Game Day Notes -- KU @ Kansas State

Let's Party!

Series: Kansas 63-36-5
Line: KSU (-3)

The Rundown
Forget about Colorado* for this Saturday and enjoy this as the first week of the north playoffs. Two teams will jump out as frontrunners and two will move to the loser's bracket. Based on what we've seen thus far, you could argue that the winner of the KU/KSU game will be the favorite since they both play defense. Mizzou and Nebraska thus far just have 11 volunteers that line-up while the other team has the ball. Where are we going here? The Sunflower Smackdown is the biggest game of the week in conference and if you don't believe me ... well, they said it on College Football Live today, so it must be true. Anyway, this is the big one. The winner will talk about joining the NFL while the loser will likely be extended a trial membership to the Sun Belt. Thus far, I count Mangino as 1-3 in early games that nearly live up to this level of hype. I guess Prince is 1-0. It would be nice if this was in Lawrence, but something about "fair play" means we've got to go to Manhattan every other year.

The Key
There are far to many angles to narrow this game down to one key:

• Will KU run B-Mac right at Ian Campbell?
• Will Talib shadow Jordy Nelson?
• If not, is Chris Harris ready for Big 12 play?
• Can Todd Reesing beat the rush and connect the dots?
• What will Freeman do with the up the middle pressure that McClinton will apply?
• If Freeman is flushed from the pocket, can KU's ends and linebackers contain him?
• Justin McKinney knocked Limas Sweed down a few rounds in the NFL draft, but can KSU's 5-9 corners handle the squadron of large, fast wideouts that Ed Warriner will spread across the field?
• Will KSU forget about Derek Fine?
• Will KSU generate any kind of a running game to keep the Blue Steel defense honest?
• If KU hits a deep pass, all bets are off.
• Will Mike Rivera track Josh Freeman down?  

Predictions

• At 6:33 a.m., approximately thirty minutes into our voyage to RV land, I'll be coaxed into my first adult beverage. 
• I'll find out that KSU fans have regressed to their 1994 never been there before level. Exihibit A.
• A giant "Screw KU" balloon will rise above BS stadium
• Mike Rivera will ride his Harley into the stadium
• KU wins on a 42-yard Aqib Talib field goal but once again Talib will once again be looked over for Heisman consideration

*Colorado has a fantastic opportunity to beat the beat the best team in the south and lose to the worst all in a seven-day period -- which would of course cause the entire division to supernova.