K-State Wildcats vs. Navy Midshipmen: Liberty Bowl prediction, kickoff time, TV info
The Kansas State Wildcats will return to the postseason against the Navy Midshipmen at the Liberty Bowl.
K-State (8-4) is looking to finish the year on a high note under coach Chris Klieman and match its highest victory total since it won the Big 12 championship in 2012. No. 21 Navy (10-2) is trying to win 11 games for the second time in school history.
The details
Kickoff: 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, December 31
Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Radio: KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita, KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City.
The line: Navy by 3
Prediction
This is a new type of bowl game for K-State.
Even though Navy is ranked and favored by a field goal in this matchup, K-State seems to own advantages in several key areas. The Wildcats have more size and speed than the Midshipmen, as well as a more versatile offense.
But Navy is a gifted running team and K-State struggled to stop teams on the ground at times this season. If the Midshipmen run the ball effectively behind star quarterback Malcolm Perry and take an early lead, it could be a long day for the Wildcats. The opposite is also true. If K-State takes an early lead and forces Navy to play out of its comfort zone, the Wildcats may control this game.
Skill players like James Gilbert, Jordon Brown and Malik Knowles should all be healthy and ready to play at full strength for the first time in months.
There are a lot of variables for a game like this, considering K-State has never tried to defend the triple option under Klieman. So making a prediction is difficult. But the Wildcats seem like the more complete team and could win this game on special teams, perhaps with a late field goal from Blake Lynch.
K-State 34, Navy 31