My take:
These two have played very close the last four tilts but I'll lay the 6-. K-State D is handling rush much better than last year, allowing 109/gm so far. Last year they allowed fewer than that in only four games, which included E Ky and Baylor. Iowa St put 215 yds on the Cats. (For their own part the Cats put 202 on the Cyclones.) Pass D is playing nasty, 7th overall in the nation, 14 sacks in five games. Recall a frustrated OU QB Landry Jones in Norman two games ago in Cats 24-19 upset, Cat D forcing three turnovers and yielding only one Sooner TD pass and 88 yds over ground, compared to 170 last year. This is a balanced and aggressive Cats D, much improved and bad news for the Cycs, who managed only 6 points at Iowa and 13 at home vs Texas Tech.
On the other side of the ball, QB Klein's superb play behind a very good O-line -- better than last year's -- is putting up big numbers, 50+ pts in three of five games (Missou St, Miami, Kansas). Cycs certainly warrant respect, especially a D that's kept everyone under 24 points. But the Cats' Klein and wise old dog Bill Snyder, as formidable a pairing of QB and coach as one will find today in college ball, are surely making Cyc coaches and players burn the midnight oil in the film room this week. There's Cats value in this line, as last week the Cycs had an easier go of it than rankings and stats crunching would have suggested: TCU's backup QB came in totally green, with only a day or so to prepare following starting QB Pachall's DUI bust and suspension. Result: five turnovers gift-wrapped for an asterisked Iowa State win which has this week's number under a TD. Juicy. Note that weather is due, and the field is grass. The fair-weather play: K-State -6-
These two have played very close the last four tilts but I'll lay the 6-. K-State D is handling rush much better than last year, allowing 109/gm so far. Last year they allowed fewer than that in only four games, which included E Ky and Baylor. Iowa St put 215 yds on the Cats. (For their own part the Cats put 202 on the Cyclones.) Pass D is playing nasty, 7th overall in the nation, 14 sacks in five games. Recall a frustrated OU QB Landry Jones in Norman two games ago in Cats 24-19 upset, Cat D forcing three turnovers and yielding only one Sooner TD pass and 88 yds over ground, compared to 170 last year. This is a balanced and aggressive Cats D, much improved and bad news for the Cycs, who managed only 6 points at Iowa and 13 at home vs Texas Tech.
On the other side of the ball, QB Klein's superb play behind a very good O-line -- better than last year's -- is putting up big numbers, 50+ pts in three of five games (Missou St, Miami, Kansas). Cycs certainly warrant respect, especially a D that's kept everyone under 24 points. But the Cats' Klein and wise old dog Bill Snyder, as formidable a pairing of QB and coach as one will find today in college ball, are surely making Cyc coaches and players burn the midnight oil in the film room this week. There's Cats value in this line, as last week the Cycs had an easier go of it than rankings and stats crunching would have suggested: TCU's backup QB came in totally green, with only a day or so to prepare following starting QB Pachall's DUI bust and suspension. Result: five turnovers gift-wrapped for an asterisked Iowa State win which has this week's number under a TD. Juicy. Note that weather is due, and the field is grass. The fair-weather play: K-State -6-
I know I am going to enjoy it!