The No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers (-6.5) are set to face off against their conference nemesis Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET and FS1 will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Iowa State Cyclones vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Iowa State is a live dog and is currently getting 6.5 points in this Big 12 game. The Mountaineers are also receiving -270 moneyline odds while the Cyclones are +210. If one squad finds paydirt early, it would likely generate a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The general public has been hammering the Mountaineers. This game’s opening line was 5.
The Mountaineers are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 3.0 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-3.
The Cyclones have gained 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-2 ATS and also have an O/U record of 2-3.
The Mountaineers are 5-0 straight up (SU), including 3-0 SU against conference opponents. The Cyclones are 2-3 SU overall and are also 1-2 SU in conference play.
The Mountaineers are hoping to remain undefeated following a 38-22 win over Kansas last week where Will Grier completed 28-of-41 passes for 332 yards, four scores and three interceptions. Leddie Brown (107 yards on 11 rushes, one TD) and Kennedy McKoy (44 yards on 10 carries) led the ground attack in the win while David Sills V (seven receptions, 74 yards, one TD) and T.J. Simmons (six catches, 53 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Iowa State is coming off of a 48-42 win over Oklahoma State. The team’s defense allowed the Cowboys to rush for 126 yards on 43 attempts, including two rush TDs. Tylan Wallace had a productive showing in the loss for Oklahoma State, recording 82 yards on five catches. For Iowa State, Brock Purdy completed 18-of-23 passes for 318 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Purdy (84 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) and Kene Nwangwu (49 yards on 10 carries) spearheaded the ground game in the win as Deshaunte Jones (six receptions, 37 yards, one TD) and Tarique Milton (four catches, 98 yards, one TD) led all Iowa State pass-catchers.
When glancing at offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. West Virginia has run the ball on 48.7 percent of its offensive possessions while Iowa State has a rush percentage of 50.2. The Mountaineers have produced 162.2 rush yards/game (including 134.7 per game versus Big 12 opponents) and have six scores via handoffs this year. The Cyclones are logging 99.4 rush yards per game (115.3 in conference) and have five total rushing TDs.
The Mountaineers offense has logged an astonishing 364.6 yards/contest through the air overall (352.7 per game versus conference opposition) and has 21 passing scores so far. The Cyclones have put up 233.2 pass yards per game (255 against Big 12 competition) and have eight total pass TDs.
West Virginia has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 120.8 yards and pass for 211.4 yards per game. The Iowa State defense has allowed 227.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Mountaineers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.92 to opposing QBs, while the Cyclones have given up a 6.84 ANY/A.
Offensively, Grier is already up to 1,449 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has completed 73 percent of his 136 attempts with 18 passing scores and six interceptions. Grier has a 10.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.40 over the last two outings.
Marcus Simms (352 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown this season), Leddie Brown (278 rush yards, two rush TDs, one receiving TD) and David Sills V (320 receiving yards, six TDs) have each played significant roles of late.
Brock Purdy has managed to complete 18-of-23 passes for 318 yards, four TDs and one INT for Iowa State. His ANY/A sits at 13.35 for the season.
Similar to the Mountaineers, expect a balanced approach offensively from Iowa State this Saturday. David Montgomery, Tarique Milton and Brock Purdy have combined for 289 total yards and three touchdowns over the last two games.
These two schools met last year with the final result being a 20-16 win for West Virginia.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Pick
SU Winner: West Virginia, ATS Winner: West Virginia
Team Betting Trends
- The Mountaineers offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cyclones have put up five such plays.
- Both teams have allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards and eight pass plays of 30+ yards.
- The West Virginia offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Iowa State has created three such runs.
- The Mountaineers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cyclones have given up four such runs.
- The Iowa State defense has sacked opposing QBs 13 times this year. West Virginia has registered 11 sacks.
- West Virginia, as a team, has rushed for 4.08080808080808 yards per attempt over its last three games and 4.2 over its last two.
- Iowa State has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its last two.
- In its last three matchups, Iowa State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- West Virginia was favored by 28 points in its previous game and the Over/Under was 64. The under cashed and West Virginia failed to cover in the 38-22 victory over Kansas.
- Over its last three matches, West Virginia is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Iowa State was favored by 10 points in its previous outing and the O/U was set at 55.5. The over cashed and Iowa State did not cover in the 48-42 win over Oklahoma State.
