West Virginia
vs.
Kansas State
Free College
Football Pick
12/5/15
Kansas State has disappointed so much this season that it could be in line for its worst record in the new Bill Snyder era. The Wildcats sit at 5-6 and are a home underdog against West Virginia this weekend. The Mountaineers sit as a -6.5 point road favorite as seen at 5 Dimes Sportsbook.
Snyder, a legend in Kansas State football, has led the team to at least six wins each season since he rejoined the team back in 2009. Because of this year’s struggles, Snyder’s time may be up on the sideline at 76 years old. And even without a win KSU could still make a bowl, but Snyder said that he would let his players decide on that.
The Wildcats were 3-6 before beating the perennial worst teams in the Big 12, Iowa State and Kansas. This is a team that battled against OK State, TCU and Baylor (all losses by 7 points or less), but also scored nine points total against Oklahoma and Texas.
West Virginia had a losing streak of its own when they lost Four straight Games to the best teams in the conference. But now, the Mountaineers have won Four straight against weaker competition and could still be in line for a respectable bowl with a win here to give them eight on the year.
Kansas State has won and covered the last three years (only meetings ever), winning 26-20 last year on the road, in a Game they led the entire way despite rushing for only 10 yards as a team.
The Mountaineers once again boast a solid, underrated defense that has held Kansas and Iowa State to six total points in the last two weeks. And since Kansas State can’t stop anyone defensively (31 ppg allowed), the Wildcats will need to find a way to score.
KSU has had a couple Games with scoring issues, but for the most part, has found success against the Big 12. Joe Hubener isn’t a great quarterback, completing 49% of his passes for 9 TDs and 7 INTs, but he does most of his damage on the ground with 13 rushing touchdowns. Hubener along with RB Charles Jones (612 yards) will need to move the ball for K State to have a chance. WVU is mediocre at stopping the run, so there will be an opportunity to do just that.
The defensive side is a different story for the Wildcats as they can’t really stop anyone and that’s going to be a problem against this offense. Quarterback Skyler Howard has actually struggled a bit in recent Games against Kansas and Iowa State and has now thrown an interception in a ridiculous nine straight Games. However, the Wildcats have one of the worst pass defenses in the country (allowing 283 yards per Game).
That still may not matter in the end because both WVU running backs Wendall Smallwood and Rushel Shell have been excellent out of the backfield this season. They have combined for 16 TDs and Smallwood leads the way with 1,306 yards and 6.5 yards per carry.
Both teams sit at 5-6 ATS this year, but the Wildcats are still 6-1 ATS in their last seven home Games vs. a team with a winning road record. On the other side, the Mountaineers have covered in Four straight against a team with a losing record. Nevertheless, betting against Bill Snyder at home in what could be his final Game would be tough.
Our Pick – Kansas State +6.5