Kansas State @ Kansas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2012 ) Kansas 16, Kansas State 56

For the first time since 1978, Kansas will close out the regular season with a home game against in-state rival Kansas State in the battle for the Governor's Cup. Although Kansas leads the series 65-40-5, the Wildcats have won the last four meetings since the return of coach Bill Snyder and scored at least 56 points in the last three. Kansas coach Charlie Weis pulled out several trick plays in his series coaching debut last year as the Jayhawks jumped out to an early 14-7 lead, but still got thumped 56-16.

Both teams come into the contest off losses with Kansas State falling at home to Oklahoma 41-31, while Kansas was shut out at Iowa State 34-0. Weis has stressed the importance of snapping the losing streak to the Wildcats and is billing this as the team's bowl game. "We've had a running clock waiting for this game since the summer," Kansas center Gavin Howard said.

TV: Noon ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Kansas State -16

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (6-5, 4-4 Big 12): Wide receiver Tyler Lockett set school records with 278 yards receiving and 440 all-purpose yards, the fifth-best total in FBS history, against Oklahoma. Lockett, who had 12 receptions, also tied the school single-game record for touchdown catches with three. A big cause for concern for the Wildcats is a run game that managed just 24 yards on 22 attempts against the Sooners.

ABOUT KANSAS (3-8, 1-7): Weis would not name his starter at quarterback after playing junior Jake Heaps, who started the first nine games, and freshman Montell Cozart, who started the last two, against Iowa State. Whoever starts will be handing the ball off to one of the Big 12's top backs in senior James Sims, who ranks second in the conference in rushing with an average of 93.5 yards per game. Sims finished with 114 yards at Iowa State to push him over the 1,000-yard mark this season while also making him the first player in Kansas history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Snyder is 17-4 all-time against Kansas.

2. Kansas State DE Ryan Mueller leads the Big 12 in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (17).

3. Kansas ranks last in the Big 12 in scoring (15.8) and total offense (301.0).

PREDICTION: Kansas State 34, Kansas 17