Odds Are, K-State’s Overrated

All the numbers point to a renaissance for Kansas State’s football team.

There’s the Wildcats’ 6-0 record, their best start since 1910. They’re ranked No. 8, their highest ever. And there’s their defensive prowess - no team has allowed fewer yards (199.8) and fewer points (7.5) per game.

But are the Wildcats that good?

They’ll find out today, when they meet No. 2 Nebraska (6-0).

The oddsmakers don’t appear convinced of Kansas State’s apparent strength, having made the Cornhuskers 23-point favorites.

Possibly for good reasons. Kansas State hasn’t beaten Nebraska since 1968. Kansas State hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record this season, its six opponents combining for an 11-27 mark. Nebraska has the nation’s best rushing attack, averaging a remarkable 466.3 yards per game. And Nebraska will be at home.

“We obviously haven’t played anybody of Nebraska’s caliber,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “This will be a big step up.”

Despite all of Nebraska’s appar ent advantages, quarterback Tommie Frazier, who is 26-1 in regularseason starts and hasn’t lost a Big Eight game since 1992, his freshman year, believes the Wildcats will be very formidable.

“I think it’s a test to prove how good our offense is overall …,” said Frazier, who has thrown for seven touchdowns and run for nine. “We know we’re going to have a hard time running against them. … We need to see if we can go out and throw against them.”

In other games involving premiere teams, No. 5 Southern Cal (6-0) will be at No. 17 Notre Dame (5-2), No. 24 Wisconsin (2-2-1) at No. 11 Northwestern (5-1), No. 14 Virginia (6-2) at No. 16 Texas (4-1-1) and No. 19 Penn State (4-2) at No. 18 Iowa (5-0).

Southern Cal hasn’t beaten Notre Dame since 1982.

Coach John Robinson believes his Trojans are playing as well, if not better, than Notre Dame for the first time in several years.

“I see it as even,” he said. “Last time we were back there (at South Bend), it was not an even game.”