Baylor Bears vs
Iowa St. CyclonesPredictions & Preview

Iowa State Defense Poised to Challenge Baylor in Big 12 Showdown

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Baylor will be on the road to face No. 16 Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference game. The Bears are currently 2-3 overall and have yet to secure a win in conference play, coming off of back-to-back losses against Colorado and BYU. Iowa State, on the other hand, is 4-0 and has shown dominance in their games, including a notable victory over Houston last week. Kick-off is set for 7:30 P.M. EST, with Iowa State opening as the betting favorite at -13 and the current line sitting at Iowa State -12.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Bears +370 | Cyclones -500
• Spread: Bears +12 (-110) | Cyclones -12 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 44.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Iowa St. will win straight-up is 83%.

Baylor vs Iowa St. Stats

Baylor Bears

Baylor football team is currently 2-3 overall this season and 0-2 in Big 12 Conference play. The team's only wins have come against Tarleton State and Air Force, while they have suffered losses to Colorado and BYU. In their last game against BYU, Baylor lost 34-28, with quarterback Sawyer Robertson throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns, but also having two interceptions. The team's rushing attack has been struggling, averaging under four yards per carry this season. On defense, Baylor is led by linebacker Matt Jones with 43 tackles and linebacker Garmon Randolph with 2.5 sacks. Head coach Dave Aranda has emphasized the need for the team to play consistently for all four quarters. Baylor's offense is averaging 29.4 points per game, ranking 69th, while the defense is allowing 20.2 points per game, ranking 44th. The team is 3-2 against the spread this season, with the under hitting in three games and the over in two. Baylor has a power ranking of 91, ranking 73 in offense and 34 in defense.

Iowa St. Cyclones Analysis

Iowa State is off to a strong start this season with a perfect 4-0 record, including a 1-0 start in Big 12 Conference play. They began the season with wins over North Dakota, Iowa, and Arkansas State before shutting out Houston in their last game. Quarterback Rocco Brecht has been impressive, throwing for 896 yards and seven touchdowns, while running back Abu Same III leads the ground attack. The defense, led by Kooper Ebel and J.R. Singleton, has been stellar, allowing just 7.3 points per game. Head coach Matt Campbell is praising his team's mentality and toughness as they prepare to face TCU. Iowa State's offense is ranked 62nd in scoring and 65th in rushing, while their defense ranks 8th overall. The Cyclones are 3-1 against the spread this season and have covered as double-digit favorites in their last two games. Their upcoming matchup against Baylor, who has struggled in recent matchups against Iowa State, will be a tough test.

Iowa State's Formidable Defense May Overwhelm Baylor in Upcoming Game

Baylor's apparent lack of assertiveness raises doubts regarding their capability to compete closely with Iowa State in the upcoming game. Notably, playing in Ames, Iowa, particularly during a night game, poses significant challenges for any Big 12 team. Considering Iowa State's formidable defense, which has consistently limited opponents to fewer than 10 points per game along with boasting the second-best passing defense in the league, it is reasonable to anticipate Baylor struggling to score substantially. Given that Baylor heavily relies on its passing offense as a primary threat, a stout Iowa State defense could potentially render Baylor's offensive strategy ineffective. Consequently, there is a strong possibility of Iowa State dominating the game, especially considering their ability to score swiftly. Hence, a wise choice would be to support Iowa State covering the spread in this matchup.

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