Three and Out: Three bold predictions for Kansas State in Stillwater

For the first time since 2015, Kansas State will play a regular season game on a day other than Saturday. The last time this happened was a Thursday night loss to Baylor in Manhattan. The last Friday game for K-State didn’t go very well, either. That was the season-opening loss in 2013 to North Dakota State.

I predict the Wildcats get off the weeknight schneid this time. That prediction isn’t the boldest, though. Here are three predictions for the Kansas State matchup with Oklahoma State that have me going out on a limb.

Two Kansas State players score their first touchdown

I have already sounded off multiple times this week that I think Will Howard has a big game passing.

So, instead of calling for 300 yards or a big number of touchdowns from Howard, I will get more specific. I think that we see two Wildcats grab their first touchdowns in the purple and white. My two picks would be Kansas State pass-catching options Keagan Johnson and Garrett Oakley.

Both players got valuable time off during the bye week to get closer to 100 percent health. It is also clear that Collin Klein and the K-State offense want to get both of those players involved more to elevate their ceiling.

Johnson will be the downfield threat that Howard finally connects with on the season. Oakley will pair nicely in more two tight end sets for the Wildcats, and with Oklahoma State’s heavy emphasis on Ben Sinnott, it will give the talented Oakley a chance for his first touchdown.

Ward out-paces Giddens in total yards

This is my biggest zag. DJ Giddens is coming off one of the best games a Kansas State running back has ever had. For the foreseeable future, I also expect the K-State sophomore to out-pace Treshaun Ward in carries.

But with Ward getting back into the rotation after missing the UCF game, I expect Ward to use some of his breakaway abilities to rack up yards in the running and passing game against the Cowboys. I also expect the passing game to take center stage for the Wildcats as they try to gain confidence in their explosive play ability.

Ward will likely take on more of a role as the receiving back.

This is less of an educated guess and just more of an assumption that something kind of surprising could happen for the Kansas State offense that is out of the norm. Plus, Ward has the higher chance of hitting a home run, while Giddens is going to consistently get on base for you with singles and doubles, and the occasional homer.

K-State forces two interceptions

It was in 2022 when K-State was one of the Big 12’s best in forcing interceptions, but so far in 2023, they have just two. Only Oklahoma State has less this season. However, the Wildcat fortune will change on Friday night.

The first game for Alan Bowman as the full-time quarterback saw him toss two into the hands of Iowa State defenders, while he also threw one against South Alabama.

The secondary is due for a breakout game and a weaker quarterback that will put the ball in the air quite a bit adds up. Also, Kansas State will have a relentless pass rush that disrupted the Cowboys all of 2022’s matchup. The Wildcats managed three sacks and even more pressures (remember the hands of Gunnar Gundy?).

My bet is on Will Lee to get at least one of the interceptions.

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