Kansas State @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2015 ) Iowa State 35, Kansas State 38

Legendary Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is closing on 200 career coaching victories. He'll try for win No. 198 on Saturday when his Wildcats visit Iowa State in Big 12 Conference play.

The odds would seem to favor Snyder and company, who are 22-4 against Iowa State since 1990 and have won the last eight in a row, including three straight in Ames. However, Kansas State is winless in three games on the road so far this season, losing at Stanford (26-13), West Virginia (17-16) and Oklahoma (38-17). The Wildcats come in off a narrow 24-21 home win over Texas, a game that saw Kansas State score just three second-half points thanks in part to pair of fourth-quarter turnovers by quarterback Jesse Ertz. "Beats the tar out of a loss," Snyder said. "It is not so much a win than it is how. As long as we play well consistently, from start to finish, then we will be fine. But we did not do that (against Texas), and that is where my concerns are."

TV: Noon ET, FSN. LINE: Kansas State -6.5

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (4-3, 2-2 Big 12): Ertz played with a sore shoulder and was limited by what throws he could attempt in the win over Texas but still completed 20-of-27 passes for 171 yards and one interception. Junior running back Charles Jones leads a solid ground game, which rolled up 264 yards against the Longhorns, with 402 yards on 76 carries (5.3 avg.) and two touchdowns while Ertz is second with 371 rushing yards and six TDs. Nine players on defense have 20 or more tackles led by linebacker Elijah Lee's 58 stops while end Jordan Willis leads the Big 12 in sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (11.5).

ABOUT IOWA STATE (1-6, 0-4): The Cyclones come in off a bye week following back-to-back road losses at Oklahoma State (38-31) and Texas (27-6). Quarterbacks Joel Lanning and Jacob Park have combined to throw for 1,665 yards and 13 touchdowns while sophomore Mike Warren is averaging 70.9 yards per game on the ground and junior Allen Lazard has caught a team best 34 passes, including four for touchdowns. Linebacker Willie Harvey leads the defense with 46 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, while end Jhaustin Thomas tops the squad with three sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Snyder's 20 wins against Iowa State are the most by a current FBS coach against one opponent.

2. Kansas State leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally in rushing defense (94.9 ypg).

3 .Lazard has caught a pass in all 30 career games he's played which is also a school record for consecutive games with a reception.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 34, Iowa State 24