Troy vs Kansas State Odds: Wildcats Favored to Roll as Double-Digit Favorites

Kansas State got the season off to a dominating start with a 45-0 win over Southeast Missouri State. Will it be more of the same against Troy on Saturday? The Troy vs Kansas State odds have the Wildcats listed as the 15.5-point favorite. Keep an eye on that line because the majority of the early money is coming in on the favored Wildcats.

This is the second meeting between the teams. In 2003, Kansas State won 41-5 as a 38.5-point favorite. Expect a much closer affair this time around.

The last time Kansas State faced a team from the Sun Belt, it did not go well as Arkansas State won 35-31 as the 14.5-point underdog in 2020. The game finished over the 55.5-point total.

Since 2001, Kansas State is 11-2 against Sun Belt teams since 2001, but failed to cover in five of the last six matchups with five of those games going over the total.

This is Troy’s first game against a Big 12 team since losing to Oklahoma State 41-38 as a 13.5-point underdog in 2010. The Trojans are 2-10 outright and 6-6 against the spread versus the Big 12.

Four of the last five Kansas State games with a total under 51 finished under that total.

Kansas State is looking to start the season 2-0 for the fifth time in the last six years.

When making NCAAF bowl predictions, keep in mind that Kansas State has played in a bowl game nine times over the last 11 seasons.

Kansas State (+500) is third in the odds to win the Big 12 title. Troy (+340) has the best odds to win the Sun Belt.

Kansas State is ranked 16th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and 17th in the coaches poll with Troy receiving votes in the coaches’ poll. The Wildcats are priced at +12500 in the odds to win the national title.

Hitting the Ground Running

Coming off a 1000-yard season, Kimal Vidal is well on his way to getting there again after running for 248 yards in a season-opening win over Stephen F. Austin. He is the national leader in rushing yards per game.

It was his eighth career game with more than 100 rushing yards in his four seasons at Troy. In his only other previous matchup against a team from a Power-5 conference, Vidal had 48 yards on 12 carries in a 28-10 loss to Ole Miss in the 2022 season opener. Keep that in mind when looking at the Troy vs Kansas State odds.

Troy is 7-1 when Vidal has at least 100 yards on the ground.

He will be facing a Kansas State that allowed six yards on 26 rushing attempts last week.

Looking to Catch On

With the top three receivers from last year’s team gone, there are more opportunities for tight end Ben Sinnott and receiver RJ Garcia.

Sinnott’s career-high total of 89 yards came in a win over Baylor in 2022. He had 100 yards on five catches in the 2023 season opener. Garcia had eight catches for 76 yards in his first two seasons.

Against Southeast Missouri State, Garcia finished with 119 yards on five receptions with a touchdown. With Deuce Vaughn off to the NFL, DJ Giddens was the top rushing threat with 128 yards on 15 carries. That could play a role when it comes to the Troy vs Kansas State odds.

Last Meeting

Troy opened the 2003 meeting by scoring the game’s first five points before Kansas State, then ranked in the top 10 in both national polls, outscored the Trojans 41-0 for the rest of the game.

Eli Roberson threw for 234 yards and a TD and ran for three others in the victory.

What to Expect

Kansas State is 12-3 over the last 15 games against teams outside of the Power-5 conferences.

The Wildcats are 8-0 outright and 7-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings when listed as a favorite of 15 points or more.

Kansas State has covered four of its last five games at home and in five of its last six games overall.

Troy has covered its last six road games and takes a 10-game winning streak into the game.

Kansas State receivers Ty Bowman and Keagan Johnson are questionable for the game.

Kansas State was second in the Big 12 with a 9-4-1 record against the spread a season ago. The Wildcats were 5-1 against the NCAA football picks in 2022 as the home favorite. Keep that in mind when looking at the NCAA football schedule.

Troy covered in all four games last season as the road underdog and led the Sun Belt with an 11-3 ATS.

Kansas State had 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in the season opener. Troy did not allow a sack in last week’s victory with the Trojans leading the Sun Belt in total offense so this could be quite the interesting non-conference clash for Kansas State.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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