Oklahoma State Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Kansas State
Oklahoma State football will host Kansas State in Week 12 and here’s everything you need to know for the important Big 12 matchup.
The Big 12 title is still on the line for Oklahoma State football, making the last two weeks of the season that much more crucial. The Cowboys need some help from TCU losing one of its final two games while they win out themselves. Still, beating an average Kansas State team is crucial to that effort.
Mason Rudolph’s Heisman campaign hasn’t gone quite as planned, pertaining to wins and losses, but he’s still having a strong season, passing for 3,690 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven picks. His top receiver, James Washington, has excelled as well, catching 53 passes for 1,158 yards and nine touchdowns. The Cowboys’ defense, though, has been torched each week.
Kansas State’s season hasn’t been what Bill Snyder has expected, either. The Wildcats are just 5-5 and need to win one of their final two games in order to gain bowl eligibility. Since starting the season 3-1, the Wildcats have lost four of six games to fall just one short of a postseason berth.
A reason for the inconsistency this season has been the shuffling between three quarterbacks. First it was Jesse Ertz, then Alex Delton and in the loss to West Virginia last week, it was freshman Skylar Thompson. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they have one of the worst defenses in the Big 12, which is really saying something.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State game:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 18
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Venue: Boone Pickens Stadium
TV: ESPN 2
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
Rudolph needs to exploit that mediocre secondary of Kansas State which allows over 300 yards per game through the air. If he can continue to dominate with his arm, the Cowboys will be just fine in this matchup. Unfortunately, it’ll be up to the defense to make stops, when needed. Oklahoma State’s defense has been porous over the past few weeks and will need to force some three-and-outs to ensure the game will be safely in hand.
Obviously the main key for Kansas State has to be slowing Rudolph’s aerial attack. The talented gunslinger has the potential to go over for 300-plus yards on a weekly basis and the Wildcats’ secondary has been one of the worst in the nation. It needs to have its best week of the year if it wants to have a chance to take down the Cowboys. Offensively, the Wildcats need to continue to pound the rock and gain yardage that way. They struggle through the air, but can gash Oklahoma State via the run.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 11 edition
Prediction
Kansas State just doesn’t have the firepower that Oklahoma State does. In recent years, the Wildcats would be able to slow down the Cowboys’ offensive assault, but this year seems extremely lopsided. Mason Rudolph will go off for 400 yards against the porous Kansas State secondary and the Cowboys will make just enough stops to come away with a double-digit win. The line for this one is 20 points in favor of the Cowboys, expect a push, or close to it.
Final Score: Kansas State 21, Oklahoma State 41