K-State Wildcats vs. Baylor Bears: Score prediction, kickoff time, betting line, TV
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan
TV: FS1
Radio: KCSP 610 AM in Kansas City and KKGQ 92.3 FM in Wichita
The line: K-State by 1
Prediction
If these two teams were playing on a neutral field, Baylor would be an obvious favorite.
The No. 11 Bears have the top rushing offense in the Big 12, averaging 5.9 yards per rush. Running backs Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner have both eclipsed 100 yards in multiple games this season and quarterback Gerry Bohanon is coming off a 107-yard rushing performance against Oklahoma. They also are strong against the run, allowing 3.4 yards per attempt.
That makes them a difficult matchup for K-State, which began Big 12 play by losing its first three games against teams that out-gained the Wildcats on the ground.
Baylor has used its run-oriented offense and its stingy defense to its advantage this season, beating strong opponents like BYU, Iowa State and Oklahoma on its way to an 8-2 start.
But the Bears have not played their best on the road.
Dave Aranda has only won two games away from Waco during his time at Baylor, and those victories came against Texas State and Kansas. Both its losses came away from home this season at Oklahoma State and TCU.
Perhaps that is why K-State is a slim betting favorite in this game.
If the Wildcats get off to a good start and continue to avoid mistakes the way they have during their current four-game winning streak, they stand a good chance of picking up their first signature victory of the year.
But it may take more than that to take down the Bears. K-State hasn’t defeated a team of their caliber all season.
Baylor 27, K-State 23.