Miami @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Kansas State 28, Miami 24

Collin Klein and the Kansas State offense spent three quarters getting their feet under them before blowing away Missouri State last week. The 20th-ranked Wildcats are hoping that end carries over to the beginning on Saturday afternoon, when they take a jump up in competition by hosting Miami. Kansas State scored 35 points in the fourth quarter in last week’s 51-9 triumph but will be facing a different type of defensive challenge against the Hurricanes and freshman running back Duke Johnson. Miami piled up 208 yards on the ground in a 41-32 opening win over Boston College, with Johnson scampering for 135 and a pair of touchdowns. The Hurricanes will be looking for some revenge after losing at home to the Wildcats in 2011.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, FX. LINE: Kansas State -7

ABOUT MIAMI (1-0): The Hurricanes took Kansas State down to the final play last season but were left with a 28-24 loss when quarterback Jacory Harris was stuffed at the goal line on fourth down in the final minute. The quarterback job now belongs to junior Stephen Morris, who passed for 207 yards and a touchdown at Boston College. The star of week one was Johnson, who broke for a pair of touchdown runs over 50 yards. Miami was strong defensively on the ground against the Eagles but surrendered 441 yards in the air while being outgained 542-415 overall. A pair of fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter sealed it for the Hurricanes.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (1-0): Klein completed only 12 of 18 passes for 133 yards but found the end zone twice against the Hurricanes in 2011. He also rushed for 93 yards and a score in that game. John Hubert added 166 yards and a score on the ground in that meeting and the junior running back is coming off a strong season opener. Hubert’s 95-yard touchdown run was part of a 152-yard effort and helped spark the largest fourth-quarter outburst in school history. Kansas State has some defensive questions to answer after surrendering 418 yards to Missouri State but Klein and company are explosive enough to cover some of the gaps. The Wildcats also excel on special teams, where Tramaine Thompson ran a punt back 89 yards for a touchdown last week. Kansas State’s 82 non-offensive touchdowns since 1999 are tied for the most in the country.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas State has won eight straight games in September.

2. Miami has not started 2-0 since 2009.

3. The Wildcats are 4-0 at home and 10-3 overall under coach Bill Snyder against unranked BCS conference teams.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 31, Miami 24