Kansas State Wildcats vs. Houston Cougars Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 2nd 2024

Preview and Prediction

The second-ever clash between No. 17 Kansas State and Houston will be a crucial game for the Wildcats in their pursuit of a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Wildcats have been on a winning streak, claiming victory in four consecutive games after their loss to BYU in the Big 12 opener. They now set their sights on Houston, a team currently placed in the lower half of the Big 12 standings. However, head coach Chris Klieman is not underestimating their opponents based on their record.

"This will be our third road trip in the last four weeks," Klieman stated. "Houston has won two out of their last three games, and they put up a strong performance against Utah."

Klieman also expressed his admiration for Houston's head coach, Willie Fritz, and his track record of success at various programs. He believes that Fritz will continue to lead his team to success at Houston.

The Wildcats have been performing well in all aspects of the game, ranking in the top half of the conference in scoring, scoring defense, total offense, and total defense. They have a balanced offense, with 223.3 rushing yards per game (second in the Big 12) and 211.3 passing yards per game.

Their strongest advantage against Houston is in their run defense. The Cougars have struggled in the rushing game, ranking 12th in the conference with an average of 147.9 yards per game. In contrast, the Wildcats' defense has been dominant, allowing only 96.8 rushing yards per game, the lowest in the Big 12 and nearly 20 yards less than the next-best defense in the conference.

In their previous game, the Wildcats narrowly escaped with a win against in-state rival Kansas. Quarterback Avery Johnson threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and kicker Chris Tennant tied his career-long with a 51-yard field goal in the final two minutes to secure a 29-27 victory and avoid an upset.

"Looking back, it was a great team win on Saturday night," Klieman reflected on the game. "We faced a lot of adversity, but we stayed focused and fought until the end. Our defense made crucial stops in the fourth quarter, and we did enough to get Chris in field goal range."

Klieman also acknowledged the slim margin for error in college football and commended his team for staying in the fight and securing the win.

The Cougars also had a close game in their previous matchup, defeating Utah with a last-second field goal by kicker Jack Martin. This was a turnaround after their 42-14 loss to Kansas.

Houston's head coach, Willie Fritz, knows that his team will face another tough challenge against the Wildcats.

"It was a significant win for us against Utah," Fritz stated. "They were predicted to finish first in the conference. We did some good things, but there is always room for improvement."

Fritz emphasized the competitiveness of the Big 12 and the strength of every team in the conference. He also highlighted the importance of winning the turnover battle and containing Kansas State's talented running backs and quarterback.

In their first-ever meeting last season, the Wildcats dominated the Cougars with a 41-0 victory in Manhattan, Kansas.

PREDICTION

Kansas State Wildcats

Houston Cougars