The No. 22 Kansas State Wildcats (-5) aren’t traveling far to battle their in-conference rival Kansas Jayhawks at Kivisto Field at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this showdown is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and FS1 will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is the underdog in this Big 12 matchup and is currently getting 5 points. The Wildcats are also receiving -220 moneyline odds while the Jayhawks are +180. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points, and some good live betting scenarios might present themselves during the match.
Square bettors have been hammering the Jayhawks, as the opening line was 6.5. The game’s O/U has not changed after being initially set at 57.5.
Each team has posted a good return this season as the Wildcats have recorded 2.1 units and the Jayhawks are ahead 6.8 units.
The Wildcats are 5-2 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Jayhawks are 3-5 SU overall and are also 1-4 SU in conference play.
The Wildcats got their second W in as many tries after a 48-41 win over Oklahoma last week where Skylar Thompson completed 18 passes for 213 yards. Thompson (39 yards on 13 rush attempts, four TDs) also led the ground attack and was complemented by James Gilbert (105 yards on 13 carries, one TD). Dalton Schoen (five receptions, 68 yards) and Joshua Youngblood (three catches, 14 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Kansas enters this one having just earned a 37-34 win over Texas Tech. Carter Stanley completed 26-of-37 passes for 415 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Pooka Williams Jr. (69 rushing yards on 21 attempts) handled the running attack as Kwamie Lassiter II (eight receptions, 75 yards) and Andrew Parchment (seven catches, 109 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Kansas State has run the ball on 64.3 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 58.1 percent across possessions in conference play. Kansas has a run percentage of 52.5 percent, and has rushed the ball 47.5 percent of the time when facing Big 12 opponents. The Wildcats have rushed for 199.4 yards per game (including 139 per game against Big 12 opponents) and have 20 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Jayhawks are logging 165.4 rush yards per game (143.6 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
The Wildcats offense has logged 177.7 yards/contest in the air overall (180.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has seven passing scores so far. The Jayhawks have recorded 237.5 pass yards per outing (263 against Big 12 foes) and have 19 total pass TDs.
Kansas State should have an advantage in both areas of the defense. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 181.9 yards and throw for 187.1 yards per game. The Kansas defense has given up 251.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 222.0 yards per game on the ground. The Wildcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.61 to opponents, while the Jayhawks have given up a 7.32 ANY/A.
Offensively, Thompson has put up 1,035 passing yards this year. He’s completed 63 percent of his 138 attempts with five passing scores and only one interception. He’s got a 7.07 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.46 over the last two outings.
Carter Stanley has completed 128-of-194 passes for 1,590 yards, 15 TDs and five INTs for Kansas. His ANY/A stands at 7.69 for the season and 9.34 over his last two games.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, Kansas State got the victory over Kansas, 21-17.
Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks Free Pick
SU Winner: Kansas, ATS Winner: Kansas, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Wildcats offense has yet to create a pass play of 40+ yards, while the Jayhawks have put up six such plays.
- The Kansas State defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Kansas has given up seven such plays.
- The Kansas State offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Kansas has created 18 such runs.
- The Wildcats defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Jayhawks have given up 16 such runs.
- The Kansas D has registered 15 sacks on the year while Kansas State has 10.
- As a team, Kansas State has produced 3.6 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.9 over its last two.
- Kansas has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.2 over its past two.
- In its last three matchups, Kansas is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Kansas State’s last game was set at 59. The over cashed in the team’s 48-41 win over Oklahoma.
- Over its last three matches, Kansas State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Kansas’ last outing was set at 65. The over cashed in the 37-34 victory over Texas Tech.
