Iowa State vs Utah Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 22, 2024 12:43 AM ET

Can Utah finally get a little bit of luck?

It’s on a six-game losing streak after starting 4-0, and now it’s playing out the string in a horribly disappointing season. For all the problems, if it wins this week and takes out UCF next week, it at least gets to close with a bowl game.

Can Iowa State somehow get back in the Big 12 Championship chase by winning out and getting a little luck?

Or a lot of luck? The Cyclones came up with a win after losing to Kansas and Texas Tech, but there’s a problem. It doesn’t play BYU, Colorado, or Arizona State - the three teams its fighting against for one of the two spots.

Iowa State vs Utah: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
How To Watch: FOX
Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
Teams: Utah (4-6), Iowa State (8-2)
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Why Iowa State Will Win

Utah can’t run the ball.

The program that rose on on defense and a blasting g ground game can’t get anything moving over this brutal losing streak. It averaged almost five yards per carry during hue four wins, and it’s struggling to get three yards per pop now.

Combine that with a big, big problem completing pass - hitting just 54% - and the O doesn’t move. The Iowa State pass defense that ranks third in the nation has been fantastic, but …

Why Utah Will Win

The Iowa State run defense isn’t great.

No, Utah isn’t able to do much of anything with defenses loading up to stop the run, but this might be the chance to bust out of that. Iowa State got rolled for UCF, Kansas, and Cincinnati for almost 900 combined yards and nine touchdowns, and Texas Tech was able to run well enough to get by.

At the very least, Utah has to give it a shot. Part of the problem has been a lack of carries - the offense isn’t getting enough chances because it’s not going on long drives. Somehow keep pushing for at least 35 carries - the Utes haven’t done that since September - and …

Iowa State vs Utah: Who Will Win?

Turnovers.

Utah has a horrible mix of no offense, stressed defense, and too many mistakes with 21 turnovers on the year with most coming from the awful passing game that keeps screwing up.

To pull this off at home, the Utes have to grind the game down to a slow burn, control the clock, and hold the ball for long stretches.

Iowa State owns the time of possession battle keeping the ball for almost 32 minutes per game.