8:05 pm
September 24

Kansas State @ #6 Oklahoma

Who will WIN this matchup?

Kansas State Wildcats (2-1)

@ #6 Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

 

Current odds:

Kansas State Wildcats: (+395)

Oklahoma Sooners: (-526)

 

• The spread for this game is Oklahoma by 13.5 points.

• Soon after his team’s win over Nebraska last week, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables had plenty of activity on his phone. “Great job getting No. 3,” the text message from legendary former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “Now go get No. 4.” An hour later, Venables’ phone buzzed again. “Except not this week,” Snyder said. Venables and the No. 6 Sooners (3-0) open Big 12 play Saturday against visiting Kansas State (2-1) at Norman, Okla., trying to finish off win “No. 4.”

• Venables was a walk-on linebacker for Kansas State in the early 1990s and carved out a role with the Wildcats, then began his coaching career there before joining Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma staff after the 1998 season. Venables has coached against his alma mater multiple times, but Saturday’s game will be his first against Kansas State as head coach. He said he will treat it like any other game.

• The Sooners come into the game undefeated, having rolled through opponents by a combined 127-30 in nonconference play.

• The Wildcats come in off a 17-10 home loss to Tulane. The Wildcats’ offense struggled against the Green Wave, with just 336 total yards.

• Kansas State has performed well against the Sooners in recent years, winning two of the last three meetings. Oklahoma won last year’s meeting 37-31.

• Wildcats quarterback Adrian Martinez also has had success against the Sooners. Martinez was Nebraska’s quarterback last season in a 23-16 loss at Oklahoma, throwing for 289 yards and a touchdown with one interception and ran for 34 yards and a score.

• Both teams rank in the top 15 nationally in rushing yards, with Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn rushing for 352 yards and three touchdowns through the first three games. Vaughn rushed for 51 yards on 15 carries and added 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown receiving against the Sooners last season. Vaughn had eight catches against Tulane last week but averaged less than four yards per reception. Eric Gray has rushed for 286 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma while Marcus Major has four touchdowns on the ground.

• Kansas State has forced seven turnovers — all interceptions.

• The Sooners have turned the ball over just once and have yet to throw an interception.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#6 Oklahoma Sooners
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