Hosting the Oklahoma Sooners, the Iowa State Cyclones are coming off a 24-21 loss at the Texas Longhorns, while the Sooners dropped 52 after getting shut out by those same Longhorns on Oct. 8. With quarterback Dillon Gabriel back in the lineup, can the Sooners win on the road? We will take a look at that and more in our continued college football odds series, as we provide our Oklahoma-Iowa State prediction and picks.
Oklahoma-Iowa State Prediction and Odds
| Oklahoma Spread | -1 (-115) |
| Iowa State Spread | -1(-105) |
| Over/Under | 55.5 |
| Location | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Ia. |
| Time | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
Will Gabriel’s Success Continue?
In his return from injury last week, Gabriel and the Sooners put up more than 50 and passed for 411 yards, a season high. Sure, it was against Kansas, but a starting quarterback coming back and rebounding is always a welcome sight. Gabriel did throw his first interception of the season, though, which was the first turnover-worthy play he’s had all season, per Pro Football Focus.
Of course, the problem with Oklahoma is the defense. It ranks 116th in the nation in total yards allowed per game (over 447), which can be somewhat problematic against a Cyclones offense and quarterback Hunter Dekkers that routinely throws for 260 yards or more.
Gabriel has been excellent this season passing the ball, but the Cyclones pose a threat, as they rank 10th in the nation in total yards allowed. The Sooners may need to turn to running back Eric Gray in this one. Wide receiver Marvin Mims has been the top option in the passing game, but he has just three touchdowns. Tight end Brayden Willis has also been a bright spot with five touchdowns, but the rest of the receivers will go up against a Cyclones defense that should match up well.
The Sooners defense routinely allows high point totals. While the Cyclones offense isn’t a powerhouse, it has some talent with Dekkers and wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, who continues to put up 100-yard performances. His season low in yards receiving is 84. The Cyclones run game is OK, but it’s not like Breece Hall is walking back through that door.
In this one, the Cyclones will need to hope they can pass through this leaky Sooners defense and that their defense can keep Oklahoma in check. The home underdogs have a solid path to victory, hence the narrow spread.
Final Oklahoma-Iowa State Prediction & Pick
It’s a close call, but Gabriel is a talented enough passer to sort through a Cyclones defense that may be one of his more challenging tasks. Oklahoma also has a running game to fall back on if needed. As for the Cyclones, yes, the Sooner defense is lousy, but they’ll know that Hutchinson is the main guy. The Iowa State defense is respectable enough to keep the scoring in check. At the same time, its offense may be a bit too easy to figure out.
Best Oklahoma-Iowa State Prediction: Oklahoma -1 (-115); Under 55.5 (-110)
