Kansas State @ Oklahoma State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2010 ) Oklahoma State 24, Kansas State 14

THE STORY: Oklahoma State hopes to continue its national championship push with a home victory against No. 19 Kansas State. Most feel the No. 4 Cowboys, who are third in the BCS standings, control their own destiny in the BCS race, and this matchup with the Wildcats is one of their few remaining hurdles in the quest for a perfect regular season. Oklahoma State is coming off a 59-24 blowout of Baylor, while Kansas State got rocked 58-17 at home by Oklahoma for its first loss of the season. The Cowboys, 8-0 for the first time since 1945, have won three of the last four against the Wildcats, including last year’s 24-14 victory in Manhattan.

TV: ABC, or ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. LINE: Oklahoma State -20.5.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (7-1, 4-1 Big 12): In their surprising 7-0 start, many thought the Wildcats were waiting to be exposed by a more talented, high-powered team. That’s what happened last week against the Sooners, who racked up 690 total yards and outscored Kansas State 35-0 in a dominating second half. The Wildcats’ grinding, ball-control offense couldn’t keep Oklahoma off the field, and it caught up with them in the end. To avoid a similar fate against Oklahoma State, quarterback Collin Klein and running back John Hubert will have to get back to putting together long, sustained scoring drives that end with touchdowns.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (8-0, 5-0): The Cowboys’ matchup with Baylor last weekend was supposed to be a high-scoring shootout, but it turned out to be a one-sided affair. Oklahoma State led 35-0 at halftime and 49-3 after three quarters as Joseph Randle set career highs with 152 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Justin Blackmon, arguably the country’s best receiver, also got in the mix with 172 receiving yards and two scores. The Cowboys have scored 45 or more points five times this season and trail only Houston in scoring offense with 49.9 points per game.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Kansas State hasn’t won in Stillwater since 1999 and has dropped the last two games there.

2. Oklahoma State is 111th nationally in total defense, allowing 456 yards per game.

3. Randle and Klein rank fourth and fifth nationally, respectively, with 17 and 16 rushing touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 45, Kansas State 21 - It won’t get as ugly as last week for the Wildcats, but the Cowboys shouldn’t have much trouble polishing this one off in the second half.