Kansas State vs. Arizona: Football game time, TV info, odds and score prediction
Next up for the Kansas State football team is a much anticipated Friday game against Arizona.
This battle of the Wildcats will feature a pair of ranked teams with offenses that are capable of putting up big numbers.
K-State is off to a 2-0 start after it defeated Tulane on the road last week. Arizona is also 2-0 thanks to a recent victory over Northern Arizona. There is a chance Friday evening’s game could be a preview for the Big 12 championship game, even though this matchup won’t count in the conference standings.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game ...
No. 18 Arizona at No. 15 Kansas State
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan
TV/Stream: FOX
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
The line: Kansas State by 7.5 with an O/U of 59.5
K-State game prediction
Get ready for a shootout.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan form one of the most dangerous passing duos in all of college football. They have already connected 12 times for 315 yards and four touchdowns this season.
That is bad news for a K-State defense that allowed Tulane to throw for 342 yards and two touchdowns last week.
Arizona will put all kinds of pressure on the K-State secondary on Friday. Blitzing might not be enough to slow it down. Slowing down Fifita and McMillan seems like a more obtainable goal than stopping him.
On the flip side, K-State will likely be able to move the ball on the ground in this game. Behind star running back DJ Giddens, K-State is averaging 249 rushing yards per game. Stopping Giddens and change-of-pace runner Dylan Edwards may not be easy for an Arizona defense that is allowing 141.5 yards per game on the ground.
It’s easy to see this game going back and forth as both teams take advantage of the advantages they possess on offense.
But Arizona and K-State will likely approach this game differently. Arizona wants to go fast and score on explosive plays. K-State wants to slow things down and win with methodical drives.
The team that plays this game at its preferred pace will likely come out on top.
My guess is that team will be K-State. Chris Klieman’s team will benefit from a rest and travel advantage in this game. I also expect K-State to make some major adjustments on defense and play much better on defense against an opponent everyone on the roster respects.
If there’s one thing K-State has done well this season, it’s run the ball. It can win by continuing to do exactly that on Friday.
Picking against Arizona as a road underdog is scary. Last year, it went 6-0 against the spread when it was catching points away from home and even won three of those games outright on the way to the Alamo Bowl. But all of that success came with former coach Jedd Fisch, who is now at Washington.
This is the first time Brent Brennan has taken his new team on the road. There could be a dropoff in performance.
I expect Arizona to keep this game close but for K-State to end it in “victory formation.”
Kansas State 38, Arizona 34
Last week’s prediction: K-State 28, Tulane 17
Actual score: K-State 34, Tulane 27
Season record: 2-0
Season record ATS: 0-2
Season record O/U: 1-1
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Kansas State vs. Arizona: Football game time, TV info, odds and score prediction."