Free College Football Picks Today: Kansas State Wildcats vs Texas Longhorns 11/5/22

Two of the Big 12 Conference’s top scoring defenses are set to square off at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday, as the No. 13 Kansas State University Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) host the University of Texas Longhorns (5-3, 3-2 Big 12).

The Longhorns are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 54.5. Texas is coming off a 41-34 loss at the hands of No. 11 Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium on October 22. Quinn Ewers threw for 319 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Bijan Robinson ran 24 times for 140 yards and a touchdown. He added one reception for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Xavier Worthy caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Kansas State beat No. 9 Oklahoma State 48-0 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium last Saturday. Will Howard was 21 of 37 for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Deuce Vaughn scored on the ground and through the air. He carried 22 times for 158 yards and a touchdown. Malik Knowles hauled in eight receptions for 113 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Longhorns won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 22-17 victory in November, their fifth straight win against Kansas State. Casey Thompson tossed one touchdown for Texas, as Roschon Johnson added a rushing TD.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Longhorns are averaging 36.4 points per game for the season, 22nd in FBS, and they are facing a Wildcats defense that has surrendered 17.3 PPG (11th). Meanwhile, Kansas State has scored 31.0 points a game this season, 57th in the country, and Texas is allowing 21.1 PPG (27th).

The Longhorns rank 47th in the country in passing yards per game (261.9) and 43rd in rushing (182.9), while the Wildcats are 55th in passing yards allowed per game (221.6) and 54th against the run (133.3).Kansas State has been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, averaging 228.0 yards per game (11th), while ranking 112th in passing yards (185.1). The Longhorns are allowing 249.3 passing yards (92nd) and 121.6 rushing yards per game (34th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through five games, Quinn Ewers has thrown for 11 touchdowns (5 INT) and 227.8 yards per game to lead Texas in passing. In two away games this season, he has six TDs (4 INT) and an average of 304.0 yards passing. Bijan Robinson leads the team in rushing with an average of 115.0 yards a game over eight games.

He’s also contributed to the passing game with 35.0 receiving yards a game. He has 11 touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Xavier Worthy is the Longhorns’ leading receiver with 63.8 yards a game and seven TDs. Adrian Martinez has four passing touchdowns with 129.6 yards per game through seven games to lead Kansas State. In four home games this season, he has thrown for two TDs and an average of 105.0 yards.

Deuce Vaughn has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 112.8 yards a game through eight games. He has six total touchdowns, five rushing and one receiving. Malik Knowles has been a key target in the Wildcats’ passing game. He has one touchdown and a 55.9 yard per game average through eight appearances.