AT&T Cotton Bowl Pick and Prediction: Kansas State vs Arkansas
Thursday, January 05, 2012
by Frank Martin
The Arkansas Razorbacks has the highest BCS ranking of any school not invited to the BCS, finishing at No. 6. Kansas State Wildcats is just two spots behind but got squeezed out of the BCS party as well thanks to lower-ranked automatic qualifiers like Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
The Razorbacks’ only losses came at No. 1 LSU and at No. 2 Alabama and were the only games all season in which they failed to score at least 29 points. Arkansas passes for over 300 yards per game with quarterback Tyler Wilson and is averaging 37.4 points.
The Wildcats rank as one of the worst passing teams in the nation, but that is due to quarterback Collin Klein leading the team in rushing as well. The junior rushed for five touchdowns in a four-overtime win over Texas A&M and totaled 38 touchdowns rushing and passing.
Kansas State returned to postseason play after a four-year drought and lost in the Pinstripe Bowl to Syracuse last December. The Wildcats last played in the Cotton Bowl in 2001 - beating Tennessee. Arkansas lost the 2008 Cotton Bowl to Missouri and fell in the Sugar Bowl, 31-26, to Ohio State last January.
- Kansas State Wildcats @ Arkansas Razorbacks
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, January 6, 2012
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: Fox
The Razorbacks have opened as 7.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Football Odds.
Kansas State Wildcats (10-2): The Wildcats don't mind getting into shootouts, as they average 33.1 points but give up 27.8. Klein allows Kansas State to pass or run out of most formations, adding a layer to the offense that has consistently caught defenses off guard. The Wildcats' lone losses came to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, two schools that rose to the top-2 in the country. Kansas State showed it could win a low-scoring game in a 17-13 triumph over Texas on Nov. 19.
Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2): Wilson led the SEC in passing yards with 3,422, erasing any thought that the Razorbacks would suffer a drop with Ryan Mallett in the pros. Wilson's top target is Jrius Wright, who led the SEC with 11 touchdown catches. Arkansas was hurt on the ground in its loss to LSU, allowing 286 yards rushing, and gave up a touchdown on special teams. The Razorbacks are 3-7-1 all-time in the Cotton Bowl.
NCAA FOOTBALL PREDICTION: Arkansas 44, Kansas State 35. Klein will run all over the place, but the Razorbacks will get quick scores through the air.
Bet on AT&T Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!
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arkansas razorbacks - collin klein - cotton bowl - cowboys stadium - jarius wright - kansas state wildcats - pinstripe bowl - ryan mallett - sugar bowl - tyler wilson
