BON staff predictions: Does Texas or Kansas State win the low-scoring, defensive battle?

With an opportunity for a third win in four tries, the Texas Longhorns will take the field at DKR on Saturday evening against Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Purple Wizard’s team enters in a eerily similar situation as the Longhorns — the offense is questionable while a stout defense has done enough to add to the win column.

In what will be the first, and quite possible the only meeting between Snyder and Tom Herman as head coaches, the Burnt Orange Nation staff predicts how Saturday may play out.

Wescott Eberts

For Texas, playing against Bill Snyder's teams in recent years has largely been an exercise in frustration. There's a certain inevitability about the team's construction — it will be disciplined, win on special teams, use a unique quarterback run game, and scheme to take away big plays defensively with a group of unheralded recruits and former walk-ons. The Longhorns have an incredibly small margin for error due to injuries and consistency issues, one further reduced by the fact the 'Cats almost certainly won't beat themselves. Perhaps Texas shows improvement offensively with Sam Ehlinger behind center, but I don't trust this offensive line, I don't trust Josh Rowland, I don't trust special teams as a whole, and I'm not sure that the 'Horns can do enough to slow down Jesse Ertz and the Kansas State rushing attack. I want to be wrong, but the Wildcats own the Longhorns — Kansas State 20, Texas 17.

Cody Daniel

With two offenses that aren’t exactly on par with the rest of the Big 12, the winner of Saturday evening’s matchup in Austin is likely going to survive due to a dominant defensive showing. The ‘Horns defense certainly seems to be the more respectable as of late, but Kansas State presents a physical rushing attack led by dual-threat gunslinger Jesse Ertz, and we’ve seen what running quarterbacks have done to Texas in the past. Ertz will make plays, but I think Texas defense will force a couple key turnovers that either immediately result in points or put a struggling offense within striking distance, and that will be the difference. Texas 20, Kansas State 17.

Gerald Goodridge

The Longhorn defense does its best Bill Snyder impression and finishes the game with two sacks and an interception. Texas comes out on top 21-14.

Anthony Rizzo

Kansas State always seems to bring their 'A' game against the 'Horns. The Texas offense needs to find an identity in this game before heading into the thick of Big 12 play. Win the battle in the trenches, get the ball to your playmaking receivers, and play mistake free. On the otherhand, the Texas defense should have another dominating performance against an average Kansas State offense led by running quarterback Jesse Ertz. The 'Horns will win a low-scoring, defensive battle. 24-13 Texas.

John Lamons

The Longhorns offense began to find its running game on a 13-play seven-and-a-half minute drive to end the game against Iowa State. Sam Ehlinger will reportedly start for Texas, who showed that he is capable of being a big-time quarterback in the fourth quarter at USC. The running game and Ehlinger will continue to improve this week, as the Texas offense starts to show signs of life. Meanwhile, the defense will continue to be dominant against a run-first Kansas State attack. In the end, Texas will find its groove, knocking off Kansas State 31-14, while gaining momentum going into a big matchup with Oklahoma next weekend.