CFB Week 13: #12 Kansas State vs. West Virginia preview

West Virginia WR Kevin White hopes to catch Kansas State off guard and pull off a huge upset win.

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The Kansas State Wildcats head to Morgantown for a Week 13 Big XII matchup with the conference rival West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday Night.

The Wildcats are coming off a bye-week after having their Big XII and College Football Playoff chances decimated at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs. At 7-2, the Wildcats are unlikely to see both Baylor and TCU lose even if they do win out, and with two losses, it will be even less likely that they earn a stake in the playoffs.  But Kansas State still has a dominant offense that has been rolling behind QB Jake Waters, who has 13 passing TDs and 7 on the ground. If Waters can get the Wildcats rolling early they have a pretty good chance:  Kansas State is 7-0 this season in games where they score at least 21 points.

The Mountaineers seemed like they were destined for great things after beating #4 Baylor last month, but back-to-back losses first at home to TCU and then on the road to the Texas Longhorns have pushed West Virginia to lowly 5th place in the Big XII.  But QB Clint Trickett and WR Kevin White form one of the most potent passing combinations in football with White currently 4th in the FBS in receiving yards, while Trickett owns the 6th place in passing yards. With a win West Virginia would be bowl eligible for the first time since 2012.

Prediction: West Virginia – Going with the upset here. Kansas State is no slouch but the Mountaineers have taken the best teams in the Big XII to the limit this year and even outdueled the Baylor Bears in Morgantown this year.  Kansas State will give them a tough game, but ultimately the Mountaineers will get a come-from-behind victory late in the game.