West Virginia Mountaineers vs Kansas State Wildcats Picks and Predictions October 19th 2024

West Virginia will be looking to defend their home field as they host the Kansas State Wildcats in a week eight matchup at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. Kick-off is set for 7:30 ET, and the game will be broadcast on FOX. The Wildcats come in with a 5-1 record, while the Mountaineers are 3-3 on the season. The Wildcats are -3-point favorites on the road, and the over/under line is currently 54.5 points.

Kansas State vs. West Virginia Key Information

Kansas State enters Week 8 with a 5-1 record, ranked 21st in our power rankings. They have a 99.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible and a 15.1% chance of winning the Big 12. The Wildcats also have a 24.0% chance of making the College Football Playoff, which ranks 18th in the nation.

So far, Kansas State has been favored in five of their six games, going 4-1 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +10.3 points per game, and they are 2-3 against the spread, with a 2-0 record at home and 0-3 on the road.

The over/under line for this week’s game is 54.5 points. Kansas State’s games have averaged 52.3 points, with an average over/under line of 54.2 points. Their over/under record for the season is 3-2.

Register Now for Top Betting Strategies! Join SportsHub for expert advice.

Heading into week 8, Kansas State’s offense is averaging 31.3 points per game, placing them 35th in the nation. However, they rank 21st in our offensive power rankings. Their rushing attack is their strength, averaging 242 yards per game, which ranks 9th nationally.

DJ Giddens leads the ground game with 786 rushing yards and an impressive 7 yards per carry, though he has only scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Avery Johnson has thrown for 1,103 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Kansas State’s defense has been strong against the run this season, ranking 10th nationally by allowing just 86.2 rushing yards per game. In their recent game against Colorado, they held the Buffaloes to -29 rushing yards on 19 attempts. However, the secondary struggled, giving up 388 passing yards and three touchdowns, despite forcing one interception.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed 65.8% of their passes against Kansas State, averaging a passer rating of 95. The Wildcats rank 142nd in the nation, allowing 268.2 passing yards per game. Overall, the defense is giving up 21 points per game, which ranks 33rd nationally.

West Virginia enters Week 8 against Kansas State with a 3-3 record, ranked 38th in our power rankings. They have a 67.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. At home, the Mountaineers are 1-2, while they’ve split their road games at 1-1.

They’ve been favored in two games this season, going 1-1 in those matchups. Their average scoring margin stands at +4.2 points per game, and they are 2-3 against the spread.

The over/under line for this week is 54.5 points. West Virginia’s games have averaged 56.2 points, with an average over/under line of 56.8 points. So far, their over/under record is 2-3.

West Virginia’s offense is averaging 30.2 points per game, placing them 41st in the nation heading into week 8. However, our power rankings have them 19th. Their rushing attack is their strength, with 214.5 yards per game on 39.8 attempts, ranking 22nd nationally.

Jahiem White leads the team with 398 rushing yards, five touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Garrett Greene has thrown for 1,267 yards, with eight touchdowns and six interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 84.

West Virginia’s defense has allowed an average of 26 points per game this season, including 28 points in their recent 28-16 loss to Iowa State. In that game, the defense gave up 395 total yards, with 265 yards coming through the air and 130 rushing yards on 43 attempts.

Opponents have averaged 134.3 rushing yards per game against West Virginia, while quarterbacks have posted a 106.3 passer rating, averaging 247 passing yards per game, ranking West Virginia 121st nationally in passing yards allowed.

Kansas State is favored by -3 points on the road in their week eight matchup against West Virginia. We expect the Wildcats to win and cover the spread, with a projected final score of 35-27 in their favor.

For the over/under, with the line set at 54.5 points, our projection of 62 total points suggests taking the over as the best play.

No. 17 Kansas State Looks to Play Mistake-Free Game vs. West Virginia

No. 17 Kansas State is preparing for another tough test on the road as they travel to face West Virginia in a prime-time Big 12 showdown. Coming off a thrilling 31-28 victory over Colorado, the Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) will look to continue their momentum against a West Virginia team (3-3, 2-1 Big 12) that is eager to bounce back from a 28-16 loss to Iowa State.

Kansas State’s Focus on Improvement

Despite the success Kansas State has found so far this season, head coach Chris Klieman stressed that there is still work to be done as they reach the halfway point of the season.

