Avery Johnson will step onto the field today at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, not as the true freshman, not as the backup, but as the true full-time starter for Kansas State. Since the moment Johnson signed at K-State, players, coaches, and fans have been waiting to see Johnson in full form and to see what he can do for this program.
Chris Kieman has been almost perfect in non-conference play for Kansas State, and he has been unbeatable when facing FCS teams. UT Martin is coming into a hostile environment at Kansas State and the Wildcats are ready to show what they are made of, even with a lot of departures in the offseason, both to the transfer portal and to the NFL.
This first game will be a great opportunity for the team to come out and gel together. It will be great for Johnson to get more and more comfortable in the pocket and build a connection with the wide receivers. For the new players, it will be a good opportunity for them to come in and show out to Klieman and the rest of the coaching staff.
Let's check out the odds for UT Martin and Kansas State in their Week 1 matchup in Manhattan.
UT Martin vs. No. 18 Kansas State odds, spread, and total
Odds are available in the FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- UT Martin +37.5 (-105)
- Kansas State -37.5 (-115)
Total
- 56.5 (over -110/under -110)
UT Martin vs. No. 18 Kansas State final prediction
Kansas State is probably going to come out and dominate this game, but they are expected to. The biggest thing to watch is how they come to play together. This won't be much of a test for Kansas State, but if they come out and show any struggle to begin with, questions will be raised.
The offensive line will be the biggest storyline to watch on whether or not they can protect Johnson and give the running backs holes to run through. The wide receivers are another group to watch during the game to see what kind of connection they have with Johnson. Finally, the defense can be watched, but again, the level of the opponent will be tough to truly judge, as long as UT Martin isn't scoring double digits, everyone will be able to breathe easy in Manhattan.