Liberty Bowl 2016: Kansas State vs. Arkansas TV Schedule, Time and Odds

Two teams that didn't seem ready for bowling meet in Saturday's Liberty Bowl when the Kansas State Wildcats rep the Big 12 against the Arkansas Razorbacks of the SEC.

Bill Snyder and his Kansas State team won three games to start the season, lost six in a row to suggest bowling wasn't in the future, then ripped off three more wins to qualify at 6-6.

It looked like Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema might have a hot seat as well after his team started 1-3, but the Razorbacks shocked the globe by emerging from the meat of the SEC schedule with wins against big programs and a 7-5 record.

It's all about the finish now. Here's everything to know about a game featuring two teams looking to end on a positive note.

Game Details

When: Saturday, January 2, at 3:20 p.m. ET

Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Television: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

Over/Under: 55.5

Spread: Arkansas (-13)

Team Injury Reports

NAME	POS	STATUS
Joe Hubener	QB	Prob Sat

NAME	POS	STATUS
Jack Kraus	TE	Out Sat
Dominique Reed	WR	Ques Sat
Eric Hawkins	WR	Ques Sat
Keon Hatcher	WR	Out for season
Dwayne Eugene	LB	Ques Sat
Cornelius Floyd	DB	Ques Sat
Rawleigh Williams III	RB	Out for season
Josh Williams	LB	Out for season
Blake Johnson	P	Out indefinitely
Jonathan Williams	RB	Out for season

Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.

Seek the Big Plays

Kansas State needs to find itself from a passing standpoint to keep up Saturday.

The Wildcats didn't pass much with quarterback Joe Hubener this year, who completed just 47.8 percent of his attempts with nine touchdowns and interceptions, totaling 274 attempts while the team rushed it 509 times.

Not to say the rushing attack wasn't potent, with the quarterback leading the team in scores:

NAME	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Charles Jones	136	656	4.8	28 (TD)	5
Joe Hubener	180	613	3.4	34 (TD)	13
Justin Silmon	77	353	4.6	25	2
Kody Cook	55	139	2.5	32	2
Winston Dimel	27	76	2.8	12 (TD)	5

The ground attack didn't help Kansas State much during the six-game skid, tough, where four ranked teams had few issues pulling away late, then-No. 19 Oklahoma posted a 55-0 shutout and Texas supplied a 23-9 beating.

Saturday, there's an avenue of success for Snyder and Co. through the air, though, seeing as the Arkansas defense allowed 52 completions of 20 or more yards this season.

That's easier said than done, though it won't matter much if a strong run defense cannot contain the Arkansas rushing attack. Kansas State wouldn't be the first team this year to struggle in that regard, though.

Staying True 

Let Las Vegas tell it, and the task at hand isn't too difficult for the Razorbacks.

And why not? Bielema was a Snyder understudy at Kansas State as a co-defensive coordinator years ago and knows what's coming. 

"Coach Snyder is relentless in his attitude toward bowl games. He knows it's another opportunity for a win," Bielema said, according to ESPN.com. "I've been there. I've seen what those guys go through so we'll get their best shot."

Oddly enough, Bielema's ball-control offense does the job better than Snyder's, in large part thanks to running back Alex Collins. The junior ran for 1,392 yards and 17 scores this year on a 5.6 yard-per-carry average, making life easy on quarterback Brandon Allen, who threw 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Arkansas used the approach to down Auburn in four overtimes, then-No. 18 Ole Miss in overtime, win on the road against then-No. 9 LSU and come up just short in a 27-14 loss to then-No. 8 and College Football Playoff-bound Alabama.

Now it's a matter of the understudy trumping the mentor.

Prediction

Samantha Baker/Associated Press

The above says it all, but here it is in succinct fashion—Arkansas should cruise. 

While Arkansas banged out shocking wins in the SEC to save the season, Kansas State needed to beat 3-9 Iowa State, 0-12 Kansas and 7-5 West Virginia just to hit .500.

Collins and the Razorbacks offense won't have any problems pounding the rock and controlling the clock in this one. Snyder's program won't remain on the downswing long, but this is a clear mismatch.

Look for Collins to pull the Razorbacks ahead early and never look back.

Prediction: Arkansas 28, Kansas State 17

Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.