Oklahoma @ Kansas State preview
Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2014 ) Kansas State 31, Oklahoma 30
Kansas State feels like it should be undefeated heading into Saturday's Big 12 home game against No. 19 Oklahoma. The Wildcats have squandered double-digit leads in back-to-back games, losing to undefeated Oklahoma State and TCU on late scores.
"We're just tired of losing," defensive tackle Travis Britz told The Wichita Eagle. "We have lost twice now in two games we feel like we should have won. I feel like we are just eager to get back out there and prove we aren't this 3-2 team. We should be a 5-0 team going to be a 6-0 team." The Wildcats used a strong running game to build leads in both of those games but couldn't maintain success on the ground in the second halves. The Sooners couldn't stop the run last week, giving up 313 yards to rival Texas on the way to a 24-17 loss. "(Kansas State will) utilize the extra guy in carrying the ball with their quarterback," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops told the media. "That's always going to put stress on your defense."
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Oklahoma -4.5
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (4-1, 1-1 Big 12): Baker Mayfield (108-of-163 for 1,593 yards, 14 TDs and three INT) leads the league with a 66.3 percent completion rate and is third in total offense (345.2). He has four rushing TDs and Samaje Perine (364 yards) adds three scores on the ground. Sterling Shepard (26 catches, 416 yards, three TDs) and Dede Westbrook (21 catches, 307 yards, one TD) have been Mayfield's favorite targets, although nine different Sooners have caught TD passes.
ABOUT KANSAS STATE (3-2, 0-2): Quarterback Joe Hubener (826 yards passing, four TDs) has 224 rushing yards and six scores after a 111-yard, four-TD performance against TCU. An improving offensive line has helped the ground game get going and the Wildcats will continue to split carries between Justin Silmon (282 yards, two TDs) and Charles Jones (162 yards, three TDs). The Kansas State defense has allowed 22 plays of at least 20 yards, including 86-, 69-, 55- and 32-yard touchdowns by TCU.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Oklahoma has won all five trips to Kansas State by double digits under coach Bob Stoops.
2. The Sooners are 15-1 in the game it plays after the Texas game under Stoops.
3. Kansas State had won 49 straight games when leading at halftime - the longest NCAA streak at the time - until its loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago.
PREDICTION: Kansas State 35, Oklahoma 31