Iowa State @ Kansas preview
Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Kansas 10, Iowa State 13
Kansas hopes to snap two long losing streaks when it hosts Iowa State on Saturday. The Jayhawks have lost nine straight this season and 19 consecutive Big 12 games. They've been within a touchdown in five losses this year, including last week's 41-34 double-overtime loss at Texas Tech. The Cyclones, who were outscored 68-27 in back-to-back losses to ranked opponents Oklahoma and Texas, need one win to become bowl eligible. Iowa State (Nov. 23) and Kansas (Dec. 1) both finish the regular season against West Virginia.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: Iowa State -6
ABOUT IOWA STATE (5-5, 2-5 Big 12): The Cyclones' banged up defense is allowing 22.6 points and 442.2 yards per game, including 149 rushing yards. Senior safety Durrell Givens is tied for the nation's lead in takeaways (three interceptions and FBS-best five fumbles) with Notre Dame's Manti Te'o. Senior quarterback Steele Jantz threw for five touchdowns three weeks ago in a victory against Baylor but has one since. Freshman receiver Quenton Bundrage has 14 catches for 142 yards in his past four games and scored his first career touchdown against Texas.
ABOUT KANSAS (1-9, 0-7): The Jayhawks rushed for 390 yards, a school record for a Big 12 game, against Texas Tech. Sophomore Tony Pierson's career-high 202 rushing yards was the most by a Jayhawk since 2001 and junior James Sims added 127 yards for his sixth-straight 100-yard performance. Sims leads the Big 12 with 125 rushing yards per game and needs three rushing touchdowns to move into second on Kansas' career list. Senior offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson could set the school record with his 47th consecutive start this week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Kansas leads the series 49-36-6 and has won the past four games in Lawrence.
2. Kansas has tied a school record with 10 games featuring at least one 100-yard rusher.
3. Kansas (74 percent) and Iowa State (75.6 percent) are first and third, respectively, in the Big 12 in red-zone defense. Both have forced five red-zone turnovers.
PREDICTION: Iowa State 24, Kansas 20