This is the biggest Kansas State game in quite some time and it has all the recipes for a low scoring game. I'm going with the home dog here.. I think there is still much much more to see from Nebraska before they are ranked #7. Remember they have a rookie back their in Martinez at QB that is the majority of their offense with 496 yards rushing alone. Martinez is prone to throw interceptions and fumble the ball and going up against a Kansas State defense at home that is ranked #13 against the pass this should be a run first offense for Nebraska shortening the game. Nebraska has fumbled the ball 16 times already this season with 7 of them being lost to opponent. Odds would tell you against the best defense they've faced all year in the first true road game that they would have some mistakes again. Nebraska ranked #14 in total offense has faced an average 85 total defense with South Dakota an D1 AA team not being factored in those statistics and they held them to 17 points.
Kansas State on the offense side figures to do the same thing on offense run the ball. Though they have experience behind center in Sr. Coffman this is a run first team with their Sr. star Daniel Thomas who had 19 carries and 99 yards last year vs. a better Nebraska run stop unit. This year's Nebraska team has given up 2 100 yard runners already and those came against Western Kentucky and South Dakota. People are saying Nebraska has the better run stop unit with #53 rank but they have faced an average #71 run offense while Kstate ranked 102nd have faced an average 36th rushing attack. I think it's closer than people think and with Nebraska getting most of their rushing offense from the rookie QB I think Kansas State with DAniel Thomas has the better running game. He's got 628 yards and 6 TD's this year and I expect him to get 30+ carries tonight which again will shorten the game. If Kansas State scores first we cover it's imperative that they get off to a strong start so that they don't have to turn to a passing game vs. arguably the best secondary from Nebraska. Again Kansas State is tested facing some good secondaries thus far and that's partially the reason for their 103rd passing rank also they sure do run a lot. I believe Snyder pulls out all the plays tonight and I would not be surprised if he takes some shots early so Nebraska doesn't load the box.
Special teams is pretty much even. Nebraska has the better kicker and Kansas State has the better return man with William Powell returning 32 yards per return. Nebraska is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Knasas State and 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 as favorites more than 10.5 points.
