BCS Bowl Projections: Why Kansas State Will Score BCS At-Large Berth

While Houston losing to Southern Miss in the Conference USA Championship Game may have been disappointing to many college football fans, it opened the door for an unheralded team to nab a spot in a BCS bowl game.

At this point, there seems to be two at-large berths up for grabs and one team that I believe will find a way to grab one is the Kansas State Wildcats. In defeating the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, the Wildcats finished the season with a 10-2 record despite very few believers throughout the year.

Kansas State entered the season without too many expectations, but the feisty Wildcats proved their detractors wrong by starting off 7-0 and they are likely to finish second in the Big 12. The main teams that Kansas State will have to contend with for one of the final BCS spots are Boise State, Houston, South Carolina and TCU.

Arkansas would have been a factor, but since LSU won the SEC Championship and Alabama is all but assured a spot in the National Championship Game, the Razorbacks aren't eligible to qualify for a BCS bowl, since three teams from the same conference can't make it.

Houston is still technically in the mix, but I believe the only thing keeping the Cougars above water was their undefeated record and that is no longer. TCU, who won the Mountain West Championship, will automatically qualify if it finishes in the Top 16, but I believe the Horned Frogs will fall just short in that regard.

South Carolina is currently one spot behind Kansas State in the BCS rankings, but since the Gamecocks were idle, I think the Wildcats will maintain their lead. That means that Boise State and Kansas State are in fine position to receive at-large berths.

Despite how it may appear, Kansas State certainly hasn't backed into this spot. The Wildcats remain a very underrated team that is totally deserving of a spot in a BCS bowl game. They may not have the best defense or the most explosive offense, but the Wildcats play great team football.

The catalyst for everything Kansas State does, however, is quarterback Collin Klein. While Klein is far from being one of the better passers in the nation, he brings a rare skill set to the table. Klein leads the team with over 1,000 rushing yards and an incredible 26 rushing touchdowns.

It is uncertain which team Kansas State would play, but the Wildcats certainly have the tools to win a BCS bowl. Houston may have been considered a Cinderella team due to its status as a non-automatic qualifier, but Kansas State could be the team that captures the nation's imagination.

The Wildcats have the elite conference affiliation with the Big 12, but there have been plenty of naysayers this season. That won't matter anymore, though, if Kansas State is justly awarded a BCS berth.