A Big 12 title game rematch is one of the conference’s top matchups this weekend. Arizona State (5-3) suffered a difficult 24-16 loss at home last week vs. Houston. The Sun Devils will attempt to turn things around against none other than Iowa State. Much like ASU, the Cyclones enter Saturday at 5-3. Following three straight defeats, ISU desperately needs a victory.
In this battle between two struggling programs, who will come out on top? Below is my prediction and pick for College Football Week 10’s game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Iowa State Cyclones.
Iowa State enters this contest as 8.5-point favorites (-108) over Arizona State, with the over/under set at 49.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Cyclones are favored at -325 on the moneyline.
Arizona State vs. Iowa State prediction, preview
Three losses already makes for a disappointing year at ASU. A season-ending foot injury for quarterback Sam Leavitt only makes things worse. The Sun Devils are far less potent without their QB1. Backup Jeff Sims got his first, and only, start of the season in Week 7 vs. Utah. The end result? A 42-10 drubbing at the hands of the Utes. To make matters worse, Jordan Tyson is doubtful to play for the second straight week. The wide receiver is a potential first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
If Arizona State is going to keep things close, it’ll need to prioritize the run game. Cam Skattebo is no longer on campus, but his replacement is no slouch. Raleek Brown has gained 706 rushing yards, 159 receiving yards, and thre total touchdowns. Obviously, the red zone production could be better. Regardless, 88.3 rushing yards per game is about as consistent as it gets. The Cyclones are allowing 4.3 yards per carry, fourth-worst in the Big 12.
It’s not as if Iowa State’s secondary has been much better, surrendering a middling 6.9 yards per pass attempt. During last week’s 41-27 loss, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier went off for 307 yards and three total touchdowns. Expecting anything close to that from Sims is wishful thinking. Still, this is an easier matchup than facing Utah’s stifling defense on the road.
In true Big 12 fashion, the Cyclones are built to put points on the board. Quarterback Rocco Becht has been a bit disappointing thus far. Still, the junior has accumulated 1,933 yards and ten touchdowns (six interceptions). Running backs Abu Sama and Carson Hansen have combined for 1,044 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. However, Arizona State is allowing the conference’s fourth-fewest rushing yards per carry (3.6).
Arizona State vs. Iowa State pick, best bet
A banged-up ASU squad shouldn’t inspire much confidence from bettors. With that being said, Iowa State has issues of its own. Eight different Cyclones have already been ruled out of Saturday’s contest. At this point, each side can be considered an enigma. Rather than picking a favorite, the savviest play on the board might be to fade both offenses. At nearly 50 points, back the under.
