Staff Predictions: Kansas State vs. Texas

The Longhorns are set to host Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. central this Saturday in Austin. The Longhorns are currently 4-point favorites, but are 3-7 against Bill Snyder’s Wildcats in their last 10 meetings. Here what our staff has to say:

Daniel Seahorn

I never feel comfortable when it comes to Texas playing the Purple Wizard and his Wildcats. Never.
Offensively they don’t have Collin Klien, Jordy Nelson, or a Tyler Lockett out there. They are going to pound the rock and utilize the QB run game. They want to have long, methodical drives on offense while having a solid defense that plays disciplined football and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. This has been the recipe for some time.
With the way the Texas defense has played since week one I think they will be up to the task of corralling Jesse Ertz and the Wildcat offense if things continue to carry over to this week. The Wildcats wanting to run the ball plays a bit into Texas’ hand as they’ve shown they can take the run game away.
The offense on the other hand has me worried. They struggled mightily against ISU and the offensive line is starting a pair of tackles that in an ideal situation probably wouldn’t be out there right now for Texas. I expect K-State to dial up the edge pressures early and often.
I truly don’t know what to expect from the offense at this point and that’s the primary thing giving me pause for my prediction. I think this ends up being a low scoring contest. I hope I end up being wrong on the outcome.
KSU 24 – Texas 17

Jameson McCausland

I was thinking this week about past games against Kansas State, and it just amazes me how poorly Texas seems to play against the Wildcats. Aside from a pair of wins at DKR in 2013 and 2015, the Longhorns have been handled by Kansas State easily. What I think changes this year is the defense for Texas. For years, I feel like poor fundamentals and coaching  on the defensive side of the ball have plagued the Longhorns against the Wildcats, but Texas won’t have that problem this year. The offense will do just enough to get the job done and I think both Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger will see playing time. Tom Herman has said continuously that Texas needs to learn how to win, and I think the team is going to learn how to do just that with a tough fought victory on Saturday night.Texas 21 – KSU 17

Ross Labenske

As always, the Kansas State-Texas game should prove to be a good one. The Wildcats are fresh off a near scare versus winless Baylor, and they will look to carry that momentum through Austin, Texas. Fortunately for the Longhorns, they have fared better at home against the Wildcats than in the Little Apple, winning 3 of the 6 games played in Austin since these two teams joined the Big-XII. If either team has any hope of competing for the Big-XII crown, especially the Longhorns, they need to win this one if they want to even be in the conversation. Shane Buechele practiced this past Tuesday with a taped ankle, so it might be a game-time decision if he starts.Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Longhorns will be stacked up against a solid defensive unit coached by Bill Snyder, which is in the Top-15 in the NCAA in scoring defense, averaging 15 points a game thus far, and #33 in the nation in rushing defense as well. It all comes down to the offensive line play for the Longhorns though, and if they can block for whoever is throwing the football and give way to a run game that gives plenty of carries to Chris Warren III, Toneil Carter and company. It’s gonna be a good one, but as to who’ll win it? Comes down to whoever makes the least mistakes. And for Texas, that margin for error is becoming smaller and smaller.Texas 21 – KSU 17

Aaron Carrara

After playing the last two games on the road and splitting wins/losses, the Longhorns host a home matchup against a team that usually gets the better of them.  The Wildcats will test a Texas defense that is peaking in just about every area, fully expecting senior quarterback Jesse Ertz to beat the Longhorns with a heavy dose of zone read and a sprinkle of passes.The Kansas State defense has done a fantastic job on the season, holding opponents to 21 points or less in each of their first four games.  They lead the Big 12 in total defense, and hold teams to an average of 120 yard rushing per game.  It’s no secret that the Longhorns have struggled in the run department which means Tim Beck will need to utilize his playmakers and find creative ways to gain positive yards on the ground.The defense has found a way to win the Longhorns games and this Saturday will be no different. Texas will score a defensive touchdown and pressure Ertz most of the game to help assist a Texas offense that struggles to find a run game.Texas 34 – KSU 31