Game 1: Eastern Kentucky

The Colonels come into Manhattan for the first game of the year for a 6p kickoff. Their starting QB options... 2 true freshmen. Good luck with all of that.

A nearly sold out BSFS will be nuts and hungry to see their Cats start the season. In attendance, me and my 7 year old daughter. She'll be yelling along with me when EKU has the ball.

What's going to happen in the game: Collin Klien will look like a damn good QB throwing for 3 TDs and running in 2 more. K-State's RBs (Pease, Brown, Hubert, Rose) will score 4 total TDs (not saying who will get how many b/c who knows how much PT these guys are going to have).

I see a punt return for TD happening as well.

Defense will look nothing like the 2010 defense. Partly b/c of the Colonels, but partly b/c their going to be improved.

FINAL SCORE: Kansas State 55, Easten Kentucky 9

2011 Season Prediction Time (in %)

The % represents the percent chance the Cats have at winning the game.

Eastern Kentucky: 100%
Kent State: 98%
Miami: 50%
Baylor: 60%
Missouri: 45%
Texas Tech: 60%
Kansas: 95%
Oklahoma: 15%
Oklahoma State: 20%
Texas A&M: 65%
Texas: 65%
Iowa State: 90%

So you see, there are 4 gimmees (EK, KSU, KU and ISU). With home games against Baylor, MU, OU, aTm and ISU (already counted as a W), the Cats will win 2 out of 4 of those.

So that gets the Cats to a 6 win mark.

Can they beat OSU down in Stillwater. No. Can they beat UT in Austin. Yes. Can they beat Miami in Florida. Yes. Can they beat Teas Tech down in Lubbock. Yes.

Cats go 8-4 this year.

Quarterbacks 2011

Collin Klein, Sammy Lamur and Justin Tuggle. That's the choices the coaching staff has for the QB's in 2011 (I am counting Daniel Sams to redshirt).

While I saw Collin Klein do fairly well in 2010 (of course there was the Texas win with Klein running all over the Longhorn defense), here's to hoping that he does some good things in 2011. I thought early on in the Colorado game in Boulder he did some nice things throwing the ball (until injury happened).

He has some great size and speed, but I have yet to be really impressed with his passing skills, or more to the point, being able to read a defense whilst under pressure. People can point out that in the spring game he threw the ball nicely, but take in consideration he was facing the 2nd team defense (and that 2nd team defense would be beat by Washburn's offense).

SLamur is never going to be K-State's QB, so let's get this out of the way. That is unless Klein and Tuggle get injured (please no).

While Tuggle had the spring to get a start on the K-State offense, that's really not a whole lot of time to determine what he can or can't do. I'm really hoping that he steps up and pushes Klein to be a better QB, or pushes past Klein.

GRADE: C+

*FINAL: I see Klein as the #1 QB throughout the year. He'll struggle throwing the ball, but run the zone read quite well.

Huskers vs Wildcats (Wed Night)

In this tussle between the Cats and 'Skers at Memorial Stadium... err, I mean wherever the Huskers play their basketball games (Devany Center, or whatever) they are fighting for positioning in the Big XII.

These two teams are tied for the 6th spot right now.

The Cats don't play in Lincoln all that well and NU is coming off their biggest win (possibly evar) against #2 UT (who hadn't lost all season in Big XII play).

How I see it...

NU 58
KSU 54

Never been more glad to be wrong

84-68

Talk about a sweet arse game last night by the Cats. Jacob Pullen played like everyone thought he would the ENTIRE season.

Defense won this game for the Cats - they played great!

Had someone told me that Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels would combine for 9 points and the Cats would win, I would have been SHOCKED.

Remaining Schedule:
*vs OU
*@ NU
*vs MU
*@ UT
*vs ISU

*Have to win THREE of these (OU and ISU are gimmees); then beating NU is next easiest, then Mizzou and UT game is the hardest (but really, K-State OWNS Texas in football and basketball).

Win three of em plus a game in the Big XII Tourney and they will be in the BIG DANCE.

