Game-by-game predictions for the Kansas State season
As kickoff nears, it is time to lock in the game-by-game schedule predictions for Kansas State as they attempt to repeat as Big 12 champions.
Week 1: SEMO at Kansas State
Defensively, I could see some growing pains from Kansas State in week one. Otherwise, I just don’t see any problems and we’ll learn a few things here and there along the way.
Prediction: Kansas State 52, SEMO 20
Week 2: Troy
Drew stole my thunder a bit, but I have been banging the drum that Troy isn’t as good as folks believe. They were fortunate to finish with the record they did a year ago. My bold prediction of the year is that K-State dispatches them with ease and shows tremendous improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
Prediction: Kansas State 42, Troy 7
Week 3: at Missouri
On the flip side, Missouri was the opposite of Troy. They were a team that could have easily finished with a better record than their final tally. Perhaps that is just because Eli Drinkwitz is not a good coach, but they have some talent that will be seeking revenge.
Because of that, it won’t be the four-touchdown butt-whooping from K-State that we saw last year.
Prediction: Kansas State 34, Missouri 26
Week 4: UCF at K-State
Welcome to the Big 12, UCF. Your first league game is a trip to Manhattan to see the defending conference champions. They’ll be fired up for it and give the Wildcats a similar scare as the one they saw the week before in Columbia.
Prediction: Kansas State 37, UCF 28
Week 6: at Oklahoma State
The roster in Stillwater doesn’t scare me, but it’s not an advantageous spot for K-State. It’s possible that quarterback Alan Bowman is also still healthy for Oklahoma State. Kansas State wins but it takes an extra period. They win an overtime game on the road on Friday.
Prediction: K-State 30, Oklahoma State 24
Week 7: at Texas Tech
Joey McGuire will have Lubbock in a frenzy. It’s likely to be a night game and the most raucous environment that Kansas State sees all year. I’m not convinced the Wildcats lose it, but I’m not prepared to predict a win.
Prediction: K-State 35, Texas Tech 38
Week 8: TCU at Kansas State
I’m not high on the Horned Frogs and Kansas State won’t be happy a week after falling in Lubbock.
Prediction: K-State 40, TCU 23
Kobe Savage/Kansas State Athletics
Week 9: Houston
Nobody believes Dana Holgorsen and Houston will have any success in the Big 12 and I’m not here to argue that point. But it’s a sandwich game where it wouldn’t be shocking at all if Kansas State were to be napping for a bit.
Prediction: K-State 30, Houston 20
Week 10: at Texas
Head coach Chris Klieman grabs one huge win a season dating back to his tenure at North Dakota State. Oklahoma isn’t on the schedule year, which isn’t optimal for Texas. Kansas State sends the Longhorns to the SEC with a loss.
Prediction: K-State 44, Texas 41
Week 11: Baylor at K-State
While I won’t argue that Kansas State may have the mental maturity to respond to a monumental win with a business-like performance, it isn’t easy to do and a lot simpler said than done. Dave Aranda will have Baylor improved, especially at this point of the year, and they’ll be able to defend and run the ball.
K-State is stung by the Bears in Manhattan.
Prediction: Kansas State 24, Baylor 27
Week 12: at Kansas
I’m smart enough not to pick K-State to lose to Kansas on this site. Like most, I see it as a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: Kansas State 48, Kansas 34
Week 13: Iowa State
Again, Drew may have listened to my podcasts and stole my thunder again. Remember the 2020 contest? K-State reverses those demons.
Prediction: Kansas State 38, Iowa State 7
Big 12 Championship: Texas vs K-State
I’m not going to be any different.
Texas Tech is a good story, but they are not going to advance to Arlington in year two under McGuire. Oklahoma has a simple schedule, but I’m not sure Brent Venables can do it. Don’t count out a surprise year from Baylor and TCU has a winning pedigree.
But the best mixes of everything that is required to make it to a conference title game rests in Austin and Manhattan this season. The more I think about it, the more I’d be shocked if we don’t see two bouts between Kansas State and Texas.
The Wildcats win the first one, and the Longhorns win the second.
Prediction: K-State 27, Texas 37
Final Record: 10-3 (7-2)
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