The Sooners and Cyclones square off tomorrow in Ames, Iowa. Oklahoma football is coming off a much-needed bye week and previously a 52-42 victory over Kansas. Iowa State is also coming off an open date preceded by a 24-21 loss to Texas.
The Sooners hope to change the season around, starting tomorrow. Here’s some score predictions/game breakdown from our StorminInNorman crew:
Connor Pasby
Score: OU 34 – Iowa State 27
It was quite the relief two weeks ago in Norman, where the Sooners found themselves in the winning column vs. Kansas. They will make it two wins in a row tomorrow in Ames. The Sooners are facing an offense that has had their struggles this season, so expect the Sooners to get off the field more than they have been. Iowa State ranks 88th in total offense and 118th in rushing offense. It’ll simply come down to the Sooners secondary making plays, against a receiving core that has been the only bright spot of this offense, starting with wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.
Offensively, the Sooners are facing a really tough, physical defensive unit. The Cyclones are ranked 9th nationally in total defense and only allowing 289.7 yards a game. Outside of Texas, the Cyclones haven’t faced many offensive juggernauts throughout the year, but they’ll get one against Oklahoma tomorrow. It won’t be a 700+ yards performance they had against Kansas, but the Sooners will put up enough yards and points to leave Ames with a win.
Timothy Bailey
Score: OU 28 – Iowa State 13
Iowa State has a to- tier defense but struggles to consistently put points up. While they hold the OU offense under 550 yards (the average with Dillon Gabriel), the OU defense takes a leap forward with the return of Billy Bowman, and emergence of some young play makers.
Chip Rouse
Score: OU 28 – Iowa State 24
Iowa State is 0-4 in the Big 12, but those four losses were by a combined 14 points. The Cyclones have been in every game they’ve played this season, so you can’t go by their record. What makes Iowa State so tough is its Big 12-leading defense. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in four major defensive categories (scoring, total defense, rushing and passing offense). The Oklahoma offense finally found some traction in the win over Kansas, but Iowa State’s defense is the best the Sooners have seen all season.