Big Monday... KU @ KSU

This WAS supposed to have been a HUGE game in the grand scheme of things. How things have changed.

KU is the new #1 team in the nation and KSU... well, lost to Colorado for the second time this year (how sad).

This game WILL be U G L Y! I give K-State a 0.0007% chance of winning. KU is too big for the Cats and will probably shoot 60% from the field (whilst the Cats shoot at the 28% mark).

Prediction (besides pain)...

KU 83
KSU 51

A VERY early look at 2011 (Defense)

Whilst running on the treadmill the other morning and watching a 2010 KSU game on TIVO (I think it was the KU game), I was thinking of what could be of the 2011 K-State football team.

You know who I like A LOT and am glad he'll be back in 2011? David Garrett. This guy can flat out play. From corner blitzes to coverage, this guy was DA BOMB in 2010.

At safety, here's to seeing #2 and #23 on the sidelines while Ty Zimmerman (Freshman All American) and Tanner Burns take over. Sprinkle in ELamur a few downs, but PLEASE leave Hartman off the field. Toasted Hartman is this guys nickname.

At linebacker, back is Hrebek. While not all that athletic, he DOES seem to have a nack to get to the ball carrier (when he went down with his injury in 2010, the run defense suffered). Arthur Brown will be in there HOPEFULLY playing to what everyone hopes he will be. And true freshman (in 2010) Tre Walker needs to add about 15 lbs in the off season.

Up front, Ray Kibble will be back on the inside and hopefully Javonta Boyd learned a ton while redshirting in 2010. The need for 2 more guys to rotate is critical. Raphael Guidry is listed as a Junior on a website, so that will help (a little).

On the end, Brandon Harold will be back, and (fingers crossed) Adam Davis gets healthy. Just like on the inside, at end there is a need for 2 others to step up.

A look back... and CU

Well, K-State beat Texas once again (seems only natural for THAT to happen; if we could do that every year from now on with the new Big X next year). Then went down to MU and got beat... well Carson "Division II" Coffman did a bang up job with his fumbles.

Now it's on to Colorado to play the Buffaloes for K-State's last ever Big XII game.

Dan Hawkins FINALLY got run out of town. All it took was a complete meltdown of his CU team in Lawrence to get him fired. And that sucks for K-State.

If Hawkins was still the coach of CU, I'd say the chances of K-State coming out of Boulder with a win was around 90%. Now the Buffs are playing a little more inspired football (see last week's win against ISU).

I do see the Cats winning this game. If K-State's defense can get any sort of pressure on Cody Hawkins @ QB, this could be an easy win. K-State WILL score points. They did it against Texas' defense and Mizzou's defense.

Run with Klein and Thomas, then hit some long play action passes.

KSU: 34
CU:21

Baylor and OSU

Well, I was somewhat right about the Baylor. But didn't expect the Bears to set an offensive record for yards against the Cats. Wow. Just wow. Chris Cosh... you sure are doing a bang up job with the defense.

Now it's OSU with their high-powered offense. At least their best WR got in trouble and might not play against KSU. There's something to believe in b/c the KSU defense will more than likely not get fixed before Saturday and will get torched once again.

But I will be in attendance to see this gem of a game.

I see it now:
OSU 45
KSU 21

KU game PLUS upcoming outlook

Wow, just wow on the KU game. That certainly was a fun game to watch and one I never saw coming. I figured KU had some fight in 'em, but no, they didn't.

It's good to be 5-1 going into the rest of the season, but don't get too comfortable just yet. K-State is about to enter a damn hard part of their schedule.

Baylor this Saturday. This isn't the Bears of old. Their QB (Griffin) is a stud and can run the ball (see what Taylor Martinez did to the Cats a few weeks back). This game is gonna be ugly for the Wildcats. In order to stop Baylor's offense, they have to stop their zone read. I see it... KSU 13, Baylor 37.

