Missouri State @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2010 ) Missouri State 24, Kansas State 48

Kansas State aims to repeat its 10-win campaign of a year ago and appears to have an easy season-opening task when it hosts lower-level Missouri State on Saturday. The No. 21 Wildcats will be potent offensively with do-it-all quarterback Collin Klein on the field but will need to defend the pass better to contend for the Big 12 crown. Kansas State struggled with Eastern Kentucky before escaping with a win in last year’s opener and insists it will not take the Bears lightly. Missouri State has experienced losing campaigns in three of the past four seasons. The Bears are 1-26 against major-college programs with the lone win occurring when Missouri State defeated Nevada-Las Vegas in 1990.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, K-StateHD-TV. LINE: None

ABOUT MISSOURI STATE (2011: 2-9, 2-6 MVC): Sophomore Kierra Harris will be the starting quarterback but junior Ashton Glaser, a transfer from Missouri, is expected to also get playing time. Senior Cadarrius Dotson is a solid wideout and needs 47 yards to become the 17th 1,000-yard receiver in school history. Sophomore inside linebacker Andrew Beisel had a team-best 84 tackles last season and sophomore safety Mike Crutcher is coming off an 83-tackle campaign. The Bears intercepted only three passes last season.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2011: 10-3, 7-3 Big 12): Klein could propel himself into the Heisman Trophy race with another monster season. The senior rushed for 1,141 yards and a school-record 27 touchdowns and also passed for 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 317 rushing attempts were third-most in the country. Junior running back John Hubert (970 yards) is productive and senior Chris Harper (40 receptions) is the team’s top wideout. Sophomore receiver Tyler Lockett is a superb athlete who had two kickoff return touchdowns while averaging 35.2 yards per return. Senior middle linebacker Arthur Brown (101 tackles in 2011) heads a defense that includes senior defensive end Meshak Williams (seven sacks) and senior cornerback Nigel Malone (seven interceptions). Kansas State allowed a porous 263.4 passing yards per game last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas State has played Missouri State twice previously – winning 61-10 in 2007 and 48-24 in 2010.

2. The Bears played two powerful major-college programs in 2011, falling 51-7 to Arkansas and 56-7 to Oregon.

3. The Wildcats are 98-8 since 1990 when rushing for 200 or more yards.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 59-7