posted August 6, 2007 at 17:37 in NCAA F Articles

While KSU’s arch-rival, the Kansas Jayhawks, has often been given worse college football betting odds than the Wildcats to win the North (KU is +700 in the BetUS NCAA football odds), they have a bona fide chance to challenge for the division championship.

With the return of all-conference DT James McClinton (6-1, 285) and potential All-American CB Aqib Talib (6-2, 195), the defense is the team strength. Todd Hasselhorst (6-4, 300) returns from injury to shore up the middle, while DE Max Onyegbule (6-4, 230) caught the staff’s attention with a relentless pass-rushing effort all spring.

The backfield was an anomaly last year. It was Talib’s home, yet it anchored the nation’s worst pass defense. JUCO-transfers Kendrick Harper (CB) and Patrick Resby (SS) join Talib and three solid safeties to ensure that the 2007 defense will be much improved.

Harper, in particular, was fantastic this spring. On offense, junior LT Anthony Collins (6-6, 300) is preseason all-conference, while senior WR Marcus Henry (6-4, 200) has emerged as a legitimate deep threat. Jake Sharp (5-10, 190) is a hard-charger who will team with Brandon McAnderson (6-0, 235) to fill the hole left by the graduation of Jon Cornish.

NCAA FOOTBALL ODDS TO WIN: North Division:

Nebraska (-120)

Missouri (+175)

Kansas State (+300)

Colorado (+700)

Kansas (+700)

Iowa State (+900)

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