Preview: #14 Kansas State @ #11 Oklahoma
Date: 10/18/2014
Time: 12:00 ET
Television: ESPN
Spread: Oklahoma (-7.5)
Players to Watch
Tyler Lockett, wide receiver (KS): Lockett has faced a lot of coverage so far this season but he is still making plays. He is catching just under six passes per game with 399 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season. He is Waters’ most reliable playmaker and he also has a punt returned for a touchdown.
Jake Waters, quarterback (KS): After a hot start to the season Waters has cooled off a little but he continues to get the job done for the Wildcats. He has seven touchdowns to three interceptions through the air but he also has 320 yards and six scores on the ground.
Sterling Shepard, wide receiver (OU): Shepard is in the midst of a phenomenal season. He has already caught 34 passes for 714 yards – that’s enormous average of 21 yards per receptions – and four touchdowns. Nobody appears to be able to slow the junior down.
Zack Sanchez, defensive back (OU): The sophomore corner has an outstanding five interceptions through six games. With a very good offense many hoped the defense would be able to keep up and with the emergence of talents like Sanchez, any questions have been quickly answered.
Wildcats’ Offense Vs Sooners’ Defense
Kansas State’s tricky offense continues to put points on the board and is averaging over 40 per game. The side needs to continue to find the end zone with a young defense on the other side of the ball still finding its identity.
The Oklahoma defense has looked very suspect through six games and ranks just 42nd in the FBS in points against. West Virginia, TCU and Texas all scored 26 points or more, while Louisiana Tech also found the end zone. Against Waters and Lockett, the Sooners could be in for a long afternoon.
Wildcats’ Defense Vs Sooners’ Offense
Despite returning very few starters on defense, the Wildcats’ unit has played admirably. Iowa State and UTEP scored more points on them than the coaches would have liked, but restricting the Auburn Tigers to 20 points was impressive. Freshman lienbacker Elijah Lee has 2.5 sacks is one of the youngsters making a splash alongside seniors like Jonathan Truman who leads the team with 43 tackles.
The Sooners’ offense has broken the 30-points barrier on every occasion this season. Trevor Knight is doing just enough despite turnovers and a poor pass completion percentage of 55%. The true stars of the offense are Shepard and freshman running back Samaje Perine who has nine touchdowns and 568 yards on the ground.
Game Preview
With both sides seemingly leaking points at this point in the season it could be a case of who can keep up with who on offense. Kansas State are undefeated in conference play and the Sooners will be eager to get back in the hunt for the Big 12.
Implications
A loss for Oklahoma would almost definitely rule them out of reaching the Big 12 title game and a place in the college football play-off. Kansas State, on the other hand, would still have a lot to play for should they lose but a win would throw them well into the top-ten of the AP standings.
Prediction
In what I think will be a high scoring game, I expect Oklahoma to live up to their billing and snatch a victory. KS 38-48 OU