Pick and Preview: Kansas State at Iowa State

KSO will look at a handful of categories each week when previewing the Kansas State game on Saturday. We discuss factors to keep in mind for the Wildcats, what K-State needs to learn, the players to watch and a final prediction.

FOUR FACTORS FOR KANSAS STATE

1. MORE ANSWERS ON OFFENSE: Kansas State has struggled to have much of an answer for defenses when not running Adrian Martinez or Deuce Vaughn. Of course, why else would they try something else when they have two weapons as explosive as that. But at some point, they have to be able to throw versus the blitz.

2. OVER-ACHIEVERS: Who needs to overachieve? The K-State offensive line. I fully realize they’ve been dealt a poor hand this year, but the offense will struggle if they can’t control the line of scrimmage. Iowa State is too good everywhere else on that side of the field. Explosive plays will be hard to find. It may have to be a station-to-station and drive-sustaining offense, and that would require winning in the trenches.

3. PASS RUSH: On the flip side, Kansas State should have the upper hand on the opposite side. Their defensive line is very potent, whereas the Cyclone offensive line has taken a step back and Hunter Dekkers has done them no favors by not showcasing much mobility.

4. SPECIAL TEAMS: K-State will hold a decided advantage on special teams. The one consistent aspect about teams under Matt Campbell is that they are terrible on special teams. It is that way or at least has been that way every year in Ames.

WHAT THE WILDCATS NEED TO LEARN

1. GET OVER THE HUMP: What do I mean? Every time there is a game that could elevate Kansas State to another level and give them a chance to play supremely relevant football games in top slots, they fall short of the win. They are always a win away from being in a national spotlight. They once again have that chance when in Ames on Saturday night. A win makes them 3-0 in the league, two road games already stashed away and entering a bye week. That is followed by a tricky road game at TCU, but they’ll have two weeks of preparation and the Horned Frogs have Oklahoma State the week prior. A golden opportunity sits in front of the Wildcats.

2. RELIABLE RECEIVER: I don’t know if it will be Saturday night, but they will be forced to throw the ball for a win at some point. Can K-State be successful enough through the air to rise to the occasion when that happens? We’ll probably find out soon enough, but it will command a receiver stepping up and emerging as a reliable weapon. Phillip Brooks has been that a bit over the last two weeks with all the receptions, but he’s not much of a downfield threat.

2. DEFENSIVE ELIMINATION: Iowa State has been pretty lackluster on offense in 2022, but they do have the conference’s leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns in Xavier Hutchinson. Everything they do has centered on his contributions. Aside from him, they have very little production to speak of, honestly. I want to know if Kansas State has the kind of defense that can contain a talent like that, eliminate him and not allow him to beat them.

SATURDAY STARS

Deuce Vaughn: With the way the season has unfolded, specifically the last two weeks, the spy that has tagged Deuce Vaughn around the field may eventually flip and instead mirror Martinez. If that’s the case, and I could see the Cyclones doing it, it could be a big day for the K-State running back.

Khalid Duke: We have already mentioned it, but Iowa State hasn’t protected Dekkers all that well this year and he is not well-versed at escaping pressure. But they’ll still likely steer much of their attention towards Felix Anudike-Uzomah. That could mean more one-on-one battles for Khalid Duke, and I believe he’s going to be turned loose again.

Ty Bowman: Nobody ever loses the special teams battle to the Cyclones. I don’t expect it to be any different for Kansas State. Iowa State could just choose to kick it away from the Wildcats, but protecting against a blocked punt is a bit more challenging. Seth Porter has been the weapon before, but Ty Bowman got one last year.

PREDICTION

As I’ve stated throughout the week ever since last weekend concluded, Iowa State is still a strong program and culture thanks to what Campbell has accomplished and built in Ames. And after two straight conference losses, they’ll be as hungry as ever.

Not to mention, it’s a night game in their own house. It will probably be the best that the Cyclones play all season. And K-State is the one with the target on their chest, especially since they are unscathed in the league.

And it historically has been the game that Klieman has dropped in the past. He hasn’t gotten over the hump at Kansas State because of games like this one. Will it be any different this time? Only time will tell. He has bucked a couple trends already this season when he didn’t lose consecutive games after dropping one and won the game immediately after being ranked.

But until they come out on top of these kind of games, I’ll take the hungry team at home. Iowa State sneaks one out, 20-19.