NCAA Football
2024-12-07 - Iowa State Cyclones at Arizona State Sun Devils
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Week 15- Big 12 Championship Game
Saturday 7th December 2024 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)
Preview
The expansion of the College Football Playoff meant every then Power 5 Conference would see their Champion make the final twelve teams. The collapse of the Pac-12 changed things a little bit, but the Big 12 Championship Game offers a big opportunity for the Arizona State Sun Devils (10-2) or the Iowa State Cyclones (10-2).
A Conference that has lost powerhouses like the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns proved to be a fight until the end and the permutations left Colorado and BYU on the outside of the Championship Game, despite the top four all finishing with 7-2 Conference records.
That is not going to be something that bothers the two teams that will be playing in Dallas on Saturday with Iowa State and Arizona State both feeling pretty confident about their chances of making it through to the Playoff. Not many expected this kind of season from the Arizona State Sun Devils having moved from the Pac-12 after a disappointing 2023, but fight straight wins have gotten them into the Big 12 Championship Game.
It is three straight wins for the Iowa State Cyclones who have already made their mark on history having become the first team to ever win ten games in a single season for this school. They are now chasing a first Championship in over 110 years and a win for the Cyclones would see them earn a spot in the new look post-season, which would have been the aim when beginning the season with seven straight wins.
The Cyclones will be keen to establish the run against this Sun Devils Defensive Lie if only to give the team some balance Offensively, but the actual success of this Championship Game is going to come down to the performance of Quarter Back Rocco Becht who has played well enough to join Brock Purdy on an exclusive Iowa State list.
He has over 3000 passing yards for a second time in the Cyclones uniform, which is something that only Purdy had achieved previously, and Rocco Becht will be confident in his abilities having put up 20 Touchdown passes with 8 Interceptions. However, this Sun Devils Defensive unit is not just pretty good at stopping the run, but have played the pass well too and they are a team that will jump into routes and turn the ball over.
in a game that is expected to have tight margins, those turnovers could be key, although Arizona State will have a very healthy respect for the ability of the Wide Receivers that the Cyclones will trot out onto the field.
There will be some challenges for Iowa State when they have the ball, even with the strong passing game they have shown for much of the season. And there is certainly going to be a big test for the Cyclones on the other side of the ball where their character and grit will be tested by the Arizona State Offensive Line.
Cam Skattebo has been the star of the Arizona State Offense and has piled up almost 1400 yards on the ground with 17 Touchdowns rushed in. The Offensive Line is obviously a big help to those numbers and the Sun Devils could be very excited about facing the Cyclones Defensive Line which has struggled to deal with the ground attacks all season.
Controlling the clock and wearing down the Defense with power running is going to be the plan for the Arizona State Sun Devils, but don't ignore the passing game and the threat that Quarter Back Sam Leavitt offers. He has close to 2500 passing yards despite having to overcome a rib injury and the Sun Devils were making some big plays through the air down the stretch.
Iowa State's Secondary have decent numbers, but some of that is down to the fact that teams have been able to pound them on the ground, while Arizona State's top Receiver is out. That is going to be a blow to the narrow favourite, but the Sun Devils still look the most likely winner and College Football Playoff team out of the two competing.
Both are going to be feeling confident, but the feeling is that the Cyclones may be facing a tougher Defensive unit that matches up pretty well with them.
Add in the struggles to stop the run all season and it is hard to see how that changes in the Big 12 Championship Game, which should mean the Sun Devils are moving the ball with plenty of consistency. That could be key to this big game for both teams as they push for their place in the College Football Playoff, and Arizona State may just edge it to cement what has been a special, unexpected season with more to come in December.
Prediction
Lay the point with the narrow favourite as Arizona State look to conclude a memorable season with a spot in the Playoff.
The Pick :
Arizona State Sun Devils 27-24 Iowa State
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arizona State Sun Devils - 1 Point at -111 with Bookmaker.eu
