major hit last week with the loss to the Red Raiders, who held a 24-7 halftime lead following a 1-hour, 45-minute weather delay. The home defeat was the Sooners’ first since a 17-10 loss to TCU on Sept. 3, 2005, and it was their first Big 12 home loss since 2001. Landry Jones threw for 412 yards and five touchdowns and Kenny Stills added 135 receiving yards and a pair of scores. The Sooners will try to avoid suffering consecutive regular-season defeats for the first time since 1999.

ABOUT NO. 12 KANSAS STATE (7-0, 4-0 Big 12): Collin Klein had a career-high 195 passing yards for the Wildcats in last week’s 59-21 victory over Kansas. Klein also added four rushing touchdowns to pace K-State’s attack, which is averaging 33.6 points. Part of the reason for the Wildcats’ offensive success has been their ability to sustain drives. They were 5-for-10 on third down against the Jayhawks and have converted 48.6 percent of them this season. K-State’s last win against Oklahoma came in the 2003 Big 12 title game, a 35-7 victory at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This is the third time K-State has started 7-0 under Snyder. The Wildcats haven’t won eight straight since 1999.

2. Jones’ 400-yard passing game against Texas Tech was the seventh of his career, extending his school record.

3. The Wildcats are one of only eight remaining unbeaten teams in the country.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 34 – The Sooners have something to prove after last week’s home loss and should have just enough to put an end to the Wildcats’ dream season.