Kansas State Football Odds, Lines & Analysis for Season

Kansas State was the Big 12 football champion in a surprise in 2022 but not quite as good last year and then lost long-time starting quarterback Will Howard in the transfer market.

What to expect from the Wildcats in the new-look Big 12 in 2024? They are among the favorites on the college football odds to win the conference.

Expert Prediction: Over 8 wins as the Wildcats finish 9-3 – they have a realistic chance of reaching the Big 12 title game.

To reach Playoff: No -340 / Yes +260
To win Big 12: +370

Last Season

Kansas State finished 9-4 last year – all four losses by single digits — after knocking off No. 18 NC State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Avery Johnson, in his first collegiate start, threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and DJ Giddens had 152 rushing yards and one score as well.

Kansas State Quarterback

Johnson became the first true freshman quarterback in school history to win a bowl game.

He was the fifth true freshman starting quarterback in school history and the second to start a bowl game (Josh Freeman, 2006 Texas Bowl). Johnson finished the season with seven rushing touchdowns to tie the true freshman record (Deuce Vaughn, 2020) and tie for second among all freshmen.

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Chris Kleiman

Kleiman is truly one of college football’s best coaches.

Once inside an opponent’s 20-yard line, their conversion rate was 89.2%, which ranked second in the conference. Even more impressive was the fact that of the 58 scores in 65 opportunities, 51 went for touchdowns. Where the Wildcats hope to take a step forward this season under new offensive coordinator Conor Riley and quarterbacks coach/co-coordinator Matt Wells is in explosive plays.

“We’ve got to throw the ball a little more so that the offense or the running game does open up,” Kleiman said.

Offensive of the Wildcats

The Wildcats return six starters on offense and eight on defense in 2024 but must replace four offensive linemen. Gone are tight end Ben Sinnott, a second-round NFL Draft pick by the Washington Commanders, and All-America guard Cooper Beebe, who went in the third round to the Dallas Cowboys.

Defensive of the Wildcats

“Defensive line and secondary are our strength in numbers and experience,” Klieman said. “We’re going to rotate seven or eight guys in the defensive line, and we have a lot of depth there. In the secondary we’ve got both of our returning corners back, and then all of our safeties return. We’ve just got to continue to develop the depth at linebacker.”

K-State should run the table in its non-conference schedule and opens Big 12 play at BYU on Sept. 21. The Cats’ conference road games are at Colorado, West Virginia, Houston and Iowa State. Not too bad. They avoid preseason favorite Utah in the regular season.