“We’ve got to continue to improve,” Klieman said on Monday. “We’re at the halfway point and we’re excited with where we’re at. But we’ve got to get better this week. We’re playing a really good West Virginia team. They run the ball really effectively with three different players. Both running backs are really good and (quarterback Garrett) Greene is one of my favorite players to watch, though I’m not sure I’m going to like watching him Saturday night. He’s a competitor.”

Kansas State will need to tighten up its play, particularly on defense, as they face an offense led by Greene, a dynamic quarterback who can make plays both through the air and on the ground.

West Virginia’s Road to Redemption

West Virginia is coming off a tough home loss to Iowa State in which turnovers and mistakes were the story of the game. Two second-half interceptions by Greene allowed Iowa State to capitalize and secure the win.

“We just made too many mistakes to win,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said after the game. “I thought (lack of red zone success), turnovers and penalties (were) the story of the game.”

Now, the Mountaineers are focused on eliminating those errors as they prepare to face Kansas State. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott emphasized the importance of discipline and execution.

“The little things make the big things happen,” Scott said on Monday. “Just be patient and do your job. Win every play. How do you win every play? By simply doing your job.”

West Virginia will look to control the game by avoiding costly errors and staying disciplined, particularly against a Kansas State team that thrives on capitalizing on mistakes.

Key Players to Watch

Avery Johnson – Kansas State

Kansas State’s redshirt freshman quarterback Avery Johnson has shown poise throughout the season. He has thrown for 1,103 yards and added 306 yards on the ground, accounting for 14 total touchdowns. Despite throwing a crucial fourth-quarter interception in the Colorado game, Johnson bounced back to lead his team to victory by hitting Jayce Brown for a game-winning 50-yard pass.

“This is what football is all about,” Johnson said after the game. “Ultimately, you’ve got to make plays in big moments. That’s what our guys did tonight.”

DJ Giddens – Kansas State

Running back DJ Giddens has been a standout for the Wildcats this season, leading the Big 12 with 786 rushing yards. He is averaging 131.0 yards per game, ranking him fourth nationally. Giddens has also contributed in the passing game with 10 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown, making him one of the most versatile and productive players in the conference.

“He practices the way (the media) sees him play,” Klieman said of Giddens. “We try to give him a few breaks during the week, but he doesn’t want them. He wants to stay out there. He wants every rep he can get.”

Garrett Greene – West Virginia

West Virginia’s quarterback Garrett Greene is known for his competitiveness and dual-threat ability. However, his two interceptions against Iowa State were costly, and the Mountaineers will need Greene to make better decisions against Kansas State’s defense. Greene’s ability to run and pass will be crucial for West Virginia to have success in this game.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

Kansas State’s Ground Game vs. West Virginia’s Defense

Kansas State will rely heavily on DJ Giddens to control the tempo of the game. Giddens is a workhorse who leads the Big 12 in rushing, and his ability to consistently gain yardage could wear down the West Virginia defense. West Virginia must find a way to slow down Giddens if they hope to pull off an upset.

Boost Your NCAAF Betting Game with Expert Tips! Discover the top NCAAF Betting Tips available now.

Garrett Greene vs. Kansas State’s Defense

Greene’s ability to extend plays with his legs and his arm makes him a difficult quarterback to defend. However, Kansas State’s defense will look to pressure him into making mistakes, similar to what happened against Iowa State. If Greene can avoid turnovers and make smart decisions, West Virginia’s offense could keep pace with Kansas State.

Avery Johnson’s Poise

Despite being a young quarterback, Avery Johnson has shown the ability to lead his team in crucial moments. His dual-threat ability will be a key factor against West Virginia’s defense. If Johnson can stay composed and limit mistakes, Kansas State will be in a strong position to win.

Conclusion: A Crucial Game for Both Teams

Saturday’s matchup between Kansas State and West Virginia is critical for both teams. Kansas State is looking to stay in the hunt for the Big 12 title, while West Virginia is hoping to avoid falling to .500 on the season. The game will likely come down to which team can limit mistakes and control the tempo.

Kansas State’s balanced offense, led by Avery Johnson and DJ Giddens, will be difficult for West Virginia to contain. However, if Garrett Greene can bounce back from last week’s performance and avoid turnovers, the Mountaineers have a chance to make this game competitive.

With both teams looking to improve, this matchup promises to be an intense Big 12 battle under the lights in Morgantown.