NCAA Football
2012-11-03 - Oklahoma Sooners at Iowa State Cyclones
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NCAA Football Week 10
Saturday 3 November 2012 - Kick Off 12pm
4pm (British Time)
Preview
The Oklahoma Sooners (5-2) may be out of contention for the National Championship which would have been the aim at the start of the season, but they can at least look back at their current mark and note that their only losses have come against the Number 2 and Number 3 teams in the Rankings.
The loss to Notre Dame was heartbreaking last week as the Sooners were very much in the game going into the final quarter, but that loss should focus them to get their Big 12 Conference back up and running. Oklahoma are 3-1 in the Big 12 this season, but they will need Kansas State to lose twice and to run the table if they are to sneak the title.
All of that will begin as they take on the Iowa State Cyclones (5-3) who may have a winning record on the season, but are just 2-3 in Big 12 play this season.
This won't be an easy test for the Sooners as they are facing a rush Defense that has allowed just 3.6 yards per carry this season. However, Damien Williams and the Sooners have managed to get things going on the ground behind a decent Offensive Line and may just ensure Landry Jones and the passing game are kept in short and manageable situations.
The passing game is where Oklahoma excel as a team and that is also where the Iowa State Defense struggles the most. Jones and the passing Offense have gone for almost 300 yards per game through the air and he has been well protected behind the Offensive Line. The Cyclones have given up 267 yards per game through the air so an established running game would help Jones no end in passing through this Defense.
Iowa State will then need to rely on Steele Jantz to continue from where he left off in the win against Baylor last week if they are to keep this game from getting out of hand. Jantz will find some success against the Sooners, but will be under pressure as this Defense can find their way to the Quarter Back, while they also tun the ball over.
The Cyclones will be looking to slow down the Sooners and to prevent themselves from becoming one-dimensional by establishing a running game. Oklahoma have allowed 4 yards per carry on the season and they were gashed by Notre Dame last week, but this is an area in which Iowa State do not excel.
Iowa State move the chains at 3.9 yards per carry on the ground and they will have to stay close in this game if they are to utilise this aspect of their attack and prevent Jantz from having to throw the ball against a Secondary expecting him to do so.
Head to Head
Oklahoma have dominated this series, going 67-3-2 throughout the schools history against Iowa State.
They have won 13 in a row by 24 points per game.
The Sooners are 5-2 against the spread in the last 7 games in the series.
Prediction
Oklahoma have dominated this series as shown by the head to head and I think they have the edge on both sides of the ball which should allow them to pull away down the stretch.
The Sooners have not been great this season, but they have shown some real signs of their capabilities in wins over Texas Tech, Texas Longhorns and Kansas and their two defeats don't look as bad considering Kansas State and Notre Dame are both in contention to be playing in the National Championship game.
The spread is set at 12 points which does look a little high, but I think the Sooners will have more consistent success and may just win this one by a couple of touchdowns.
The Pick :
Iowa State Cyclones 17-31 Oklahoma Sooners
