Michigan fans pumped for Wild Wings Bowl Saturday night

After weeks of speculation, Michigan coach Brady Hoke finally ruled out quarterback Devin Gardner for Saturday night's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl before Thursday's practice. Gardner broke his foot in the second half of the Wolverines' season finale. He'll be replaced by freshman Shane Morris, who has practiced with the first team since and will make his first start against Kansas State at Sun Devil Stadium, in Tempe, Ariz.

2. While Kansas State has won five of its last six games, its struggles in recent bowl games have them perplexed, as the Wildcats enter the contest losers of five straight bowl contests under famed coach Bill Snyder. Kansas State rebounded from a 2-4 start this season and all five of its losses were by 10 points or less.

3. Michigan enters the contest losers of four of its last five games but its latest setback was its most memorable game of the season. The Wolverines opted to go for a two-point conversion and the win after scoring a touchdown in the final seconds against Ohio State but the attempt failed in their 42-41 loss. They'll get a chance for a bit of redemption against Kansas State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten): Gardner, a dual threat, had 3,443 total yards and 32 total touchdowns on the season for the Wolverines, who are 20-22 all-time in bowl games. Morris appeared in only parts of two games, completing 5-of-9 passes for 65 yards and an interception. Receiver Jeremy Gallon enters the game 47 yards shy of setting the school's single-season mark for receiving yards and had a conference and school-record 369 yards receiving against Indiana on Oct. 19.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (7-5, 5-4 Big 12): The Wildcats spent the 2013 season trying in vain to fill the void left by quarterback Collin Klein. Junior Jake Waters and sophomore Daniel Sams combined for 2,650 yards passing and 712 yards on the ground while rotating in the backfield. Both will get the chances against Michigan for a Kansas State offense which averaged 33 points but finished 78th in the nation in passing with 13 interceptions.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 30, Michigan 24