Kansas State Wildcats 2008 Preview

Coach: Ron Prince (12-13) Third Year
Last Year: 5-7, 3-5 Big 12 North, fourth of six 
Returning Starters : Offense 7*, Line 4 | Defense 5, Line 0

Three Things You Should Know
1) KSU has had seven assistant coaches leave under Ron Prince. This year the Cats get Cornell Jackson (LBs), Warren Ruggiero (QBs) and Jeff Rodgers (special teams) as new assistants.
2) The defense was the big reason for the collapse after the 5-3 start last year. The D allowed 348, 702, 427 and 529 yards in the last four games vs ISU, NU, MU and Fresno State.
3) The offensive line should be a strength in 2008 as Jordan Bedore returns to play center and the Cats have seven linemen returning that got playing time in 2007.

Trends
This will be the 106th meeting between KU and K-State with the Jayhawks leading the series 64-36-5. Mark Mangino is now 3-3 vs the Cats, but KU has won three of the last four. KSU hasn't lost three straight in this series since 1988-1990.

The Game
Despite the general smirking that KU fans are doing regarding the circus that seems to be KSU football under Ron Prince, this game makes me uncomfortable ... at least right now. Yes, on paper KU is clearly the better team, but bringing in so many JUCO players makes this an unknown team in my book. That quick fix plan rarely works, but until we see this unit against Louisville I'm going to go along with the rest of the pundits and assume that the Cats will improve slightly. With that in mind, I expect another tough game against the Cats. Having the game in Lawrence helps as KSU will get a huge dose of the KU student section and the atmosphere probably helped in 2006 when the Cats turned it over six times. Ultimately, I think KSU defense will be greatly overmatched and I like our secondary versus the KSU wideouts, but this is a rivalry game and I feel like State will play desperate in this one.

2008 Kansas State Schedule
Aug. 30, 2008 North Texas 
Sept. 6, 2008 Montana St. 
Sept. 17, 2008 at Louisville 
Sept. 27, 2008 Louisiana-Laf. 
Oct. 4, 2008 Texas Tech  
Oct. 11, 2008 at Texas A&M 
Oct. 18, 2008 at Colorado 
Oct. 25, 2008 Oklahoma  
Nov. 1, 2008 at Kansas  
Nov. 8, 2008 at Missouri 
Nov. 15, 2008 Nebraska 
Nov. 22, 2008 Iowa State

2007 Results
L at Auburn 23-13
W San Jose St. 34-14
W Missouri State 61-10
W at Texas 41-21
L Kansas 30-24
W Colorado 47-20
L at OK State 41-39
W Baylor 51-13
L at Iowa State 31-20
L at Nebraska 73-31
L Missouri 49-32
L at Fresno State 45-29