Kansas State vs. Baylor: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming matchup between the Kansas State Wildcats and the Baylor Bears.
GAME INFO
Saturday, November 12, 2022; 6:00 p.m. CT; McLane Stadium; Waco, Texas
TV: FS1 (Adam Alexander, Devin Garnder)
Radio: K-State Sports Network (Wyatt Thompson, Stan Weber, Matt Walters); Baylor Sports Network (John Morris, J.J. Joe, Ricky Thompson)
Records: Kansas State (6-3, 4-2); (Baylor (6-3, 4-2)
Rankings: K-State ranked No. 23 (AP Top 25); Baylor unranked
Last Week: Texas 34, K-State 27; Baylor 38, Oklahoma 35
Series History: Baylor leads 10-9
Last Meeting: Baylor 20, K-State 10 (2021)
Favorite: Baylor (-3)
Fun Fact: The Baylor Bears have eight combined interceptions in the last two games, five against Texas Tech and three against Oklahoma. That marks the most interceptions by Baylor in a two-game stretch since 1980, when the Bears had four interceptions in back-to-back games against TCU and San Jose State.
KEY PLAYERS
Kansas State Wildcats
RB Deuce Vaughn
If you haven’t watched Vaughn play this year, then what are you doing? K-State star running back is still among the nation’s most electric playmakers, as he has been for three seasons. Through nine games, Vaughn has 975 yards on 173 carriers, averaging 5.6 per carry and seven total touchdowns. Vaugh will be the Wildcats’ key weapon against the Bears on Saturday, and if he gets loose, watch out.
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
K-State’s incredible pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah leads the Big 12 in sacks with 7.5 sacks on the year, good for 13th nationally. Anudike-Uzomah also has two forced fumbles on the year, good for 29th nationally in that statistic, and creates a mismatch with nearly any offensive tackle he faces. Baylor’s offensive line is as experienced as there is in the Big 12 and will need every bit of that experience to take on a skilled edge rusher like Anudike-Uzomah.
Baylor Bears
RB Richard Reese
Last week against Okahoma, Reese hardly touched the field as he dealt with the flu. However, in his absence, Craig “Skwirl” Williams went off for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Now, with Reese back in the fold, the Bears have an emerging star and a veteran coming off a big game in the backfield, and that’s bad news for the Wildcats’ front seven. Baylor’s offensive line is capable of moving people, and if they do on Saturday, they will win the game.
S Al Walcott
Senior safety Al Walcott has become a do-it-all player for the Bears in 2022 and is coming off a game against Oklahoma where he recorded seven tackles and one PBU. Walcott has recorded five PBUs on the year, as well as one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception. Walcott also leads the Bears in tackles with 55, including 24 solo stops. Walcott will be busy on Saturday in run fits as the K-State offense averages 218.1 rushing yards per game, good for third in the Big 12 and 15th nationally.
KEY STORYLINES
Kansas State Wildcats
Can the Wildcats get back on track after a crushing loss against Texas? The loss dropped them out of a position where they controlled their own destiny to reach the Big 12 Championship game, and a loss here would almost assuredly lock them out for good. If Adrian Martinez gets the start, he needs to take care of the football, as Baylor has recorded eight interceptions in the last two games alone. It will take a clean, efficient game from Martinez and a dominant performance from the K-State defense to leave Waco with a win.
Baylor Bears
Baylor, a winner of three-straight, has played itself back into Big 12 contention but can it close things out with the hardest schedule remaining in the conference? The Bears must defeat K-State, TCU, and Texas in consecutive weeks to make it back to Arlington in December, and that all starts this weekend at home against Chris Klieman and the Wildcats.
PREDICTION: BAYLOR 27, KANSAS STATE 24
I’m rolling with the home team in a close game, and I like Dave Aranda’s squad in this matchup. Baylor is tough up front on both sides of the ball. K-State hasn’t played many teams that can match their physical style of play, but Baylor is just that. The Bears have won three in a row, while K-State has lost two of its last three. Give me the confidence and the Bears at home under the lights of McLane Stadium.
