Troy vs. Kansas State Odds
| Troy Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -110 | 49.5 -110o / -110u | +525 |
| Kansas State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -110 | 49.5 -110o / -110u | -750 |
We kick off this loaded Saturday slate of college football Week 2 in Manhattan, Kansas, as the Troy Trojans will take on the Kansas State Wildcats.
Both of these teams will look to continue their offensive explosiveness, but make no mistake, as these teams both have strong defensive units.
Can Troy pull off the huge upset? Or will Wildcats quarterback Will Howard dismantle this Trojans secondary for the entire afternoon? Let's break down both of these teams and see if we can find the correct betting angle on the Troy vs. Kansas State odds and our picks and predictions.
Troy Trojans
This Trojans team is primed to take home a Sun Belt Championship, and they can make a statement here by coming out of Manhattan with a huge upset. If they have any shot, that will all start with their running game.
Running back Kimani Vidal completely dismantled the Stephen F. Austin defense last week by racking up 248 rushing yards on 25 carries. This was a career-best for Vidal, and he will need to put up another big performance here against a stout Wildcats trench.
Kansas State's linebackers are a huge problem for this Trojans rushing attack, and if they can't establish the run early on, I can see Troy giving up a lot of pressure in the backfield.
However, I do have concerns about the Trojans' ability to protect the football in this matchup. They had four turnovers last week, three of which were fumbles. That cannot happen this week, as Chris Klieman's squad will not let any extra possessions go to waste.
This stingy Trojans defense will keep them alive in this game — especially the secondary. I think Howard is one of the most underrated QBs in the country, but I really love the defensive scheme that Greg Gasparato has brought over from Louisville.
Cornerback O'Shai Fletcher is an NFL talent, and he'll most likely be shadowing Cats receiver RJ Garcia II or Keagan Johnson if he's healthy enough to suit up.
I'm a believer in this Trojans rushing attack, as it can open up some pass plays down the field, which is an area of concern for this Cats defense. I think their defensive unit should keep them alive in this game.
Kansas State Wildcats
A team that seems to be flying under the radar in the Big 12 is this Wildcats squad, which is strange to say considering they won the Big 12 title game last season.
As mentioned before, I am a big believer in Howard, as he can go toe-to-toe with any QB in the conference. Last week, he threw two touchdowns, ran for another, and even caught one as well. Not a big deal, right?
This is an interesting matchup for the Wildcats, as this is not a typical Sun Belt opponent. They definitely will have their hands full with this Trojans defense, but at the end of the day, I expect Howard and Co. to eventually figure out this scheme.
This Wildcats offense lost a lot, including sensational running back Deuce Vaughn. Despite that, I believe Howard can carry this team throughout the entire season.
Not to take away too much from their performance last week, but the Cats find themselves in the top 50 in all offensive categories, including Standard Downs Success Rate.
Their defense definitely has some talent, but they will be without linebacker Jake Clifton, which could be a concern against this Trojans' rushing attack.
What was also alarming is that they came out of the game against SEMO with a rank of 107th in Defensive Havoc. The Trojans are not a powerhouse by any means, but the Wildcats defense could be in for a rude awakening.
Troy vs Kansas State
Betting Pick & Prediction
Look, I love this K-State team, but this is flat-out disrespectful from the market.
I was stunned to see the Trojans getting over two touchdowns here, and without surprise, the majority of the public is on the Cats.
With that said, I love the Trojans in this spot. I think they will clean up the mistakes from last week, and I believe their defense is good enough to keep them inside this number.
If Vidal goes wild, the Wildcats could be on high upset alert this week. It's not the easiest environment to play in, but considering the market is giving the Trojans no chance in this game, I wouldn't be stunned at all if Troy kept this close. This is a veteran Trojans team, and I think this moment won't be too big for them. Eat Kimani, eat.
