Iowa State Cyclones vs Kansas State Wildcats Point Spread Picks

These two teams are kicking off the season with a long road trip to Dublin, Ireland. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht will have to work on timing with new receivers on board, while the offensive line has some holes to fill. The defense added bulk up front, while the secondary remains the strength, having led the nation in pass defense in 2024. Kansas State has a run-oriented offense that chews up yards and the clock. They averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a team last season, with QB Avery Johnson (605 rushing yards) the second-leading rusher. RB Dylan Edwards (546 yards, 7.4 ypc) also returns. The defense is loaded up front, anchored by a strong linebacking corps led by Austin Romaine. Last year's meeting went UNDER the total in a 29-21 Iowa State win as both teams ran for over 143 yards and the defenses allowed a combined 7-of-29 on third down. Take Iowa State/Kansas State UNDER the total.

Iowa State ran into the 2022 edition of the Kansas buzz saw and was stifled by the Jayhawks 14-11 and the game went UNDER by a whopping 34 points on Saturday. The Cyclones outgained the Jayhawks 313-213 and held them to 10 first downs, but Iowa State had no running game totaling 26 net rushing yards. The Cyclones defense is #8 in the country in yards allowed, #7 in rushing yards allowed and #12 in scoring defense. It's a different story on offense though as the Cyclones are #84 in total yards while averaging 26.0 points per game. Kansas State allows only 18.2 points per game and it has gone UNDER five of its last seven following a win. The Wildcats are 4-1 and defeated Texas Tech with Adrian Martinez doing more damage with his feet than his arm. He completed 12 of 19 for 116 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions and he rushed for 171 yards on 12 carries, including a 69-yard run and three TDs. Deuce Vaughn added 170 yards on 23 carries for the Wildcats, who are using a time-consuming offense. Take the UNDER as a Max Play. 

A pair of Big 12 running teams lock horns here. Iowa State is averaging 5.3 yards per carry behind RB Breece Hall (551 yards), and they are on a 33-16-2 run UNDER the total, including 40-16-2 UNDER as chalk. They put up 59 points on defenseless Kansas the last game, but this is still a largely conservative offense that prefers to run. Iowa State is on an 18-7-1 run on the road and 19-6-1 UNDER away versus teams with a winning home record. Kansas State QBs have thrown 5 TDs and 4 INTs while looking to run the pigskin behind sophomore RB Deuce Vaughn (444 yards, 4.9 yards per carry). College football teams that feature two strong running squads who outrush their opponents by 50+ yards per game are 92-52 UNDER the total when the total is between 49.5 and 56. Play this game to stay UNDER the total.