Kansas State Wildcats vs Arizona State Sun Devils Picks and Predictions November 16th 2024

Kansas State Wildcats vs Arizona State Sun Devils November 16th 2024

ESPN will be covering the week 12 matchup between the Kansas State Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils as they face off at 7:00 ET on Saturday, November 16th. The game will be played at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. Both teams enter the game with a 7-2 record this season. The Wildcats are the -8.5-point favorites at home, and the over/under line is currently set at 50.5 points.

Arizona State vs. Kansas State Key Information

• Teams: Sun Devils at Wildcats
• Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium Manhattan
• Date: Saturday, November 16th
• Betting Odds KANST -334 | ARZST +259 O/U 50.5

Arizona State enters Week 12 with a 7-2 record, ranked 37th in our power rankings. They are 5-0 at home but 2-2 on the road this season. The Sun Devils are already bowl-eligible, and they have a 2.6% chance of winning the Big 12.

Against the spread, Arizona State is 7-2, with a perfect 5-0 record at home. They’ve been favored in five games, going 5-0 ATS as the favorite, and their average scoring margin is +7.8 points per game.

The over/under line for this week is 50.5 points. Arizona State’s games have averaged 55.3 points, with an average line of 53.7 points. Their over/under record this season is 5-4.

Arizona State’s offense is ranked 29th in our power rankings heading into week 12, and they are 35th in points per game, scoring 31.6. Their strength lies in the run game, with 205 rushing yards per game on 41 attempts, ranking 26th nationally. Cam Skattebo has rushed for 1,005 yards, averaging 5 yards per carry, and has scored 11 touchdowns.

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Quarterback Sam Leavitt has thrown for 1,631 yards, completing 61.2% of his passes, with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Arizona State ranks 80th in passing attempts per game. Jordyn Tyson leads the receivers with 657 yards and seven touchdowns. The Sun Devils are converting 45.5% of their third downs, 24th best in the country.

Arizona State’s defense has allowed an average of 23.8 points per game this season, ranking 45th nationally. They’ve given up 211.7 passing yards per game, placing them 80th, and 122 rushing yards per game, which is 43rd in the country.

In their recent game against UCF, Arizona State allowed 31 points but managed to secure a win. The defense gave up 406 total yards, including 177 rushing yards and 229 passing yards, while also forcing one interception.

• Arizona State will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Arizona State Sun Devils have gone 7-3 straight up. In these contests, the team went just 7-3 against the spread, while going 6-4 on the over-under.

Kansas State enters Week 12 with a 7-2 record and a 100% chance of being bowl-eligible. They are ranked 19th in our power rankings and have a 14.6% chance of winning the Big 12. The Wildcats also have a 15.8% chance of making the CFB playoff, which ranks 18th in the country.

At home, Kansas State is 3-0, while they are 3-2 on the road this season. They’ve been favored in eight of their nine games, going 6-2 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +9.6 points per game, but they are 3-5 against the spread.

The over/under line for this week is 50.5 points. Kansas State’s games have averaged 52.9 points, with their average over/under line at 53.8 points. So far, they are 4-4 against the over/under this season.

Kansas State’s offense has been driven by their ground game, averaging 210.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 22nd nationally. DJ Giddens is just shy of 1,000 yards, with 995 rushing yards and an impressive 6 yards per carry. The Wildcats are 36th in scoring, putting up 31.2 points per game, and we have them ranked 33rd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 12.

Avery Johnson leads the passing attack with 1,892 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he has also thrown 7 interceptions. His passer rating is 95. Kansas State ranks 79th in passing yards per game, averaging 214.2 yards. Jayce Brown has 604 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season.

Defensively, Kansas State ranks 31st nationally, allowing 21.7 points per game. They’ve been strong against the run, giving up just 109.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the country.

In their recent game, a 24-19 loss to Houston, the Wildcats allowed 234 total yards, including 123 rushing yards on 39 attempts and 111 passing yards.

Our projections have Arizona State winning this week 12 matchup against Kansas State by a score of 26-19. The Sun Devils are +8.5 point road underdogs, making them a good pick to cover the spread.

