Saturday, Nov. 2
3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific
ESPN
The Iowa State Cyclones are one of the biggest surprises in college football this season. The Cyclones were not in anyone’s preseason top five in the Big 12, alongside the BYU Cougars. The Big 12 was seen as a conference in which newcomers Utah and Arizona would be primary contenders, alongside Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Kansas. Of the preseason top five teams in the Big 12, only Kansas State has performed at or close to expectations, but it’s Iowa State and BYU at the top of the standings entering November. The Cyclones are currently in position to make the Big 12 Championship Game. It’s an incredible story in a wild first season of this new Big 12 era, with Texas and Oklahoma now in the SEC.
Iowa State has not dominated teams, but it has been a really good second-half team. The Cyclones have wobbled in first and second quarters but have consistently been able to rally in third and fourth quarters. They overcame deficits against Baylor and UCF at home to win. They would like to be able to get on top of this game versus Texas Tech, but in a Big 12 season in which every team’s level of performance seems to vary from week to week, no one should feel too confident about how each game will play out. Iowa State and BYU might be at the top of the Big 12, but it’s not as though they have been crushing opponents every week. It hasn’t been an easy, linear journey. Every game is a potential trap.
Hear T.J. and Gary Preview the Red Raiders underdog chances on the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Texas Tech Red Raiders-Iowa State Cyclones Odds
Spread: Texas Tech +13.5 (-110), Iowa State -13.5 (-110)
Total: 56.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: Texas Tech +380
Texas Tech In Role of “Spoiler”
The Texas Tech Red Raiders led TCU by three scores last week, only to cough up the lead and lose 35-34. We have seen a lot of double-digit comebacks (and collapses) by Big 12 teams this season, so now we have to see how Texas Tech will respond to its implosion versus TCU. The fact that Texas Tech is playing two consecutive road games two-thirds of the way through the season suggests that the Red Raiders are set up to fail and have a lethargic letdown performance. However, Iowa State has fallen behind Baylor and UCF at home before rallying to win those games. In many ways, this game could turn based on the first half, not the fourth quarter.
If Iowa State gets off to a great start, Texas Tech will probably fade away. However, if Tech gets off to a 10-0 lead and ISU has to once again play from behind, we could have a situation where the Cyclones’ repeated failures to take charge of games in the first 15-20 minutes will come back to bite them. This feels like a game in which you will want to watch the first 10 minutes and then consider your options.