Then it's (now) undefeated Oklahoma State in Manhattan. Talk about THE surprise team in the Big XII. I thought they'd be at the bottom of the south division this year with all they had to replace. IF they beat the Huskers in Stillwater this week, they'll still be undefeated coming into Manhattan. Don't like this one either for the Cats... OSU 42, KSU 17.

Then it's on to the team that K-State OWNS; the Texas Longhorns. K-State won't own the Horns this year. UT just beat the Huskers in Lincoln. UT will do the same to the Cats... they're just too fast. UT 24, KSU 10.

Then KSU goes to Columbia to take on another surprising team in MU. Still undefeated and plays #1 OU in Columbia Saturday. MU's defense is STRONG, but offense isn't as explosive as past years. Cats lose this one too... KSU 7, MU 24.

Will Dan Hawkins still be the coach of the Buffaloes when K-State heads to Colorado? Look into the crystal ball... "Not Likely" comes up. But can K-State win this game to get them to bowl eligibility? I'll persobally be in Boulder for this one. I see it... KSU 27, CU 14.

North Texas... well, there's a certain "W" with this game. They're the worst team in Division I.

Sunflower Showdown 2010

Well, here it is again. The KU vs K-State football game. Both teams coming off blowout losses. Both embarassed. KU by Baylor and K-State by NU. So, at least someone has to win the game. Whomever loses the game... it's gonna be a rough end to the 2010 season.

Let me say this... NU is pretty damn good. We'll see how Texas does against the Huskers on Saturday. But in the meantime, I think K-State DOES get the "W" in Lawrence. But it will be tough.

The last Bill Snyder coached them that won on the road... 2005 against Marshall. OUCH!

So that does worry me - that the game is in Lawrence.

KSU: 28
KU: 21

NU Week!!

Well, it's Husker week and not as much time to wait for the game with the National ESPN audience on Thursday night.

Both teams are 4-0. Huskers are ranked #6 in the nation while the Cats are right outside the Top 25. The Huskers are coming off their worst game of the year against a Div II team; the Cats squeaked by a fiesty UCF team (and SHOULD have lost).

The NU defense is S O L I D. At first glance, they're better than the UCF defense who pretty much shut down the K-State offense until the 4th Quarter.

The K-State "bend don't break" defense will allow the Husker running game to get going early and if/when NU gets the lead, the 'Skers will not have to throw the ball all that often.

Bad feeling about this one even though it should be a great atmosphere for the game in Manhattan.

NU: 24
KSU: 6

UCF

BIG test this weekend vs. Central Florida. With their freshman QB Godfrey as a true running (dual threat) QB, it could cause more trouble than Arnaud did for the defense.

Not too worried about the KSU offense vs UCF defense. I think with DT running the ball, it'll be fine. But can the K-State defense return to LYNCH MOB-like?

K-State doesn't hold UCF to big plays, but do just enough to win this game to get to 4-0.

UCF: 24
KSU: 34

Farmageddon Afterthought... and CFU

Well, I mentioned Payton Kirk in the last blog writeup and he goes out and knocks Arnaud out of the game for a few minutes with his tackle.

So now I will mention Brandon Harold... he will injure the CFU QB.

Central Florida Knights. Might be a letdown game for the Cats. I read on a message board that their fans are worried about what KSU (see D. Thomas) is going to do with their run defense. Apparently their not that strong against the run.

RUN FOREST RUN!

Getting a win to get to 4-0 would be HUGE for this team. With only two more wins to get bowl eligible, that'd be sweet.

North Texas is pretty much a gimme at the end of the year, so there would be the 5th win. So just would need one other win (I'm looking at you KU, Baylor, Oklahoma State).

ISU vs KSU... Farmageddon II

If K-State had any sort of defense, this game would be a good old fashioned blow out. I trust that K-State's offense will get their 30+ points with the running of Thomas and the playaction with Coffman against the weak front 7 of ISU.

Problem is the running of Arnaud and Robinson. They'll get their yards. When Payton Kirk is playing on the inside of that D-Line...

ISU: 21
KSU: 37