#6 Arkansas vs #8 Kansas State In Cotton Bowl

Hmmmm...Interesting.  Im looking at a high scoring game in this one.  Two great offense's, against two ok defense's.  From what I have seen, and heard Kansas State has a very good team with excellent fans.  Hopefully we get to know a few of their fans as we go over this game for the next month.  I would love to hear what you guys think of this matchup, and if there is any Kansas State fans reading this, please by all means comment, and join in the conversation.

Didnt mean to create two of these threads...Just ignore one of them cause my computer screwed up.  Sorry about that.

This one has the higher score, so we'll just use this thread, and ignore the other Arkansas K St thread.  Any way I'll get this somewhat started....From SB Nation...

Arkansas Vs. Kansas State, 2012 Cotton Bowl: Game Features Top Matchup Outside BCS

The Cotton Bowl may not be as prestigious as it was during the pre-BCS days, but it might just be the biggest and best non-BCS bowl today. This year's game, which will be held on Jan. 6, will feature the top matchup outside of the BCS. In No. 6-ranked Arkansas and No. 8-ranked Kansas State, Cotton Bowl chairman Tommy Bain thinks his game will be one of the best in the country (via the Kansas City Star).

"We consider ourselves just like a BCS bowl," Bain said. "This year we will have No. 6 vs. No. 8. That’s the third-best matchup outside of the national championship game. … I think fans are going to appreciate probably the finest stadium in the world. It will be a championship-type atmosphere. I think everyone will really enjoy it."

I would definately have to agree with Mr Bain on this one.  Kansas State got screwed in my opinion by the BCS with a horrific V Tech getting in the sugar bowl, even though they did not beat one ranked team, and they only played 1 ranked team the whole season, and got blown out by them twice. 

This has to be the next best thing for them playing another top ten team in the cotton.  I look forward to some nice back, and forth talk with them this next month.  We get to know some cool people every year doing so, and this year should be no different.  Here is a little more from the article on the two teams...

Arkansas:

The Razorbacks had been among the country's hottest teams before falling to No. 1-ranked LSU in their season finale, costing Arkansas a spot in the SEC Championship game. They had been riding a seven-game winning streak, with their only other loss coming against Alabama, who will face off against LSU in the National Championship Game.

During the winning streak, Arkansas beat Texas A&M, Auburn and South Carolina, all of whom were ranked in the Top 15 when the games were played. In contrast to Razorbacks teams of the past, this one does it mostly through the air. Their 307.8 yards passing per game is the 13th best average in the country and their 37.4 points scored per game is 15th best. Quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for 3,422 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Kansas State:

Their wasn't necessarily much expected of Kansas State this year, but Bill Snyder managed to turn the program around faster than most expected. After going just 13-12 in his first two seasons after being rehired, the Wildcats went 10-2 this year and nearly snuck into the Sugar Bowl.

Snyder got the Wildcats out to a 7-0 start this year before dropping back-to-back games to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, both of whom were ranked in the Top 10 at the time. Kansas State rebounded to win their final three games, including a four-overtime win over Texas A&M and at Texas, who was ranked No. 23 at the time. 

Kansas State is led by quarterback Collin Klein, who passed for 12 touchdowns and ran for 26 more. He actually led the team in rushing with 1,099 yards.

Seems to me like we are set up for one heck of a game.  Not to mention we will have the attention of the whole nation, as our game is the only on the schedule on Jan 6.  Lets put on a show for em!

Heres the link to the story,,there is a couple stories on the subject actually...
http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-footba
ll/2011/12/5/2613048/cotton-bowl-20
12-arkansas-kansas-state

I still feel like we got shafted because of a dumb BCS rule. I'm thinking K State feels the same way. Oh well, let's go prove it on the field and end up ranked top 5! Go Hogs!

Two great offense's, against two ok defense's.

You must grade defense on a curve.  Neither of these defenses are very good.  Interestingly, KState is a very good running team, matching up against Arkansas' lousy run defense.  On the other side, Arkansas has a very good pass offense matching up against KState's pitiful pass defense.  I put the over/under at 85.  It really is tough to predict.  Arkansas is probably a little better on defense, but KState is probably a little more balanced on offense.  Should be a fun game to watch with 2 prolific offenses doing what they want most of the game.

