Dawg Preview: Sunflower Showdown Kansas State Edition

Photo Credit- Nick Friesen CFD

Kansas State travels to Lawrence Kansas to face Kansas on Saturday. K-State comes into this game on a 14-game winning streak in a series that has been played 120 times in the past. The K-State offense has averaged 38.8 points a game this season meanwhile the defense has only given up 18.5 points per game. Kansas is averaging 32.7 points per game, but their defense is giving up 26.2 points per game.

Where to watch

Time: 7 PM Eastern

Channel: FS1

Broadcasters: Alex Faust and Petros Papadakis

K-State Players to Watch

Will Howard Quarterback - Will Howard is starting in his third Sunflower Showdown. The week after setting the Kansas State all-time touchdown passing record, he will be looking to add to his number of 45 in his career. At the start of the season, Will Howard had interceptions in every game leading up to the loss to Oklahoma State. Since that game, he has thrown only one interception compared to twelve touchdowns.

Kobe Savage Safety - As the leader of the Kansas State defense, Kobe will have to have everyone in position. Kansas likes to use a lot of motion to get guys out of position and will run trick plays which K-State's defense has been susceptible to this season. This hard-hitting safety will be busy in containing Devin Neal and the Kansas running offense as well as stopping the deep pass. Kobe Savage is coming into this game with 51 tackles on the season and 2 interceptions.

Why Kansas State will win

K-State is clicking on all cylinders on the offensive side right now. Scoring 59 points last week against Baylor as well as scoring 30 points or more in all Big 12 games but one. Kansas still has a suspect defense that is giving up just over 160 yards per game on the ground while K-State is rushing just over 202 yards a game. The Kansas defense is opportunistic though including a pick-six against Iowa State (Kansas won by seven points) and a pick-six against Oklahoma (a game Kansas won by five points.) Kansas State has been much better these last five games with ball security.

On the flip side, it will either be a banged-up Jason Bean or a walk-on freshman Cole Ballard at quarterback. That is not ideal with an ever-improving Kansas State defense that has been forcing more turnovers these last few weeks, 13 turnovers to be exact over the last 5 weeks. This defense will be one of the best Kansas will see this year.

I am making my prediction on this game with the thought Jason Bean will play. K-State will make it 15 straight wins against Kansas 45-35 and will bring the Governor's Cup back to Manhattan.