Iowa State vs. Kansas State: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Big 12 game in our Iowa State vs. Kansas State preview and prediction.
Game info
6:00 p.m. Central Time, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
TV: FS1 (Kevin Fitzgerald, Eric Wood)
Radio: Kansas State: K-State Sports Network; Iowa State: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield; Satellite Radio: Sirius 108 / XM 384
Fun Fact: This will be the 102nd meeting between the two schools and Iowa State leads the all-time series 49-48-4 and hold the edge of games played in Ames 28-19-3.
Key players
Kansas State
RB Alex Barnes
Here are Barnes’ total rushing yards in Kansas State wins: 103, 50, 181, 117, 136. He has three-straight games with 100+ rushing yards and the Wildcats have won two in a row. His six 100-yard rushing games this season is tied for 5th in school history and his 11 career 100+ yard games rank fourth in K-State history. If he can crack 100 yards this week he will pass Daniel Thomas (2009) for fifth-most rushing yards in a season in Wildcats’ history.
DE Reggie Walker
Texas was able to get to Iowa State QB Brock Purdy in the backfield last week and now Walker is going to be tasked with doing the same for the Wildcats. Walker has a team-best 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. At 6’2”, 245, the junior has come on strong with a great game against Texas Tech last week including two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Iowa State
QB Brock Purdy
Well, how does the young man bounce back from his first loss and worst game of his college career? That’s the question now for Brock Purdy. He had won five games in a row before last week against Texas when he finished 10 of 23 for 130 yards, with zero touchdowns and one interception. In the five wins prior he had 13 touchdowns to two interceptions and never less than 230 passing yards.
DE JaQuan Bailey
Kansas State’s offensive line has gotten better lately, hence the improvements from Alex Barnes, and Bailey will be in charge of trying to get into the backfield and slow down the running game. Bailey ranks sixth in the Big 12 with six sacks and is 8th with 11.5 tackles for loss. He is two sacks shy of tying Shawn Moorehead (2004-2006) with 18.5 career sacks.
Key storylines
Kansas State
The Wildcats need to get freshman QB Brock Purdy rattled early and get into the Iowa State backfield with Reggie Walker and Wyatt Hubert. Keeping Purdy off his game for a second straight week would be huge for K-State early on. Then, the Cats need to slow down Hakeem Butler on the outside and try to take him away, as much as is possible. KSU’s pass defense efficiency is actually the best in the Big 12 this season, as it’s the run defense where they’ve had more issues.
Iowa State
The Cyclones are home and are desperate to beat Bill Snyder, who is 22-4 all-time against Iowa State and has won all nine games since returning in 2009. For Iowa State to snap that streak they need to shut down Barnes and the running game and force Skylar Thompson to beat you throwing the ball to his mediocre group of wide receivers. Iowa State has the best rushing defense in the Big 12 by a wide margin (20 yards per game) and second best passing defense. Kansas State has also given up the second most sacks in the Big 12, while Iowa State has racked up 27 sacks in 10 games, which is the third-most in the conference this season.
Prediction
Iowa State 21, Kansas State 17
The Cyclones are back home following the loss to Texas and are still burning from the loss last season where many fans feel like the Big 12 refs took the win out of their hands. Kansas State had an emotional win last week in potentially sending off Bill Snyder on a high note with a win on Senior Day. They can make a bowl game with a win, but Iowa State is the more complete team, at home, and has been more disciplined as well.
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