Three-minute preview: West Virginia at K-State football
When/where: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan.
TV/radio: Fox Sports 1; WHB (810 AM)
The series: K-State leads 4-1
The line: West Virginia by 6 1/2
What’s at stake
K-State can even its record at 6-6 and earn a traditional bowl berth with a win Saturday. West Virginia can improve its bowl stock and finish 8-4 with a victory.
Cheers if ...
The Wildcats continue to create turnovers. They forced eight fumbles against Iowa State and grabbed an interception against Kansas. No surprise, K-State won both games.
Jeers if ...
The Mountaineers take an early lead. Unlike most teams in the Big 12, West Virginia is a run-first offense. Mounting a comeback won't be easy.
Kellis Robinett’s pick: West Virginia 35-33
West Virginia is clearly the fifth-best team in the Big 12, and it has looked superb since the start of November. K-State has what it takes to win this one at home, but the Mountaineers are the better team.
KANSAS STATE (5-6, 2-6 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | South Dakota | W, 34-0 |
Sept. 12 | at Texas-San Antonio | W, 30-3 |
Sept. 19 | Louisiana Tech | W, 39-33, 3OT |
Oct. 3 | at Oklahoma State | L, 36-34 |
Oct. 10 | TCU | L, 52-45 |
Oct. 17 | Oklahoma | L, 55-0 |
Oct. 24 | at Texas | L, 23-9 |
Nov. 5 | Baylor | L, 31-24 |
Nov. 14 | at Texas Tech | L, 59-44 |
Nov. 21 | Iowa State | W, 38-35 |
Nov. 28 | at Kansas | W, 45-14 |
Saturday | West Virginia | 3:30 p.m. |
WEST VIRGINIA (7-4, 4-4 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | Georgia Southern | W, 44-0 |
Sept. 12 | Liberty | W, 41-17 |
Sept. 26 | Maryland | W, 45-6 |
Oct. 3 | at Oklahoma | L, 44-24 |
Oct. 10 | Oklahoma State | L, 33-26 |
Oct. 17 | at Baylor | L, 62-38 |
Oct. 29 | at TCU | L, 40-10 |
Nov. 7 | Texas Tech | W, 31-26 |
Nov. 14 | Texas | W, 38-20 |
Nov. 21 | at Kansas | W, 49-0 |
Nov. 28 | Iowa State | W, 30-6 |
Saturday | at Kansas State | 3:30 p.m. |
Three things about West Virginia
1 Outside of Oklahoma, West Virginia is the hottest team in the Big 12. The Mountaineers have won four in a row since opening conference play with four straight losses against the league’s top four teams. Its last three wins have been blowouts.
2 Wendell Smallwood is a difficult running back to bring down. The West Virginia junior has topped 100 yards in seven games.
3 Like K-State, West Virginia plays a different style than most Big 12 teams. It prefers the run to the pass and takes pride in defense.
Key matchup
K-State’s front seven vs. Wendell Smallwood. The Mountaineers are at their best when they run effectively. The Wildcats are at their best when they stuff the rush. The team that wins the battle up front will have an advantage on Saturday.
KANSAS STATE OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 6 | Deante Burton | 6-2 | 205 | Jr. |
WR | 19 | Kody Cook | 6-1 | 200 | Sr. |
LT | 55 | Cody Whitehair | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. |
LG | 77 | Boston Stiverson | 6-4 | 316 | Sr. |
C | 71 | Dalton Risner | 6-5 | 300 | Fr. |
RG | 68 | Luke Hayes | 6-6 | 295 | Sr. |
RT | 65 | Matt Kleinsorge | 6-5 | 310 | Sr. |
TE | 80 | Cody Small | 6-5 | 241 | So. |
WR | 4 | Dominique Heath | 5-9 | 175 | Fr. |
QB | 8 | Joe Hubener | 6-5 | 211 | Jr. |
RB | 32 | Justin Silmon | 5-10 | 191 | Fr. |
K | 3 | Jack Cantele | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. |
KANSAS STATE DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 75 | Jordan Willis | 6-5 | 250 | Jr. |
DT | 95 | Travis Britz | 6-4 | 293 | Sr. |
DT | 60 | Will Geary | 6-0 | 297 | So. |
DE | 45 | Marquel Bryant | 6-3 | 254 | Sr. |
LB | 9 | Elijah Lee | 6-3 | 218 | So. |
LB | 35 | Will Davis | 6-0 | 224 | Jr. |
LB | 52 | Charmeachealle Moore | 6-0 | 221 | Jr. |
CB | 33 | Morgan Burns | 5-11 | 201 | Sr. |
SS | 24 | Nate Jackson | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
FS | 4 | Kaleb Prewett | 6-1 | 204 | So. |
CB | 8 | Duke Shelley | 5-9 | 160 | Fr. |
P | 14 | Nick Walsh | 5-11 | 212 | So. |
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 1 | Shelton Gibson | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
WR | 6 | Daikiel Shorts Jr. | 6-1 | 201 | Jr. |
LT | 78 | Marquis Lucas | 6-4 | 315 | Sr. |
LG | 57 | Adam Pankey | 6-5 | 312 | Jr. |
C | 65 | Tyler Orlosky | 6-4 | 296 | Jr. |
RG | 62 | Kyle Bosch | 6-5 | 310 | So. |
RT | 77 | Marcell Lazard | 6-5 | 306 | So. |
TE | 88 | Cody Clay | 6-4 | 262 | Sr. |
WR | 2 | Ka’Raun White | 6-1 | 198 | So. |
QB | 3 | Skyler Howard | 6-0 | 206 | Jr. |
RB | 4 | Wendell Smallwood | 5-11 | 202 | Jr. |
K | 86 | Josh Lambert | 5-11 | 212 | Jr. |
WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 95 | Christian Brown | 6-2 | 290 | Jr. |
DT | 93 | Kyle Rose | 6-4 | 294 | Sr. |
DE | 97 | Noble Nwachukwu | 6-2 | 271 | Jr. |
LB | 35 | Nick Kwiatkoski | 6-2 | 238 | Sr. |
LB | 42 | Jared Barber | 6-0 | 232 | Sr. |
LB | 36 | Shaq Petteway | 6-0 | 232 | Sr. |
NB | 9 | KJ Dillon | 6-1 | 209 | Sr. |
CB | 7 | Daryl Worley | 6-1 | 202 | Jr. |
S | 6 | Dravon Askew-Henry | 5-11 | 202 | So. |
S | 22 | Jarrod Harper | 6-1 | 211 | Jr. |
CB | 16 | Terrell Chestnut | 5-11 | 193 | Sr. |
P | 91 | Nick O’Toole | 6-3 | 216 | Sr. |
Kellis Robinett: @KellisRobinett
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: West Virginia at K-State football."