Bill Snyder is just about as good of a football coach as you will ever find. Kansas State didn’t have amazing talent in 2011, but he led the team to a tremendous 10-3 season. The Wildcats were consistently outgained by their opponents, but thanks to a plus 12 turnover margin they were still able to win ten games. Kansas State won eight of their ten games in 2011 by one touchdown or less.
2012 College Football Previews: Kansas State
Head Coach: Bill Snyder
Kansas State Wildcats Gambling Odds from JustBet to Win BCS Championship: +5,000
Kansas State Wildcats Gambling Odds from JustBet to win Big 12 Conference: +1,000
Let’s take a look at the 2012 Kansas State Wildcats roster.
Offense:
Collin Klein is the main man under center for the Wildcats. There is little doubt that Klein is among the best running quarterbacks in the nation. He racked up 1,141 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns last year. Through the air, Klein had 1,913 yards and 13 touchdowns. To have a quarterback combine for 40 rushing and passing touchdowns is an impressive feat. Klein is on many people’s Heisman Trophy watchlist for 2012.
John Hubert averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year, and he’ll likely get a few more carries this year to save Klein. B.J. Finney is a star at the center spot for Kansas State, but the team lost three starters from a year ago. Manase Foketi is being counted on to step up on the offensive line this year. He missed last season with an injury. The Wildcats really need a strong offensive front since they rely so heavily on the running game.
One area that Kansas State upgraded in the offseason was the wide receiver spot. Marquez Clark is a junior-college transfer who caught 98 passes a year ago. Look for him to make a big impact right away. Tyler Lockett has the potential to be a star if he can stay healthy. Chris Harper and Curry Sexton should also be reliable targets on the outside.
Defense:
Kansas State allowed 395 yards per game in 2011, but the team was great at forcing teams to settle for field goals or turning them over before they got into the end zone. This bend but don’t break defense really worked in 2011, but can they do it again in 2012?
The strength of this defense is the front seven. Defensive tackle Vai Lutui is a big man who clogs up the running lanes in the middle of the field. Meshak Williams had just 28 tackles last year, but ten of them were tackles for a loss. Arthur Brown is the heart and soul of this defense from his linebacker spot. He transferred over from Miami before last year, and he piled up 101 stops in 2011. He will be one of the Big 12’s best linebackers again this year.
The big area of concern for the defense is the secondary. Nigel Malone will be one of the starters at corner, but the other starting cornerback spot is wide open. Inexperience in this group could hurt them a lot in a conference where there are tons of star quarterbacks.
2012 Kansas State Football Predictions: 7-6
It’s tough to count a team coached by Bill Snyder out of it, but this schedule is brutal. Kansas State must play Miami in the non-conference schedule. Inside the Big 12 they travel to Oklahoma, West Virginia, TCU, and Baylor. Home games against Oklahoma State and Texas will be very tough as well.
The passing game will need to be a little better this year. The offensive line won’t be quite as good as last year, and teams will dare Kansas State to beat them through the air. In the end, I expect Kansas State to finish right around seven wins.
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