The Oklahoma State Cowboys are coming off a huge 37-20 victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers. With that win, the Cowboys sit at 6-2 (4-1). In week ten, they face the Kansas State Wildcats, who have a record of 5-3 (3-2). Both teams are still very much alive in the Big 12 title race, and need a win in this game. The Wildcats are coming off a 31-26 victory over the Iowa State Cyclones. Now let’s take a look at the Oklahoma State Cowboys week ten keys to victory.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Week Ten Keys To Victory
Stopping the Run
Kansas State is a run first team. Last week, they totaled 247 yards rushing and only 151 yards passing. Furthermore, the Wildcats are averaging 191.9 rushing yards per game this season. Which, compared to their average passing yards per game, 165.5, that is a very unusual number for a Big 12 team. The Cowboys did not do a great job stopping the run last week against the Mountaineers. West Virginia had 209 rushing yards on the game, compared to just 85 for the Cowboys. The front seven has been a strength for the Cowboys this season. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor had one forced fumble last week on his way to being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. OSU will need to stop Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz, and running back Charles Jones on the ground in order to be successful this weekend.
Mason Rudolph Needs to Come up Big on the Road
Quarterback Mason Rudolph played great against the Mountaineers last week. He had 273 passing yards to go with four total touchdowns, and no turnovers. However, Rudolph hasn’t been near as good on the road as he has at home this season. He has thrown for 499 yards, with one touchdown and one interception on the road. That doesn’t compare too well to his home numbers of 16 touchdowns and one interception.
The Cowboys will also need a better effort out of Rudolph’s supporting cast. Wide receiver James Washington has been relatively silent over the last two games. He has 126 receiving yards combined and zero touchdowns. Jalen McCleskey is the receiver that has been getting most of the attention the last two weeks. McCleskey has nearly 200 yards receiving and one touchdown over the last two games. Finding McCleskey and Washington will be a big key to an Oklahoma State victory over the Wildcats.
Win the Turnover Battle
A big reason why the Cowboys emerged victorious over the Mountaineers was the turnover margin. The Cowboys were plus three on the day, and that could have very well been the reason why they won the game. Cornerback Ramon Richards has had an up and down season, but came up huge with an interception against the Mountaineers. Another big performance will be needed from him and the corner starting opposite of him, Ashton Lampkin. Furthermore, linebacker Chad Whitener has come up huge in recent weeks, and could play a big part against Kansas State. If the Cowboys can dominate the turnover battle like they did against West Virginia, they will most likely come out on top this weekend. OSU fans are hoping for some consistency out of the Cowboy defense for the first time this season.
Prediction
The Wildcats are actually 2.5 point favorites against the Cowboys, according to Odds Shark. Yet, the Cowboys have a 61.9 percent chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Cowboys are ranked number 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings, while the Wildcats are not ranked. Look for another big performance from OSU’s true freshman running back Justice Hill. Kansas State’s front seven will push the Cowboys offensive line to the limit, but OSU kicker Ben Grogan will hit a clutch kick in the end. The Cowboys escape with a close road win.
Oklahoma State 31, Kansas State 30
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