October 11th 2024

West Virginia vs Iowa State

by Zayd Hussein in Morgantown, West Virginia

The West Virginia Mountaineers (3-2) are poised for another upset as they welcome the No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones (5-0) on Saturday night. West Virginia has kicked off their Big 12 campaign with two impressive victories, taking down Kansas at home and securing a win against Oklahoma State on the road. Meanwhile, Iowa State remains unbeaten, coming off a commanding 43-21 victory over Baylor.

Aiming for a 6-0 start for the first time since 1938, the Cyclones enter this matchup as 3-point favorites and have successfully covered the spread in their last six road games. Quarterback Rocco Becht is riding high after delivering his best performance of the season against Baylor, where he threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Notably, he has thrown at least two touchdown passes in all but one game this year, showcasing his ability to lead a potent offense.

Recent history favors Iowa State, which has won four of the last five meetings between these teams. However, for the Cyclones to secure a road victory, their defense will need to step up, particularly against a West Virginia squad that leads the nation in fourth down conversions with 12 successful attempts.

This matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, likely decided in the closing moments. Both teams have shown offensive prowess, and while I’m hesitant to pick a side, I anticipate a high-scoring affair. I’m leaning towards the over, expecting plenty of fireworks on the field and tons of offensive success on both sides.