For the over/under, with the line set at 50.5 points, we recommend taking the under, as our model has the combined score at 45 points.

No. 16 Kansas State Braces for Red-Hot Arizona State in Key Big 12 Matchup

The Big 12 standings are in for a shakeup this weekend as No. 16 Kansas State hosts a surging Arizona State team on Saturday night. With both teams sitting at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, this game carries significant implications for the crowded top half of the Big 12.

A Rivalry Rekindled

This matchup marks the first time Arizona State and Kansas State face each other as conference foes, following Arizona State’s entry into the Big 12. Historically, the Sun Devils hold a 5-1 edge over the Wildcats, with K-State’s lone win coming in the 2002 Holiday Bowl. However, these teams haven’t met in the regular season since 1989, so there’s little recent history to lean on.

Arizona State: Riding a Hot Streak Despite Injuries

The Sun Devils are coming into this game with momentum, having won back-to-back games to jump into a tie for third place in the Big 12. Head coach Kenny Dillingham remains cautiously optimistic but knows his team faces a tough challenge on the road.

“We’re 2-2 on the road, so you would hope that we could play well on the road,” Dillingham said. “It’s a really good environment and a really good team, coming off a bye, unfortunately.”

A significant question mark for Arizona State is the availability of star running back Cam Skattebo, who missed their last game against UCF due to a shoulder injury. Skattebo has been a workhorse for the Sun Devils, rushing for 1,001 yards in just eight games this season.

“Skatt is questionable for the game,” Dillingham revealed. “He was trying to get me to put him in against UCF, but we held him out. We’ll see how he feels this week.”

Kansas State: Ready to Bounce Back After Bye Week

Kansas State had a bye week to regroup after a tough loss to Houston two weeks ago. Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman emphasized that the break was beneficial for his team to recover physically and refocus mentally.

“We had a good open week,” Klieman said. “We gave our older guys who have played a lot of snaps some recovery time. I believe everyone will be available on Saturday.”

Despite the setback against Houston, Klieman remains focused on the bigger picture: “We’re a 7-2 football team with a lot still in front of us to play for. We can’t control what other teams are going to do, but we can control our daily improvement.”

Key Matchups: A Ground-and-Pound Showdown

Both teams heavily rely on their rushing attacks, making this a game likely won in the trenches. Kansas State ranks third in the conference with an average of 208.3 rushing yards per game, while Arizona State isn’t far behind, sitting fourth at 198.0 yards per game.

On the defensive side, the Wildcats have been exceptional against the run, leading the conference by allowing just 99.4 rushing yards per game. Arizona State also boasts a strong run defense, ranking third in the Big 12 with just 118.8 rushing yards allowed per game.

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“Anybody can beat anybody in this league,” Klieman said. “We’re playing a really good Arizona State team that’s hot right now. We’ve got to play our best football.”

Players to Watch

1. Cam Skattebo (ASU): If healthy, Skattebo is a game-changer. His ability to break tackles and make explosive plays on the ground could tilt the balance in Arizona State’s favor. However, his shoulder injury raises questions about how effective he’ll be if he suits up.
2. Kansas State’s Running Game: With one of the best rushing offenses in the conference, K-State will look to control the clock and wear down Arizona State’s defense. Watch for a heavy dose of running back DJ Giddens and quarterback Will Howard, who can both make plays on the ground.
3. Nickel-and-Dime Defense: Kansas State’s stout run defense against Arizona State’s balanced offensive attack will be a key battleground. The Wildcats’ ability to limit Skattebo and force the Sun Devils into passing situations could be the deciding factor.

What’s at Stake?

Both teams are jockeying for position in a competitive Big 12 race, and a win here could put either team in the driver’s seat for a higher bowl game. Kansas State is looking to bounce back and prove they belong among the conference’s elite, while Arizona State wants to keep their hot streak alive and strengthen their postseason resume.

Will K-State take advantage of home-field energy and their well-rested roster, or will the Sun Devils ride their recent momentum to a crucial road victory? Saturday night’s game promises to be an exciting battle between two teams fighting to stay in the hunt for Big 12 supremacy.