We are going to back Kansas State as our free college football sports pick for Saturday, October 1. Be sure to check back daily for additional free sports picks and betting advice in baseball, football and basketball.
Kansas State continues to improve under veteran head coach Bill Snyder, and the Wildcats invade Morgantown boasting the following results: 41-17 ATS in their last 59 conference games, 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 October affairs, 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 games versus .501 or greater opposition, 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 road games versus teams with a winning home record and 16-5 ATS as road underdogs (with 8 outright upsets).
This game also presents a significant coaching mismatch in favor of Kansas State, and coach Snyder is a perfect 4-0 ATS against West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen, including three outright upsets. The Mountaineers are a money-burning 8-15 ATS as home favorites under Holgorsen, including 0-7 ATS when laying less than nine points.
Kansas State’s strength is once again its defense that is allowing 11.0 points per game at 3.8 yards per play to teams that would combine to average 4.6 yards per play against a mediocre defensive squad.
The Mountaineers’ attack is 0.7 yards per play better than average (6.7 yards per play against teams that would combine to allow 6.0 yards per play), which gives Kansas State’s stop unit a nominal 0.1 yards per play advantage from the line of scrimmage.
The key matchup involves Kansas State’s solid ground attack that is averaging 198 yards per game at 5.5 yards per rush attempt against the Mountaineers’ suspect run defense that has been 0.4 yards per rush play worse than average in 2016 (5.0 yards per rush play to teams that would combine to average 4.6 yards per rush attempt).
And, I generally like to invest on college football underdogs that possess a strong defense and are capable of moving the ball on the ground. Kansas State fits squarely within that description, thereby making the Wildcats a quality investment and a solid sports pick.
Grab the generous points with Kansas State as Oskeim Sports’ Free Pick for Saturday, October 1, 2016!