In this article, we will formulate an Iowa State vs Kansas State Prediction for this College Football Week 0 game on Saturday, August 23rd at the Aviva Stadium. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Football matchup.
Kansas State Wildcats Preview
Kansas State finished last season with a 9-4 overall record, 5-4 conference record, and were almost perfect at home, with a 5-1 home record, finishing on the 8th place of the Big 12 conference. They were 4-8 against the spread and 5-7 in over/under. Offensively the Wildcats had 30 points per game last season, which ranked 41st in the nation. Defensively, they allowed 24.8 points per game, which ranked 56th in the nation. Kansas State averaged 426.8 total yards per game last season, with 215.5 average rushing yards and 211.4 average passing yards per game. They allowed 343.4 total yards per game, 118.7 of them rushing and 224.7 passing yards per game.
Avery Johnson led the Wildcats with 217/372 completed passes and 2712 total passing yards. He also added 605 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. DJ Giddens led the team in rushing yards, with 1343 and 7 touchdowns, while Dylan Edwards added 546 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. Jayce Brown had a team-high 47 caught passes for a team-high 823 receiving yards, and had 5 touchdowns. Keagan Johnson caught 29 passes for 359 yards, and had one touchdown. Kansas State also won its 16th straight game against Kansas.
Defensively, Austin Romaine had a team-high 96 total tackles, 54 of them solo, and two total sacks. VJ Payne added 64 total tackles, 40 of them solo and two interceptions. Brendan Mott led the Wildcats in sacks, with 8.5, while Marques Sigle had a team-high 3 total interceptions.
Iowa State Cyclones Preview
Iowa State finished last season with a 11-3 overall record, 7-2 conference record, and had a 5-2 road record, finishing on the second place of the Big 12 conference. They were 7-5 against the spread and 6-6 in over/under. Offensively the Cyclones had 31.8 points per game last season, which ranked 31st in the nation. Defensively, they allowed 24.5 points per game, which ranked 52nd in the nation. Iowa State averaged 416.2 total yards per game last season, with 160.5 average rushing yards and 255.7 average passing yards per game. They allowed 353.9 total yards per game, 188.4 of them rushing and 165.6 passing yards per game.
Rocco Becht led the Cyclones with 271/456 completed passes and 3505 total passing yards. He also had 318 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Carson Hansen led the team in rushing yards, with 752, adding a team-high 13 touchdowns, while Abu Sama III had 587 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, with Jaylon Jackson adding 388 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Jaylin Noel had a team-high 1194 receiving yards and 80 caught passes, adding 8 touchdowns. Jayden Higgins had a team-high 87 caught passes, adding 1183 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.
Defensively, Beau Freyler had a team-high 84 total tackles, 46 of them solo, and two interceptions. Malik Verdon added 75 total tackles, 34 of them solo, adding one sack and one interception. J.R. Singleton led the team with 4 total sacks, while Jontez Williams led the Cyclones with 4 total interceptions.
Why the Kansas State Wildcats will win
- Kansas State has won seven of its last eight season openers.
- Iowa State has lost 10 of its last 13 games against AP-ranked teams.
- Kansas State has covered the spread in each of its last four games as a favorite against AP-ranked teams.
- Iowa State has failed to cover the spread in six of its last seven season openers.
- Kansas State has won the first half in 23 of its last 30 games against conference opponents.
Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win
- Iowa State has won five of its last six games as an underdog.
- Kansas State has lost 27 of its last 36 games against AP-ranked teams.
- Iowa State has covered the spread in each of its last six games as an underdog against Kansas State.
- Kansas State has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Iowa State’s last five season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of Kansas State’s last four season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- Kansas State ranked 2nd among FBS teams for 4th down conversion percentage against last season (31.0).
- Kansas State ranked 11th among FBS teams for rushing yards per game last season (215.5).
- Iowa State ranked 1st among FBS teams for passing yards allowed per game last season (165.6).
- Five of Iowa State’s 14 games last season have been decided by a margin of three points or less – equal-most amongst FBS teams.
Iowa State vs Kansas State Prediction
In their previous meeting last season, Iowa State won 29-21 at home, covering the spread, as the game went under the 52-point total. Iowa State is 4-1 in their last 5 head-to-head meetings against Kansas State, and have won their last two visits in Kansas. Iowa State is 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 meetings, and under is 4-2 in their last 6 meetings.
In this Iowa State vs Kansas State Prediction, Kansas State is coming as -3-point home favorites. Iowa State were tied on top of the Big 12 last season, but Kansas State was almost perfect at home. Both teams were very close both offensively and defensively in terms of points last season, but Kansas State had the edge both in yards per game both for and against. It is hard to go against a home team in a season opener, especially in College Sports, so I will side with the Kansas State Wildcats to get the win in this one.