K-State Wildcats vs. Utah Utes: Big 12 football game prediction, odds, TV, time

Kansas State has a long history with many teams in the Big 12, but the Wildcats are still getting to know some of the newest members of the conference.

Such is the case with Utah. The Wildcats have never played a football game against the Utes, which means their trip to Salt Lake City for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Rice-Eccles Stadium will be a new experience for everyone involved.

Both teams will have something to play for.

K-State (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) is one win shy of bowl eligibility. Utah (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) is in the mix for both a league championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game ...

K-State at Utah: Game details

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City

TV/stream: ESPN2

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

The line: Utah by 17.5 with an O/U of 51.5.

Prediction

This is arguably the most difficult game on Kansas State’s football schedule.

Opening the season against Iowa State was hard, because it was a rare Week 0 game played in Dublin. Hosting Texas Tech earlier this month was tough, because the Red Raiders are a defensive juggernaut.

But this trip to Utah will be challenging for multiple reasons. Not only are the No. 13 Utes one of the best teams in the country, they also benefit from a terrific home-field advantage in the Wasatch Mountains.

That explains why Utah is favored by 17.5 points.

K-State hasn’t been a double-digit underdog since it traveled to Oklahoma in 2022.

Now, the Wildcats have traditionally been a feisty underdog during the Chris Klieman era. He has guided them to a winning record (3-1) as a double-digit underdog, with three memorable victories against Oklahoma, including a 41-34 stunner three years ago in Norman. So there is hope that he can motivate K-State players and have them ready to challenge Utah.

If K-State was at full strength, an upset would absolutely be on the table this week.

But the Wildcats are dealing with myriad injuries and roster departures. K-State will head to Utah without its top running back (Dylan Edwards), its best wide receiver (Jayce Brown), its leading tackler (Austin Romaine), its sack leader (Tobi Osunsanmi) and several other key players.

K-State only gained 284 yards and scored 14 points in a lackluster victory against Oklahoma State last week. Remove the 82 receiving yards and a touchdown that Brown produced before suffering a season-ending injury, and the Wildcats wouldn’t have done much of anything.

Quarterback Avery Johnson will need to put on a show for K-State to move the ball against a stingy Utah defense.

The Utes are the better team in the trenches, and they have a dependable offense with Devon Dampier. They are also red-hot at the moment, winning their past three games by obscene scores — 53-7 over Colorado, 45-14 against Cincinnati and 55-28 at Baylor.

K-State will need a great performance from its defense and some big plays from its offense to keep this game close.

I can see it happening for a while, much like when K-State stayed within shouting distance of Texas Tech for three quarters.

But Utah should eventually pull away. The Utes are the better team. They are also the healthier team. And they will be playing at home.

Utah 38, K-State 13

Last game prediction: K-State 34, Oklahoma State 17 ✅ (Final score: K-State 14, Oklahoma State 6)

Season prediction record: 8-2

Season prediction record ATS: 8-2

Season record O/U: 5-5.

Kellis Robinett

The Wichita Eagle

Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.