RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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MANHATTAN — Kansas State will kick off the Collin Klein era by welcoming Nicholls to Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, in a Week 1 college football game.
The game is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+ .
Whether you're looking for kickoff information, injury updates, betting odds, key matchups or score predictions , this guide has everything you need to know before the Wildcats take the field.
We'll update this story throughout the week with the latest injury news, coach comments, betting line movement, and game-day developments leading up to kickoff between the Wildcats and Colonels .
Buy tickets to Kansas State vs Nicholls
MONDAY
Collin Klein, a former standout quarterback for the Wildcats, will make his head coaching debut at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29.
The Wildcats will pay the Colonels, an FCS program, a $500,000 guarantee payment for the contest.
Nicholls is coming off a 44-10 win over Mississippi Valley State in Week 0 of the college football season.
Collin Klein has high expectations for his debut season, with K-State having the fourth-best odds to win the Big 12 , due largely to a favorable schedule. Quarterback Avery Johnson returns for his third season as the program's starter.
Collin Klein and players will be made available to the media at the Vanier Football Complex at around 10:30 a.m. to discuss K-State vs. Nicholls. Keep this page bookmarked for updates throughout the week from Manhattan.
Kansas State vs Nicholls
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5
Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT
TV: None
Streaming: ESPN+
Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas
Spread: Kansas State by 41 1/2
Over/under: 55 1/2
Watch Kansas State vs Nicholls on ESPN+
What time does Kansas State play Nicholls?
The Wildcats and Colonels kick off at 6 p.m. CT from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas.
What channel is Kansas State vs Nicholls on?
The Kansas State vs Nicholls game in Manhattan will be available exclusively on ESPN+ .
Kansas State vs Nicholls betting odds
Kansas State is a 41 1/2-point favorite
55 1/2 points
KSU (N/A), Nicholls (+9000)
Kansas State injury report
Big 12 teams aren't required to release availability reports for non-conference games, but we'll see if Klein provides injury updates during his Monday media availability and during his weekly radio show.
We know Kansas State will be without starting left tackle John Pastore for the season after sustaining a lower leg injury during fall camp. Left guard Tanner Morley was a limited participant in K-State's most recent open practice on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Kansas State vs Nicholls biggest storyline
Collin Klein makes Kansas State head coaching debut
Kansas State's favorite son is home. After two years as Texas A&M's offensive coordinator, Collin Klein returns to lead the Wildcats after Chris Klieman's sudden retirement back in December. Klein is set up for quick success, having quarterback Avery Johnson, whom he recruited to K-State, back as his starter. A night under the new LED lights at Bill Snyder Family Stadium should turn into one to celebrate, hoping K-State gets off to a much better start than it had a year ago.
Kansas State vs Nicholls key matchup
Kansas State's offensive line vs. Nicholls' defensive line
If the Wildcats are going to have a good season, they'll need to feel good about what they have along the offensive line. That's become a big question in recent weeks after left tackle John Pastore was ruled out for the season. Nicholls was among the FCS' worst when getting after the passer and allowed 176.3 yards on the ground per game. Nothing from this game will make you feel like the line is 100% fine, but Kansas State needs to come out of this game making sure the group isn't as big a concern as it already is.
Kansas State vs Nicholls prediction
Prediction: Kansas State 49, Nicholls 6
Kansas State will want to create some fireworks in Collin Klein's first game back as the Wildcats' play-caller. Look for quarterback Avery Johnson to have a big game, particularly when scrambling, maybe more than he has in recent years. The defense will want to prove something right away, which should bode well against a team that has struggled at the FCS level in recent years. North Dakota, which challenged K-State last year as an FCS program, is a lot better than who the Wildcats are playing this year.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_ , contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State vs Nicholls: Odds, injuries, predictions and key matchups
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