Kennesaw State Predictions: Does KSU Pose a Serious Threat to WKU?
Roundtable: We ask our staff for their weekly prediction as usual. But we also want to know...does KSU scare you? How do you feel about the overall race now that LU lost?
Western Kentucky Football has had two weeks to recuperate from a challenging opening stanza to its season. Bye weeks are always nice, so they’ve been taking this opportunity to get some people healthy, practice some young guys, recruit, and recuperate mentally and physically.
Now, WKU (5-2, 3-0 CUSA) draws Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 CUSA), a historically solid program with a good coaching staff recently transitioned from the FCS.
Before last Wednesday, this game felt a complete cake walk against a hopeless Kennesaw State. However, when you beat Liberty…possibilities immediately open up.
Although Liberty has been playing with fire all season, it was not remotely possible in just about everyone’s mind that Kennesaw State could randomly shock Liberty.
This completely changes the dynamic for this one. WKU beat Sam Houston State last time out. Kennesaw State has one win. But beating Liberty means they could possibly beat anyone.
So we ask our staff a few questions:
1. KSU just beat Liberty. Do they now scare you?
2. How does the Liberty loss shape the rest of CUSA race?
3. Prediction
Predictions
Matt McCay (6-1)
Kennesaw State was a total joke in my mind before last week. That is now untrue and I respect what KSU is doing. Maybe they are a decent addition. Remember, WKU went 0-12 in its first season in the FBS. Kennesaw State is ahead of the Tops thus far in their FBS transition.
Big picture, with Liberty losing, WKU is now considered the second most likely conference champion in all of the FBS. With a win against the other team that has played the best football in CUSA in SHSU, that gives the Tops a huge leg up. JSU still has to play all three of the teams still in contention (SHSU, LU, WKU). So does Liberty. SHSU has two left, but again has the loss to WKU. It’s in no way a foregone conclusion, but it’s WKU’s conference to lose. Period. Win, Tops.
As far as this game, yeah, Kennesaw State was impressive against a Liberty team that has frankly played like crap against a crap schedule. They still may pull it together, but I don’t hold tons of stock in the win, other than a “come to Jesus” moment in realizing that Kennesaw State is not a complete joke. I still think the Topper defense handles the Owls, and I think the Topper offense executes enough to easily blow out KSU.
Give me WKU 38-KSU 7.
Alex Sherfield (7-0)
It was a wild week in CUSA after the Kennesaw State upset over Liberty. On any given game day, the unexpected can happen at anytime and the Owls capitalized on a bad night for the CUSA favorite. I don’t think Wednesday would be another historical moment for KSU as they’re not even close to being a favorite for another upset. WKU is playing its best football currently after a start to the season that made some early uncomfortable questions. I fully believe that WKU should take care of business at home against the Owls.
We’re now in the thick of the CUSA race. At this moment, the Liberty loss is a HUGE favor for the Hilltoppers as now they have a clear shot to bring a conference championship to Bowling Green. However, we still have pivotal matchups against New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, Liberty, and Jacksonville State, and those aren’t to be taken lightly, either. My main concern is the last two games of the season as they draw close to an 8-0 conference slate. For right now, we need to focus at the games ahead one moment at a time. I’m confident in our efforts going forward especially with seeing Caden Veltkamp grow each game to be the playmaking quarterback he’s shaping up to be.
This is going to be a blowout and really quick. Outside of the Liberty game, this team is among the worst in the country when it comes to scoring efficiency. Their defense is not the best at times, put the Tops should expect to play mistake free football for this one. It should be a comfortable win.
Give me WKU 48, Kennesaw State 16.
Jake Gary (7-0)
Kennesaw State just upset Liberty in their latest game for their first win of the season. In the game before that, they only scored a total of five points vs MTSU. Everyone will be wondering, “Can Kennesaw St go on a run and beat a top tier CUSA team in back to back weeks?” I don’t think they will. Tops have been incredibly consistent against everyone that isn’t Boston College or Alabama. Even beating Sam Houston before the bye week by 17 in a performance with a great close out in the fourth Quarter (was impressive).
I wish I could say all eyes will be on this matchup but there’s a different CUSA game that will overshadow this one on Wednesday night: Liberty vs Jax State. Tops will need to be focused to put away Kennesaw, because a team like them is most dangerous when overlooked and not on the main stage. Still, I think the Tops win this one - but maybe don’t put up as much points as Kennesaw rides the high from their upset.
Western Kentucky 31-Kennesaw St 13
#GoTops
Devin Stewart (6-0)
Tops on Top. I say this one will be closer than many think, though.
WKU 27-Kennesaw State 13.
David McCay (6-1)
On paper, Western should dominate Kennesaw State as WKU leads in all statistics on offense, defense, and individually. The only statistics we do not lead are on special teams as Kennesaw’s kicker is 11-of-11 in field goals this season.
I just cannot see the Owls being able to score enough points in this one against a stingy WKU defense. This should be a black (WKU is wearing black uniforms), red and white blowout. A true nightmare on Halloween Eve, Western Kentucky 70-Kennesaw State 14.
Bret Combest (3-0)
I think Liberty is still stacked. They just got caught up in a bad game. Kennesaw State was hot; Liberty had tons of penalties. It does add some flair to the match-up but only because both teams are hot and coming off wins. But we better be ready for a fired up team coming to WKU. I think (Kennesaw beating Liberty) shows to WKU that Liberty can be beaten (which WKU can do when we go there in November)
WKU wins but it's closer than we like, 35 to 14.
Fletcher Keel (1-0)
Conclusion: Tops in a Cake Walk
David McCay called for the Tops to score 70. I don’t know if the rest of us see that one happening, but we definitely think WKU should win by multiple scores. This season has been pretty easy to pick, to be honest. Only Toledo and Boston College were tossups, and every other game, we’ve thought the pick was pretty obvious. Sam Houston State we all thought would be close, but it’s fair to say we’ve seen enough from this WKU team to believe in what they’re doing thus far this year. We all picked Sam Houston, and it ended up not being as close as we thought it could be.
This game is no different. As the conference favorite, WKU should have no trouble finding a way to beat Kennesaw State, a brand new FBS team. One way or another, win the game, Tops.
Although Liberty and Jacksonville State may attract more eye balls as the marquee matchup of the week in CUSA, eyeballs in Bowling Green, especially the ones inside L.T. Smith Stadium, are hopefully glued to this one and not looking elsewhere. WKU wins Conference USA if they go undefeated in conference play. Other games don’t matter if the Tops take care of their business each week.
It’s getting down to the nitty gritty. Tune in to ESPN2 at 6:30 PM Central Wednesday. Better yet, show up and “Stand Up and Cheer” on the Tops.
GO TOPS! BEAT KENNESAW STATE!
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