Posted by SJSdude on 9/6/2007, 3:14 pm Why to Watch: Why San Jose State Might Win: Why Kansas State Might Win: Who to Watch: What Will Happen: CFN Prediction: Kansas State 27 ... San Jose State 10
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San Jose State (0-1) at Kansas State (0-1) 7:00 PM (4:00 PDT)
Kansas State might have lost last week to Auburn, and it might have lost by blowing it late (helped by forgetting to block Tiger DE Quentin Groves), but it also gained a measure of respect. The young team went into one of college football's nastiest environments and almost pulled out a win. A more experienced team wins that game, and the loss will likely be seen someday as a step back to take a giant leap forward. San Jose State came into the year hoping to build on a hot 2006, and then went out and got blasted 45-3 by Arizona State. The Spartans didn't do much of anything right, looking like the Spartans of old, and they must quickly come up with a good performance or it might take a while to get the mojo back.
While it wasn't evident in the loss to the Sun Devils, San Jose State can play a little defense. The Kansas State offense is going to be hit-or-miss all year long. Get QB Josh Freeman when he's off, and you have a chance to play a Wildcat team without an offense. The Spartans have to find a way to get into the backfield and put continuous pressure on No. 1, who says he's fine, but suffered an ankle injury against Auburn. Not giving up anything deep is a must. Freeman threw for 268 yards against the Tigers, but he did it on 57 passes.
If the defense plays like it did last week, and if the San Jose State offensive line plays like it did last week, this will be a brutally ugly blowout. The Spartans failed to give QB Adam Tafralis any time to work, and did absolutely nothing for the running game. Kansas State's defensive front did a terrific job of shutting down the Tiger running game and didn't have problems against the pass until crunch time. San Jose State isn't Auburn.
While Auburn's defense is gong to shut down most running games, netting 27 rushing yards is still unacceptable. The Wildcats all but gave up on handing the ball off, putting the entire game in Freeman's hands. While it almost worked, to have any hope of winning much in the Big 12, the ground game has to help the cause. Leon Patton gained just two yards on three carries, while James Johnson led the team with 14 yards on seven carries. If they don't produce this week, it'll be time for KSU to worry.
San Jose State's defense will play night-and-day better than it did last week, and it won't matter, The running game will be MIA for the second week in a row, and KSU will come up with at least three picks to make a close first half game a runaway in the second half.
Line: Kansas State -16.5
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