Kansas State vs. Michigan Betting Line
Carrie Stroup here with your Kansas State vs. Michigan betting line that has the Wildcats as a -6 favorite. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 BET at Sportsbook.com here and remember you can wager on every play of this game right up to the final minute with LIVE IN-PLAY BETTING.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Kansas State -6 & 55.5
Opening Line & Total: Wildcats -3 & 56.5
Two teams going in opposite directions will be in Tempe on Saturday night, as Michigan (1-4 in its past five games) will face Kansas State (5-1 in past six games) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
The defending Big 12 champion Wildcats got off to a tough start this season, losing their opener to FCS school North Dakota State. The team then lost its first three Big 12 games and appeared to be on its way to missing a bowl. However, head coach Bill Snyder, as he has done throughout his career, got Kansas State (7-5 ATS) rolling and helped guide his team back to Tempe. He is also 23-10 ATS (70%) versus good passing teams (58%+ completion pct.) as KSU's head coach. Last season, the Wildcats fell to Oregon 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl, marking their fifth straight bowl loss (SU and ATS). They will be going up against a team that is looking to salvage its season as well. Things started off great for Michigan, as the team was 5-0 and appeared to be legitimate Big Ten contenders. However, a quadruple overtime loss to Penn State and a 1-4 record in November, with three losses coming by four points or less, gave the Wolverines a 7-5 record (SU and ATS) for the season. They had a chance to upset rival Ohio State in the final game of the season, but lost 42-41 after an incompletion on a two-point attempt in the game's final minute. QB Devin Gardner had a huge performance against the Buckeyes when he threw for 451 yards and 4 TD, but he is dealing with a turf toe injury and his status for Saturday is still uncertain. If he can't go, freshman Shane Morris would start under center. Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke has taken a lot of heat throughout the year for the disappointment of this season, but he is 34-19 ATS (64%) after an SU loss as a college head coach. Both of these teams are looking to end the season on a positive note, and have the abilities of making big plays on the offensive end.
Kansas State struggled early in figuring out how to run its offense, but the two-quarterback system started to show its potential for the Wildcats late. Junior QB Jake Waters (2,198 passing yards, 15 TD, 9 INT) has continued to improve as a passer with a hefty 9.4 YPA. When he is not on the field, the Wolverines will have to slow down sophomore QB Daniel Sams (452 pass yards on 73% completions, 4 TD, 4 INT), who the running threat of the two quarterbacks with 784 rushing yards (4.5 YPC) and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Sams does a terrific job of using his speed to run away from defenders, but is also extremely powerful at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds. Senior RB John Hubert (968 rush yards, 5.3 YPC, 9 TD) is coming off a 220-yard effort in the season finale at Kansas, and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season of his career, as he rushed for 947 yards last season and 970 yards in 2011. However, the star of the KSU offense is junior WR Tyler Lockett (71 catches, 1,146 yards, 8 TD) has emerged as one of the very best receivers in all of the country. What he lacks in size (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), he more than makes up for with his determination and his elite speed. Lockett has six 100-yard receiving games this year, including two 200-yard performances (237 at Texas, 278 vs. Oklahoma). The Wildcats should be able to put up points in this game, but although their defense (23.7 PPG allowed, 35th in FBS) played much better at the end of the season, it did struggle at times, allowing 240+ passing yards in five of its final eight games. However, DE Ryan Mueller (61 tackles, 11.5 sacks) emerged as one of the best defensive players in the country. While he is not the fastest defensive player on the field, he has an endless motor and is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback, recording at least one sack eight different times this year. KSU's run defense allows 145 YPG on 3.9 YPC, but this unit has done an excellent job forcing turnovers with 18 takeaways in the past six games.
Michigan QB Devin Gardner (2,960 pass yards, 8.6 YPA, 21 TD and 11 INT) had a rocky season at times throughout the year, but showed at times he can be a dynamic offensive player. Against Indiana (503 passing yards, 5 total TD) and against Ohio State (451 passing yards and 5 total TD), Gardner absolutely dominated the game. He is also a threat to run the ball, as he rushed for 483 yards and 11 scores on the ground. If he is unable to start, little-used QB Shane Morris (5-for-9, 65 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) will get the call, but whoever is taking the snaps will certainly be looking mostly for top WR Jeremy Gallon (80 catches, 1,284 yards, 9 TD). Gallon is a complete receiver that is able to make plays over the top, as well as the middle of the field. In that Nov. 19 game against the Hoosiers, Gallon set a Big Ten record with 369 receiving yards, while also grabbing two touchdowns. The Michigan offense is not just a passing attack, as senior RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (646 rush yards, 12 TD) forces defenses to give him respect. For the Wolverines to get the victory, he must average more than the 3.5 YPC he did throughout the season, with the team gaining a paltry 131 rushing YPG (101st in FBS) on 3.2 YPC. Like the Wildcats, the Wolverines at times had their problems on the defensive end, where they rank 66th in the country, allowing 26.5 points per game. Star CB Thomas Gordon has three interceptions in his senior season, and will be asked to cover Tyler Lockett a lot of the time during the game. Michigan allows 366 total YPG, broken down between 139 rushing YPG (3.8 YPC) and 227 YPG (6.7 YPA) through the air. The Wolverines have helped themselves out greatly with 25 takeaways this season, including 2+ forced turnovers in nine different contests.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
