The Iowa State Cyclones and the Baylor Bears meet in week 9 college football action from McLane Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Iowa State Wins Back-To-Back Games

The Iowa State Cyclones come into this game on the heels of their bye week, but prior to the bye week, they picked up back-to-back wins after a 30-10 win over Cincinnati to improve to 4-3 on the year. Rocco Becht has thrown for 1,464 yards, 12 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 60% passing while Eli Sanders has a team-high 263 rushing yards with 2 touchdowns and Cartevious Norton has 218 rushing yards. Jayden Higgins leads Iowa State with 438 receiving yards along with 3 touchdowns while Jaylin Noel has a team-high 34 receptions for 308 yards. Two more ISU receivers have 150+ receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Beau Freyler has a team-high 54 total tackles along with 3 interceptions while Jeremiah Cooper has a team-high 5 interceptions this season.

Iowa State Cyclones Team Facts

• Iowa State has lost each of its last five games as a road favorite.
• Iowa State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last five games as a road favorite.
• Iowa State has lost the first half in seven of its last eight road games against conference opponents.
• Each of Iowa State’s last six games in October have gone UNDER the total points line.

Baylor Takes Out Cincinnati

The Baylor Bears come into this one looking to build on a 32-29 win over Cincinnati on the road last time out to improve to 3-4 on the year. Blake Shapen has thrown for 1,236 yards and 5 touchdowns on 61.4% passing while Dominic Richardson has a team-high 255 rushing yards and Richard Reese has 241 rushing yards as well. Monaray Baldwin leads Baylor with 24 receptions for 453 yards and 2 TDs while Ketron Jackson Jr. has 365 receiving yards and two more Baylor receivers have 200+ receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Matt Jones has a team-high 50 total tackles while Baylor’s defense has combined for 14 sacks and 4 interceptions this season.

Baylor Bears Team Facts

• Baylor has won six of its last seven games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Baylor has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games at McLane Stadium.
• Baylor has lost the first half in three of its last four games against conference opponents.
• Each of Baylor’s last five games as a home underdog have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Iowa State rank T35th among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (20.0).

Chris’ Pick

I’m rolling with Baylor here. This Bears team just looks rejuvenated to me with Blake Shapen back under center, and I think the Bears can get one back at home here after consecutive home losses to Texas Tech and Texas. Iowa State has had their ups and downs, but they’re still not a team I’ve had much high hopes for this season and I just trust this Baylor offense with Shapen more than I do Iowa State, who are more than capable of shutting down offensively and I just think we’re getting points with the better team. Give me Baylor and the points in a game I think they can win outright.