Oklahoma State @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Kansas State 45, Oklahoma State 52

These are heady times for No. 3 Kansas State, which has never been ranked higher in the BCS standings and boasts the Heisman Trophy frontrunner in quarterback Collin Klein. The Wildcats look to keep their national title hopes alive Saturday against visiting Oklahoma State, which has won three straight. If the Wildcats can get past the No. 24 Cowboys, they’ll only have one game left against a team with a winning record. Kansas State handed Texas Tech its worst loss of the year last Saturday 55-24, while Oklahoma State beat TCU 36-14 to remain tied for second place in the Big 12. The Wildcats are 8-0 for the first time since 1999, but they’ll likely need to finish with four impressive wins and a loss by one of the other unbeaten teams to secure a spot in the national title game.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Kansas State - 9.5

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (5-2, 3-1 Big 12): If the game turns into a shootout, the Cowboys should be able to keep pace. The Cowboys lead the country in total offense, averaging 586.1 yards per game, and are ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 44.3 points. Joseph Randle has rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games, but will face a difficult test against Kansas State’s run defense, which leads the Big 12. Freshman quarterback Wes Lunt returned last Saturday after missing six weeks because of a knee injury and passed for 324 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys’ defense has improved in recent weeks, allowing a combined total of 28 points over the last three games.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (8-0, 5-0): Klein has moved atop the Heisman Trophy race in the past two weeks, throwing for 556 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for four scores in wins over West Virginia and Texas Tech. Running back John Hubert has scored 10 touchdowns and ranks second in the Big 12 in rushing at 90.2 yards per game for the Wildcats, who have committed only one turnover in league play. Kansas State’s defense ranks 13th nationally and linebacker Arthur Brown leads the team with 60 tackles. Fellow linebacker Tre Walker is likely out for the season with a knee injury suffered last Saturday. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 with 12 sacks in league play.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas State has won 10 of its last 11 games decided by a touchdown or less.

2. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 36-22 and have won three straight meetings.

3. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 216-67 in the second half, including 98-25 in the third quarter.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 35, Oklahoma State 24