UCF Knights @ Kansas State Wildcats: Game Preview

Photo Credit: Nick Friesen CFD

The University of Central Florida Knights (3-0) travel to Kansas State Wildcats (2-1) for a night tilt in Manhattan Kansas. This is the Big 12 opener for both teams and the first-ever Power Five conference game for UCF. K-State leads the series 1-0.

Broadcast Information:

7:00 PM CST Kickoff on FS1

Eric Collins and Devin Gardner will be on the call for FS1

What's at stake?

UCF is looking to make a statement that they are ready for the big time in a Power Five conference. The Big 12 gave them no favors sending them to Manhattan Kansas for a night game. Kansas State is looking for a bounce back after a rough week on the road losing on a last-second 61-yard field goal to Missouri. With conference play starting for K-State it is important to start on the right foot if they would like to repeat as champions.

Key Players- Kansas State Wildcats

RB DJ Giddens

S Kobe Savage

Key Players- UCF Knights

QB Timmy McClain

DE Tremon Morris-Brash

Key Matchups:

The key matchup in this game will be the Kansas State defense against the UCF backup quarterback and wide receivers after being torched by Missouri last week for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns. Timmy McClain last week against Villanova had 321 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kansas State should be a little tougher in the secondary than Villanova, but they have shown the secondary can give up some big plays.

DJ Giddens will have to pick up some in this game with it looking like the other Kansas State running back Treshaun Ward not being 100 percent or even available. UCF's defense gives up an average of 117 rushing yards a game, but their defensive front might be facing the best offensive line they have seen all year. This game like many others will be won in the trenches. The weather forecast in this game is looking to be wet with severe thunderstorms looking likely for the Manhattan area around that time which will be dejavu for UCF fans after the last visit to Kansas.

Prediction:

This game has the feeling of a flip-of-a-coin game. There are a few Kansas State players like Will Howard, Treshaun Ward, and Daniel Green that are either out for this game or will be game-time decisions. UCF will be without their starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. If this game ends up being a rain event with delays, I will take the better running game with the better run defense which is Kansas State. On the flip side. if it turns into a shootout, I will take the team with the more dynamic passing game which is UCF. I am leaning towards this game being a messy game so I will take Kansas State in a very tight game 28-24.