A battle between Wildcats highlights the early slate of college football games for Week 3. No. 20 Arizona (2-0) will take on No. 14 Kansas State (2-0) as each team begins Big 12 play this Friday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. ET.
Arizona stumbled against FCS Northern Arizona in Week 2, coming away with a 22-10 victory after trailing 10-3 in the second quarter. It was a quiet performance from a team that put up 61 points in their Week 1 win over New Mexico.
Meanwhile, Kansas State moved up the polls with a come-from-behind victory against Tulane, scoring 14 points in the final frame en route to a 34-27 result. RB DJ Giddens had a strong showing, notching 177 yards from scrimmage with a receiving touchdown.
How will Arizona fare in its first game against a conference opponent as a member of the Big 12? Let’s take a look at the latest odds and dig into my Arizona vs Kansas State prediction and best bets.
Arizona vs Kansas State Odds
College football odds are current as of Monday, Sept. 9, and courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Arizona (+210) vs Kansas State (-260)
- Spread: Arizona +7 (-110) vs Kansas State -7 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 56.5 (-110) / Under 56.5 (-110)
Arizona vs Kansas State Prediction
Arizona 34, Kansas State 30
Arizona may have fallen short of expectations in Week 2, but this team is much better than advertised. QB Noah Fifita is a genuine Heisman candidate, as is WR Tetairoa McMillan, who had 10 receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats’ season-opening win against New Mexico.
Kansas State’s defense held up relatively well against the rush in Week 2, but it allowed Tulane QB Darian Mensah to air it out for 342 yards on just 19 completions. Limiting Fifita and McMillan will have to be priority No. 1, but I’m not at all confident in this secondary.
Zona’s defense could be the deciding factor in this contest, and so far, it’s been inconsistent. New Mexico scored 39 in Week 1 before the Wildcats limited Northern Arizona to 10, and while the latter is an FCS program, it scored 66 points against its Week 1 opponent.
Arizona owns the longest active winning streak in college football (nine) and has the offensive firepower to punch a serious hole in this Kansas State defense. I expect these Cats to pull off the upset in what should be a high-scoring showdown.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Arizona vs Kansas State Best Bets
Arizona Moneyline (+210) @ Kansas State
I understand why this line is skewed so heavily in favor of Kansas State — beating Tulane is no easy feat, and it’s much more impressive than squeaking by an FCS opponent — but this feels like an overreaction. Arizona remains a great team, and this is far from a favorable matchup for K-State.
Take the points if you aren’t comfortable going for the outright win, but I’m calling the upset and grabbing the Arizona moneyline at (+210) with my college football bet of the day.
Over 56.5 Points (-110)
I’m looking for a shootout here. Zona’s passing attack will generate plenty of points against a weak secondary, but K-State can win on the ground and control time of possession. I expect this line to increase as the week goes on, so get in now while it remains relatively low at 56.5 points.
