Despite Kansas State’s 2-4 record, one of the most trusted voices in college football is siding with the Wildcats. During his “Best Bets” segment this week, analyst Josh Pate gave Kansas State his official stamp of approval to cover the spread at home against TCU. The line sits at +1.5, and Pate made it clear he’s not flinching. “We are going to add two more here. Give us Kansas State, second week in a row we’re riding the Wildcats. Kansas State +1.5 vs. TCU,” Pate said on the show.
For Pate, who hosts Josh Pate’s College Football Show and has built a strong reputation for betting insight, this pick is as much about belief in Kansas State’s underlying metrics as it is about public perception. The Wildcats may not have the wins, but their performance against top competition, combined with the strength of schedule and home-field advantage in Manhattan, has analysts like Pate looking beyond the record.
Kansas State’s recent struggles have not erased what the program has built under Chris Klieman. The Wildcats have remained physical, disciplined, and aggressive in the trenches, and Pate appears to be banking on those traits showing up against a TCU team that has really struggled against the Wildcats in recent years. Manhattan has been a difficult place to play for visiting Big 12 teams, and with a prime opportunity to bounce back, Kansas State is being viewed as a live home dog.
For the Wildcats, a win over TCU would not just serve as a point spread cover but as a potential launching point for the rest of the season. Sitting at 2-4, the room for error has evaporated, but confidence in the locker room has not. If anything, public backing like Pate’s sends a message that this team is still a threat and capable of shaking up the conference standings.
As for TCU, the pressure now shifts to deliver on the road against a Kansas State team playing with urgency and backed by betting sharp sentiment. If Pate is right, and the Wildcats cover or win outright, it could spark the kind of second-half surge that fans in Manhattan have been waiting for. Either way, this game has the makings of a tone-setter, and Kansas State is once again on the radar.
