Iowa State vs Oklahoma Preview: Sooners Massive Favorites in Big 12 Game

The Iowa State Cyclones visit the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners for a Big 12 Conference tilt on Saturday. The Cyclones are 2-2 on the season, but 1-0 in Big 12 play, having defeated Oklahoma State 34-27 as 3.5-point favorites last week. Iowa State is also 2-2 against the spread, covering the number in both games it won.

The Sooners are 4-0 straight-up and 3-0-1 against the spread, pushing as 14-point favorites against Cincinnati last week. The Cyclones are 1-3 in totals and Oklahoma is 2-2. The Iowa State vs Oklahoma preview sees the Sooners as 20-point favorites and a total of 48. Oklahoma’s previous low total was 57.5.

Cyclones Open it Up in Big 12 Opener

The NCAAF scoreboard showed a different Iowa State team last week, winning a shootout over Oklahoma State. The 34 points the Cyclones scored were a season high, as were the 278 points Iowa State allowed. It could be a sign of things to come for the Cyclones in Big 12 play.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Behct has one of the great names in college football, but he’s also produced on the field. He’s completing 64.7% of his passes and has thrown for 897 yards and seven touchdowns against three interceptions.

The problem is Becht is getting little help from the running game that is averaging 2.9 yards per carry. Iowa State is averaging just 83.2 yards per game, which is No. 125 in the nation. The passing game is better at No. 85, but it isn’t the offense that carries the Cyclones.

Iowa State is allowing 16.5 points per game, which is No. 26 in the nation. Iowa State is No. 55 against the rush, allowing 3.6 yards per carry, and No. 7 in the country in yards per pass attempt. It’s the defense that makes the Cyclones go.

Oklahoma Firing on All Cylinders

The Sooners have been putting on a clinic so far this season, scoring 46.8 points per game, which is No. 4 in the country. Oklahoma is No. 10 in total offense and is having more success through the air than on the ground. The Sooners would like to start being a little more consistent running the ball. Oklahoma is No. 67 in rushing yards and No. 6 in passing yards.

As good as the Oklahoma offense is, the defense might be even better. The Sooners are allowing 8.5 points per game, which is No. 2 in the country. Oklahoma is No. 17 in yards per rush and No. 18 in yards per play. Oklahoma’s defense has gotten the job done so far, but the quality of opposition leaves a little bit to be desired.

The Iowa State vs Oklahoma preview shows Oklahoma is No. 14 in the polls, but the Sagarin college football rankings have the Sooners ranked No. 4. That’s likely a bit on the high side and has a lot to do with the Sooners rolling up the score on some weaker teams. But that’s what teams who want to make the playoffs have to do. The Sooners are still well below Texas in the college football championship odds. The Longhorns are +800, while Oklahoma is +3000.

What to Expect

Iowa State is likely going to be forced to throw the ball quite a bit. The Cyclones aren’t a good running team and the Sooners are solid against the rush. Iowa State doesn’t throw to the running backs often, but may want to change it up a little bit against Oklahoma’s defense. If the Sooners have some vulnerability it will be against the pass.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel has done everything you could ask for. He’s thrown for 1,227 yards and 12 touchdowns, while being intercepted once. Gabriel has added a couple of rushing touchdowns and is only sacked about once for every 40 pass attempts. The Cyclones are a little better against the pass, so the Sooners could very well come out and try to establish the run to set up the passing game.

Who to Bet On?

Oklahoma has an impressive array of stats, but the NCAAF scores and odds show a tale of two Sooner teams. Oklahoma defeated Arkansas State 73-0 and Tulsa 66-17, while beating SMU 28-11 and Cincinnati 20-6. So half of Oklahoma’s two wins were by 17 points or less and you can make a case Iowa State is as good as Cincinnati and pretty close to SMU. The Cyclones are definitely better than Arkansas State and Tulsa.

The Sooners may be getting a little too much respect in this game due to their point differential. The Iowa State vs Oklahoma preview is going to back the Cyclones +20 in this spot.

For NCAAF news, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Big 10 Conference: Michigan vs Nebraska Preview
• Louisiana vs Minnesota Preview: Is Minnesota Cooked?
• Florida vs Kentucky Preview: Wildcats Favored Over Florida, Third Consecutive Game
• Kansas vs Texas Betting Odds: Battle of Ranked Teams in Austin
• Southern California vs Colorado Expert Picks: Reality Check Awaits Coach Prime?