Kansas State
vs.
Oklahoma
9/22/12
The Oklahoma Sooners host the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday night in a Big 12 matchup that can be seen on FOX-TV at 7:50 pm est. The Sooners are hefty -14 point favorites at both 5 Dimes and SBG Global and we always like to take a glaNCe at the betonline openers as they are the 1st lines posted anywhere. They opened the Game Oklahoma -17 and the early bettors obviously felt that was too high. The betting trends at sportsbook.ag agree as 78% of the early action is on Kansas State.
Yet another Game with pretty big implications early in the season. No. 15 Kansas State is having yet another surprisingly good start while No. 6 Oklahoma hasn’t had a real test to date. Do they deserve their ranking? The winner of this one will get a nice bump to the top of the Big 12 standings.
An interesting note in this Game is that even though KSU has won three Games, they have all been at home. Last year’s Game between these teams was in Manhattan, KS yet that didn’t seem to matter much as it finished 58-17 in favor of the Sooners. In that Game, Oklahoma outGAined the Wildcats by a ridiculous 450 yards. This year’s Heisman hopeful, Collin Klein, threw for a mere 58 yards whereas LAndry Jones notched 505 yards through the air.
Kansas State’s one hope is that they have since learned from that beat down a year ago. After dismantling Miami (FL) 52-13 in their second Game (KSU beat them 28-24 last year), the Wildcats were less than great against North Texas last weekend. It’s very possible their minds were already on the showdown in Norman.
While passing the ball was Klein’s Achilles’ heel last year, he looks like an improved QB in 2012. After completing just 57% of his passes last season, Klein is throwing close to a 73% completion rate. He also already has five passing TDs whereas he had just 13 all of last year. We already know about his legs which have totaled 210 yards and Four TDs. Also in the Wildcat running Game is John Hubert who busted out a 95 yard TD against the Hurricanes. He has 296 yards and three TDs on the year. Klein’s main options in the passing Game are Tramaine Thompson and Chris Harper who should receive tons of looks in a Game they should be playing from behind in.
Oklahoma hasn’t faced much competition this year, so it’s hard to gauge where they are at as a team. Last year, they had complete meltdowns (loss to Texas Tech) which saw them fall to the disappointing Insight Bowl. The Sooners have the players, but will they have the right mindset? LAndry Jones has been his usual self tossing for 474 yards and Four TDs. His top target Kenny Stills is destroying secondary’s with 241 yards and two TDs. Damien Williams and Dominique Whaley lead the backfield by committee. Williams has been the one with more spark so far GAining 259 yards and five TDs on just 20 carries. That’s right, one-Fourth of his carries have been a touchdown. As seen last year, even if you stop Oklahoma’s rushing Game, it may not be enough though.
This Game should definitely be closer than a year ago while the spread is close to the same mark, favoring the Sooners. In fact, Oklahoma has won five straight Games in this series. Bill Snyder and his crew can’t be too happy about that number. Klein will have to be his normal self for KSU to compete here.
The Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last six road Games while the Sooners are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home Games. In this series, the over has hit Four straight times and the road team is a surprisingly 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings.
Some Games make you scratch your head when you see the line. Not this one. This line was made with historical results in mind. Oklahoma is simply the better program that is able to recruit better talent and the series history here, both recent and otherwise, hammers that point home. It’s one sided in the Win/Loss column and on the scoreboard as most Sooner wins have been blowouts.
Kansas State would be the more tested of the two, with the Miami Game under their belts. That’s one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that Oklahoma was off last week, and was basically off the week before as well, as they played Florida A&M. This should be one rested and healthy Sooners team.
In Our opinion, if you play this Game, you’re either guessing, or assuming. If you play Oklahoma, you’re assuming that the talent GAp play out and holds true oNCe again. If you play Kansas State, you’re guessing that this is the year Kansas State keeps it close or pulls the upset. We don’t like to guess or assume, so we have to pass. Interesting Game to keep an eye on though. No Opinion.