You must grade defense on a curve.  Neither of these defenses are very good.

Never said they were very good.  I said they were ok, meaning not good. 

Lets look at a few stats...

Stats from NCAA.com

Offense

Total Offense

Arkansas ranks 27th in the nation with 445 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 96th in the nation with 343 yds/gm

Advantage Arkansas

Rushing Offense

Arkansas ranks 81st in the nation with 138 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 29th in the nation with 194 yds/gm

Advantage K State

Passing Offense

Arkansas ranks 13th in the nation with 308 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 109th in the nation with 150 yds/gm

Advantage Arkansas

Scoring Offense

Arkansas averages 37 pts/gm
Kansas St averages 33 pts/gm

Advantage Arkansas

First Downs

Arkansas averages 22/gm
Kansas St averages 20/gm

Sacks Allowed

Arkansas allows 2/gm
Kansas St allows 2/gm

3rd down conversion %

Arkansas averages 42% conversion on 3rd downs
Kansas St averages 44% conversion on 3rd downs

4th down conversion %

Arkansas averages 73% conversion on 4th down
Kansas St averages 78% conversion on 4th down

Defense

Total Defense

Arkansas ranks 51st allowing 371 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 74th allowing 399 yds/gm

Advantage Arkansas

Rush Defense

Arkansas ranks 79th allowing 174 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 39th allowing 131 yds/gm

Advantage Kansas St

Pass Defense 

Arkansas ranks 27th allowing 197 yds/gm
Kansas St ranks 104th allowing 267 yds/gm

Advantage Arkansas

Scoring Defense

Arkansas allows 23pts/gm
Kansas St allows 28pts/gm

Advantage Arkansas

Opponents 3rd down conversion %

Arkansas 38%
Kansas St 39%

Opponents 4th down conversion %

Arkansas 50%
Kansas St 55%

Opponents First Downs

Arkansas allows 19/gm
Kansas St allows 21/gm

Sacks

Arkansas averages 2/gm
Kansas St averages 3/gm

Special Teams

Kickoff Return

Arkansas averages 23 yds/kickoff
Kansas St averages 25 yds/kickoff

Kick return defense

Arkansas allows 22 yds/kick return
Kansas St allows 20 yds/kick return

Punt Returns

Arkansas averages 13 yds/ punt return
Kansas St averages 9 yds/ punt return

Could not find either teams punt return defense on NCAA website

Net Punting

Arkansas averages 37 yds/ punt
Kansas St averages 37 yds/ punt

Turnovers

Interceptions Thrown

Arkansas 7
Kansas St 5

Passes Intercepted

Arkansas 11
Kansas St 18

Fumbles Lost

Arkansas 12
Kansas St 8

Fumbles Recovered

Arkansas 8
Kansas St 8

Penalties

Arkansas averages 6 penalties/gm for 46 yds/gm
Kansas St averages 5 penalties/gm for 36 yds/gm

Strength of schedule (this is the ELO_CHESS SOS that the BCS uses from the Sagarin ratings)

Arkansas SOS- 4th

Kansas St SOS- 5th

Its pretty even on paper when you look at it..Only two teams that matchup any closer imo would be LSU, and Alabama.  Should be a fun game to watch for the nation.

I expect us to win by a couple of touchdowns simply because our recievers will destroy their awful pass defense.

Arkansas Fans. Check this song out.  Kansas State was talking too much trash against us Hogs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1C0S6aBBsM 

GOOO HOOOOGGGGSSSS

You left off one Stat..

Bobby Petrino-Head Coach Arkansas
Bill Snyder-Head Coach Kansas State

Advantage..Bill Snyder and KSU! Head coach of the Year!

As for our horrible pass defense you speak of..we faced 4 of the top 6 passers yardage wise this year...including heisman winner....the stat is a little scewed...

We can also pass the ball better than you think..we jsut don't have too..

KSU wins close one..31-28.

I expect us to win by a couple of touchdowns simply because our recievers will destroy their awful pass defense.

Baylor destroyed our pass defense...yet KSU came out on top. 

