Missouri looks for another close game at home vs. Kansas State

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- For reasons unexplained, Kansas State has recently taken better teams to Missouri and barely come away with wins.

Although the No. 10 Wildcats (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) have beaten their last four opponents by an average of 41 points, they're well aware of the Tigers' history of making highly ranked Kansas State teams sweat.

"They play very well at home," tight end Thomas Hill said. "It's a real hostile environment and they're looking forward to knocking us off. We have a tough game on our hands."

Although Kansas State has won eight straight against Missouri, three of its four road contests during that streak have been decided by six points or less.

In 1994, the Tigers gave No. 11 Kansas State a scare in a 21-18 squeaker. In 1998, the No. 2 Wildcats barely escaped with a down-to-the-wire 31-25 win, and the No. 9 Wildcats won 28-24 in 2000.

Before the winning streak began in 1993, Kansas State had lost three straight at Faurot Field.

"It's like the Bermuda Triangle," defensive end Andrew Shull said. "A lot of teams go in, but a lot of them don't come away with wins."

This season, the Tigers have plenty of incentive to break the Wildcats' winning streak. The Tigers (5-6, 2-5) are one win away from securing bowl eligibility.

"They always have something big to play for," tight ends coach Matt Miller said. "This year it's for a bowl bid. In 2000, they were playing for Larry Smith's job and in 1998 they were playing for national respect.

"I know that when we were building our program we got a little more fired up when a big school like Colorado or Nebraska comes in," Miller said. "The same is true for them."

In each of their past two win at Missouri, the Wildcats were coming off huge wins against Nebraska. In 1998, the Wildcats beat Nebraska for the first time in 30 years, winning 40-30 at KSU Stadium. Two years later, Kansas State upset No. 4 Nebraska 29-28 in snowy Manhattan.

Last weekend, the Wildcats beat Nebraska 49-13, and Kansas State coach Bill Snyder doesn't see his team having a post-Nebraska hangover this season.

"I'm pleased with the way we've responded week in and week out," Snyder said. "They have the appropriate mental preparation. I'd be surprised if they didn't come to play."

The Wildcats lost their only challenging road game this season, giving up four big plays in a 35-31 loss to Colorado. Kansas State's other two road games were wins against the last-place teams in the Big 12 North and South.