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Kansas State v. Nebraska Football Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

With the total set at 71, odds makers are expecting a shootout when Kansas State hosts Nebraska this Saturday. The Wildcats enter this contests in the midst of a major slump having lost four straight. The defense has really struggled having allowed over 40 points in each of its last three games, including a 41-24 loss at Mizzou last weekend. K-State has become the punching bag of the Big 12 with just a 1-5 conference mark. The lack of success cost head coach Ron Prince his job next season. Nebraska comes into this game already bowl eligible with a 6-4 record after outscoring Kansas 45-35 at home last weekend. It was Nebraska’s third win in its last four games so it comes as no surprise that odds makers have listed the Huskers as 6.5-point favorites for this contest.

Nebraska leads the all-time series with K-State by a landslide, coming into this matchup with a 75-15-2 advantage. The Huskers really put the hurt on the Wildcats a season ago by handing them a 73-31 beat down. The Huskers are averaging 33.8 ppg and 448.2 ypg on the season behind a fairly balanced attack. QB Joe Ganz has emerged as quite the gunslinger. He was 28 of 37 for 324 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday’s win over K-State. Ganz has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes this season for 19 touchdowns and he has rushed for three more. Wide receiver Nate Swift has been his go-to guy with 54 grabs for 801 yards and eight TD’s. Tailback Roy Helo Jr. leads the Huskers with 566 rushing yards and boasts a 6.9 ypc average. While the offense is every bit as explosive as the elite teams in the Big 12, the defense still has some work to do. The defense is allowing 29.1 ppg and 380 total ypg on the season. In last weekend’s win over Kansas, the Huskers’ defense wasn’t great, but it got the job done thanks to five sacks. Still, the unit permitted 422 total yards and forced just one turnover.

The Wildcats were limited to only 363 total yards of offense, well below their season average, in last week’s 41-24 loss to Mizzou. QB Josh Freeman threw for 121 yards and added 56 more on the ground. He has been one of the few bright spots on the Wildcats this season, having thrown for 2552 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for 369 yards and 14 more scores. Through the air, he looks for Brandon Banks who leads the Cats with 57 grabs for 917 yards and eight scores. K-State has had a tough time hanging on to the football this season, committing 23 turnovers. Like Nebraska, K-State’s defense has also let it down this season – except worse. The Cats are allowing 451.3 ypg and gave up 511 to Mizzou last week. A major problem has been K-State’s inability to stop the run. The Cats are giving up 210.8 ypg via the run.

The odds makers have accurately predicted a shootout with a pair of teams that rely on their offense to win football games. It is evident that the Wildcats have already cashed it in this season, especially on the defensive side of the football and I expect the Huskers to really torch the K-State defense against this season. Nebraska brings in plenty of momentum off a big win over Kansas and will be ready to dominate again this week. We’ll bet Nebraska at -6.5 at BetUS.

Editor’s Note: Six straight Saturday NCAA football cards have profited. Jimmy Boyd has three big time game of the year plays in his Week 12 Saturday college football picks package. Do your football betting with Jimmy B. this weekend and guarantee yourself the best shot at beating the NCAA football odds.

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