Kickoff: Thursday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: West Virginia -2.5, Total: 57.5

No. 12 Kansas State looks to bounce back from a tough loss at TCU when it travels to Morgantown to take on slumping West Virginia.

The Wildcats (6-3 ATS) were throttled in Fort Worth two weeks ago by a 41-20 score, but are well-rested after a bye week. They have shown the ability to bounce back after a loss in the past two seasons, going 6-0 ATS after one or more consecutive defeats. The Mountaineers (6-4 ATS) nearly got a huge victory against TCU two weeks ago, but the loss lingered as the team was crushed 33-16 at Texas in the last game on Nov. 8. West Virginia has not done a good job with extra rest under Dana Holgorsen, as the team is 1-8 ATS when coming off a bye during his tenure. The Wildcats have dominated this series since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12, winning the two games by a score of 90-26. Last year, KSU prevailed at home by a 35-12 score, as WR Tyler Lockett caught eight passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Third-down efficiency was a huge difference in the game, as the Wildcats converted 8-of-13 third downs, while West Virginia was 4-of-16. There are no new injuries for either team in this matchup.

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The Wildcats rank 20th in FBS scoring (36.2 PPG), 41st in passing (265.2 YPG) and 76th in rushing (157.3 YPG). Leading the way for the KSU offense is QB Jake Waters (2,169 passing yards, 406 rushing yards, 20 total TD). The senior quarterback does a great job of running the offense, and has thrown 11 TD and only 1 INT in the past six contests. RB Charles Jones (95 carries, 430 yards, 11 TD) is not going to break off long runs, but he does a great job of grinding out carries. The rushing game does a nice job of setting up the air attack, which is blessed with one of the best receivers in the country. WR Tyler Lockett (60 catches, 878 yards, 6 TD) is a complete receiver who can catch the ball both over the middle, but over the top as well. WR Curry Sexton (53 catches, 723 yards, 4 TD) has emerged as a terrific No. 2 option. He is also the guy that Waters goes to on third downs, as he has shown the ability to make the tough catch. The defense, a weakness last season, has arguably become the strength of this team. The unit allows 21.1 PPG, good for 21st in the nation. Leading the way is LB Jonathan Truman (85 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 FR), who is not the fastest or the strongest player on the field, but he is a smart football player who seems to always be involved on the tackle. Safety Dante Barnett (54 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 INT) and CB Danzel McDaniel (42 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack) are one of the best defensive back duos in the conference, and both do a tremendous job of playing against the run. McDaniel will see a lot of time against star receiver Kevin White, and he will need to use his physicality to get White off his route.

For the Mountaineers, it all starts with their passing game, which ranks 12th in the nation with 318 YPG. They also rank 35th in FBS scoring (34.1 PPG) and 51st in rushing (184.2 YPG). Quarterback Clint Trickett (3,173 pass yards, 18 TD, 8 INT) has improved greatly this year, completing 68.3 percent of his passes, which is a huge jump from his 52.8% completion rate in 2013. In last year's loss in Manhattan, KS, he completed 15-of-28 passes for 227 yards (8.1 YPA), 0 TD and 0 INT. The ground game featuring RBs Wendell Smallwood (128 carries, 585 yards, 2 TD) and Rushel Shell (127 carries, 560 yards, 6 TD) has been solid this season for the Mountaineers. The ability for West Virginia to run the ball is huge, as it opens things up for Trickett and the passing game. WR Kevin White (91 rec, 1,207 yards, 8 TD) is one of the top receivers in the country, using his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame to dominate corners at the line of scrimmage. White has been huge for the Mountaineers all season, but WR Mario Alford (53 catches, 710 yards, 7 TD) has had some big performances too, with at least 100 yards in three games, including a 7-catch, 136-yard output against Oklahoma State on Oct. 25. The defense of the Mountaineers has been terrible the past three seasons, but the unit has taken some positive steps this year. LB Nick Kwiatkoski (79 tackles, 9 TFL) and S Karl Joseph (70 tackles, 2 TFL) are the leaders of the unit. Joseph has been a star since his freshman year, making plays everywhere on the field. Senior DL Shaquille Riddick (6 sacks, 23 tackles, 9 TFL) has become a menace to opposing quarterbacks.