Kansas State vs. Auburn: Snyder and Malzahn Draw Wands For an Epic Wizard Duel

Kansas State hosts Auburn, in a top-20 inter-conference collision. For those keeping tabs on Auburn’s 2014 schedule, this may be their 7th toughest game. Here is a brief preview.

Wizard Duel… Bill Snyder built Kansas State from nothing into a national power, left, returned four years later and performed the feat again. Gus Malzahn won Gene Chizik a national title as a coordinator, came back to Auburn in 2013 as head coach and tweaked the smoldering carcass of the Tigers’ 3-9 2012 team into an SEC Champion. These are two of the nation’s best coaches on the field, not in the CEO sense.

How Good is Kansas State? The Wildcats always look underwhelming on paper. But Bill Snyder’s prowess is taken for granted. His well deployed JUCOs and two-star recruits get the job done, most of the time. Iowa State pushed them in a 32-28 win. Though, that was a collapse in one quarter and included a special teams touchdown. The Wildcats shut out the Cyclones in the second half and came back. The Cyclones are by no means Auburn, but KSU held them to 2.8 yards/carry.

How Good is Auburn? The Tigers were probably a 9-10 win team last year, that was spectacularly fortunate in one-score games. Some regression to the mean was expected, against a tough schedule, including Georgia and South Carolina from the East. After two games, the jury is still out. Arkansas hung with the Tigers through three quarters, before Auburn pulled away on a defensive touchdown. They struggled a bit throwing the ball, while steamrolling teams. Defense is still a concern.

Home Field On a Thursday Night… Obviously, home night games are an advantage. Though ADs have figured out how to play this whole short week thing. Both Kansas State and Auburn are coming in off a bye. Against the spread, Kansas State has been solid as an underdog, though they have been much better on the road and against Big 12 opponents.

Key… With two well coached teams, efficient football. Auburn has more talent. If Kansas State can play Snyder ball by converting third downs, stopping the other team from doing so, not turning the ball over and tightening up in the red zone, they can keep things close or pull off the upset.

Sustenance of Choice… Bill Snyder’s brain fuel is Taco Bell. Auburn’s secret weapon has been drinking beat juice.