2008 Kansas State Football Picks & Predictions
K-State ended its 2007 campaign on a very sour note with four straight losses. All four of those losses were by double digits, including a 31-73 defeat at the hands of a bad Nebraska team. Is improvement on the way or will the Cats continue to struggle? Jimmy Boyd’s college football predictions in his 2008 Kansas State Wildcats season preview hold the answer.
Offense
QB Josh Freeman was nothing short of awesome in a season in which be broke countless school records. He threw for 3,353 yards while running for his life behind an injury-riddled line. Passing yards may be slightly harder to come by with the loss of top receiver Jordy Nelson. Nelson had 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The offensive line is expected to be better in 2007 with four returning starters now healthy. Tight end Jeron Mastrud established himself a year ago and needs to one of Freeman’s primary targets. The Cats’ running game was almost non-existent last year, and it doesn’t figure to be any betterin ’08. Both top returners don’t appear to have that star quality, but perhaps Daniel Thomas, a top junior college recruit, will step right in. Deon Murphy has blazing speed and will be Freeman’s top target. He had 57 grabs for 605 yards and five touchdowns, and he ran for three more scores. He will be expected to step up his game, but it will be hard for him to excel without a clear number two receiver to take some of the defensive focus away from him.
Defense
The Wildcats defense just fell apart down the stretch of last season, giving up 73, 49, and 45 points respectively. The Cats will need to show improvement on this side of the football to take some pressure off of the offense. All-Big 12 talent Ian Campbell will do his best. In 2006, Campbell broke through with 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. These categories naturally dropped off in 2007 when he was moved to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but he will be back at end in 2008 and I’m expecting a monster year from him. The Wildcats are optimistic about their linebacker corps. Reggie Walker has no excuse for not living up to his star potential. Antwon Moore return from injury and John Houlik showed waves of spectacular play last season. The safety duo of Gary Chandler and Chris Carney anchor this defense and will have to help out a young group of corners.
Special Teams
Deon Murphy is one of the top return threats in the business, averaging 17.5 yards per punt return. That was good for third in the nation and K-State turns him loose on kick returns also.
Prediction – 5th in Big 12 North
Josh Freeman has NFL size and skills, but saw last season that he can’t do it all on his own. Without Nelson returning, the Cats will be down a playmaker, and that’s something they can’t afford as the offense must make up for defensive deficiencies. This team will finish behind Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska, but ahead of Iowa State.
Jimmy Boyd makes beating the college football odds easy with his award winning NCAA football picks. This former world champion handicapper will earn you more money this season with your football betting than you’ve ever won before.
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