Written by Jacob Freedman

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3 Things to Know: Texas vs Kansas State

AccuScore’s computer has picks on this game and every other game (Against the Spread and on Totals) during this Championship week in college football. These expert predictions can be viewed on the College Football Picks Page … if you’re not a member, AccuScore offers a 7 day free trial, (click join now at the top right) and get your picks today!

1. Texas’s Defense is More Hyde than Jekyll

The Longhorns have a pair of NFL-caliber pass-rushing defensive ends. Unfortunately, Jackson Jeffcoat has been out since mid-October while Alex Okafor hurt his ankle in Texas’s loss to TCU last week and is questionable for Saturday. A statistic that will excite Kansas State fans is that Texas has allowed its opponent to score on 43 of 47 trips to the red zone this season. Thirty-eight of Kansas State’s 48 offensive touchdowns, and 12 of their last 13, have come in the red zone this season. The Wildcats have a great ability to convert long drivers into touchdowns, and should continue this success against Texas.

The secondary led by Kenny Vaccaro is respectable, but has been unable to prevent the clobbering the Longhorns have received from top competition. The Longhorns have allowed at least 48 points in games against Baylor, West Virginia, and Oklahoma this season, and Kansas State’s offense is more in the caliber of those Big-12 squads compared to Iowa State or Kansas.

2. This is Collin Klein’s Last Hurrah

He might have squandered the Heisman with the Wildcats’ 52-24 loss to Baylor, but the senior quarterback is sure to make his last home game one to remember. Klein isn’t a huge threat through the air, but has 20 rushing touchdowns for the second season in a row and has the size to bully his way into the secondary.

Texas allowed 217 yards on the ground last week, including 77 to TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin. Klein is a couple rungs higher on the ladder than Boykin in running ability, not to mention that he has the speedy running back John Hubert to hand the ball to for outside runs. In Texas’s three losses this year, the defense has allowed a stunning 251 rushing yards per game. AccuScore’s projections have Hubert and Klein with over 80 rushing yards each and a combined three touchdowns, and Longhorns’ defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will need to mix up his schemes in order to avoid being steamrolled once again.

3. Texas Can’t Afford to Start Slow on Offense

As Baylor showed in their 52-24 thumping of KSU, the strategy to beating the Wildcats is to overwhelm them offensively. Kansas State’s game plan is to slowly build a lead by pounding the ball on the ground, and showed against Baylor that they struggle to play from behind. It looks like Case McCoy will be starting in the place of the injured David Ash, and will need to take some risks down the field in order to break the game open for Texas. McCoy does not have amazing arm strength, and is not very mobile. He’ll need to rely on his accuracy to find wideouts Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley, and avoid costly turnovers that gives Kansas State any offensive momentum.

Prediction: Kansas State 41, Texas 21

Their national title hopes were erased in a flash two weeks ago, but Kansas State is still playing for a Fiesta Bowl berth against the Longhorns. Emotions will be running high, and Collin Klein will relish his last opportunity to perform in front of the home crowd that he’s thrilled so often the past two seasons. Texas’s defense will continue their trend of struggling against top offenses, while Case McCoy won’t be able to replicate the offensive successes of his older brother enough to keep the Longhorns afloat.