OSU destroyed our pass defense...yet KSU was right there with a chance to tie with one more pass completion at the end of the game

Texas Tech destroyed our pass defense...KSU won on the road

A brief comparrison of the only common opponent, Texas A&M  (not saying common opponent is indicative of how the game will go) but...

                           Texas A&M    VS      Arkansas                     Texas A&M    VS    Kansas State

Total Offense yds       628                       581                             482                       411


The "horrible D"  that Kansas State has allowed 146 yards of offense less than Arkansas did to A&M

OH Yeah, one other thing, the KSU and A&M game included 4 Overtimes!

The only point I'm making is a lot of people are attacking how bad KSU's defense is and saying that Arkansas is going to win by "several scores"  Just sayin it probably isn't going to happen.  I expect less than a one score win for whichever team wins this game.  I'm thinking KSU by 3, but they gotta force some turnovers to come out with the W

There's a lot more to this team that crappy pass defense.  And like Catfan said KSU played almost the entire top 5 passer's this year including the Heisman winner so to go simply off the pass defense rating your getting a small piece of the story there.


Good luck and I can't wait for possibly one of the best bowl games of the season!

Go CATS

41-38

   ImAKSUCat and Catfan, you are both good posters. I feel like you guys got screwed out of the Sugar Bowl, but I'm glad we get to meet in the Cotton Bowl. This is going to be the best game of the bowl season. It's going to be a hard fought close ballgame that will be won by the team that is better prepared and wants it more. I believe the Hogs will win but it's not going to be easy.

I feel like you guys got screwed out of the Sugar Bowl, but I'm glad we get to meet in the Cotton Bowl

couldn't agree more..we would have rolled Michigan..I'd much rather play a good team even if it is a non BCS bowl and we have shot at losing...and seeing Jerry's crib is worth it as well.

Hawgwildbomber:

I was a little "butthurt" about being passed over by the idiots in charge of the Sugar Bowl selection.  However the entire time I've been more excited about the matchup that we have coming up in the Cotton Bowl with the Hogs.  This bowl game is going to be a more "premier" game than 2 out of the 5 BCS bowls for sure, but the Cotton Bowl traditionally is better than at least one or 2 anyway.  

Realistically, the Sugar Bowl should be KSU and Arkansas.  We got screwed over, and you guys never even had a chance at a BCS bid because of some extremely weird and unusual technicalities.  The BCS is screwed and whether or not you like it, we still ended up with what I think is going to be a great treat for fans of college football no matter who your team is to watch here next Friday evening.

This game and OSU vs Stanford are the two games I'm looking forward to the most (outside of my beloved 'Clones in the ever popular Pinstripe bowl). 

 I will be most intesrested to see how Klein performs against the Hogs defense.  He's been a big part of their success this year  and I believe he can chew up a suspect run defense.  

The other side of the ball could get pretty wild,  I don't see a lot K-state success stopping the Hogs pass attack.   It's been awhile ago,  and ISU was playing best ball of the year at end of season - but K-state stuggled to beat a 6-6 Cyclone team , ISU actually had more yards on the ground and total.    I wish my fellow Big 12 brothers luck - but I see Arkansas taking this one 32- 24

Go Cats !

Can't say I'm terribly worried.  Arkansas pretty much plays the Big 12 All-Offense-No-Defense game as well as anyone that's actually in that conference.  If we were playing a team with KSU's offense and a real SEC defense (ie, more like LSU's or Alabama's than ours) I'd be very very worried.  Could KSU win?  Absolutely.  But I think Arkansas will outscore them.  But I look for it to be like that Baylor-Washington game the other day in terms of points scored.

This will be a great game, as many others have said.  It's not rocket science realizing that 2 of the best fan bases & teams will square off for all the cotton.

I'm hoping my beloved Hogs can bring home the trophy - it would be our 3rd(if I'm not mistaken).

KSU is a worthy opponent, and I appreciate all their classy fans.  Snyder is a great coach and topnotch leader for the mildcats.



GO HOGS GO!     

I think the "Hawgs" will eat K State's lunch when they take them to the "woodshed" GO Hogs.....SEC SEC SEC !!!