How to Watch: Nevada at Kansas State

What K-State did not need this weekend: a high-powered offense coming to town with Skylar Thompson nursing a big owie. But that’s what the Cats are going to have to contend with Saturday afternoon, and Vegas doesn’t like their chances.

The Game

The Kansas State Wildcats (2-0, rv/rv) host the Nevada Wolf Pack (2-0, rv/rv).

For the second week in a row, K-State is facing a brand new opponent. The Wildcats are 2-0 against UNLV, though, so their continued dominance over the Casino State is at risk.

Nevada breezed through their week two contest, also against an FCS opponent; the Wolf Pack crushed Idaho State 49-10, racking up 586 yards of offense. If there’s one bright spot K-State can spot from that game, it’s that Nevada gave up 145 rushing yards to the Bengals. However, with Thompson down and specific statements from coach Jay Norvell about focusing on Deuce Vaughn, K-State may need Will Howard to effectively pass the ball to win this game. Carson Strong is going to be a handful for the Wildcat defense, as well; he’s already thrown for almost 700 yards this season, which is more than twice as many yards as K-State has through the air. Total.

Nevada beat Cal in their opener, but that’s no big deal; the Wolf Pack are 3-1 against the Golden Bears since moving to FBS back in 1992. Norvell is in his fifth season at the helm, and has compiled a record of 27-22. That mundane tally is a big misleading, however, as Nevada was only 3-9 in his first year; the Wolf Pack are 24-13 since.

Wildcat fans are, of course, familiar with Norvell, at least in passing. He spent three years as an assistant at Iowa State during K-State’s rise to glory in the mid-1990s, three more years at Nebraska at the end of Snyder I, and then seven years at Oklahoma followed by a year at Texas. That’s 14 years as an assistant in the Big 8/12. At Texas, as most of you know, he worked alongside one Christopher Vaughn, so he’s known Deuce a long time. He was also a a graduate assistant at Iowa in 1986-87, so he could very well have been on the short list of potential assistant hires when Bill Snyder came to Manhattan.

Kickoff

Saturday, September 18, 1:00pm CT at Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000) in Manhattan, Kansas.

Tickets

There are still some seats available through the ticket office; singles going for $50-65 on the east sideline and corners for $30-40.

Fans coming to the game should be aware of a construction tangle. Kimball Road is being worked on between the stadium and Seth Child. Incoming traffic will be diverted to Claflin Road.

Odds

Nevada opened as, and remains, a 2-point favorite with the total at 50.5. That suggests a 26-24 Wolf Pack win. OddsShark is ridiculously pessimistic about K-State’s chances, projecting a 27-10 final.

Television

The game will not be available over standard television or cable networks. See below.

Radio

As always, Wyatt Thompson, Stan Weber, and Matt Walters will be on hand on the K-State Sports Network as well as via satellite on Sirius 156/XM 207/SXM App 967.

Internet Streaming

ESPN+ has the game, with Shawn Kenney, former Wildcat star Barrett Brooks, and Shane Sparks on the call. Audio available via kstatesports.com. Live stats provided by K-State Sports.

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