Free College Football Picks Today: Iowa State Cyclones vs Oklahoma Sooners 10/29/22

The Iowa State University Cyclones (3-4, 0-4 Big 12) and their exceptional rushing defense play host to the University of Oklahoma Sooners (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) and their powerful ground offense at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday. The Sooners are one-point favorites, and the total is 56. Oklahoma is coming off a 52-42 win over No. 19 Kansas at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 15.

Dillon Gabriel threw for 403 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Eric Gray ran 20 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Marvin Mims caught nine passes for 106 yards. Iowa State dropped a fourth straight game on October 15, falling 24-21 to No. 22 Texas at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium/Jamail Field.

Hunter Dekkers was 25 of 36 for 329 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He added 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Xavier Hutchinson hauled in 10 receptions for 154 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Sooners won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 28-21 victory in November. Caleb Williams threw one touchdown for Oklahoma.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Sooners are averaging 33.9 points per game for the season, 36th in FBS, and they are facing a Cyclones defense that has surrendered 15.1 PPG (6th). Meanwhile, Iowa State has scored 22.9 points a game this season, 103rd in the country, and Oklahoma is allowing 31.0 PPG (102nd).

The Sooners rank as one of the nation’s top teams in rushing yards per game (222.6, 14th), while they are 59th in passing yards (249.3). They will be matching strength against strength on the ground, as the Cyclones are 15th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (105.3). Against the pass, Iowa State is 16th (184.4).

Iowa State has been one of the nation’s least productive rushing teams, averaging 101.7 yards per game (119th), while ranking 40th in passing yards (267.9). Oklahoma’s defense has been most susceptible on the ground, as the Sooners are 121st in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (207.4). Against the pass, the Sooners are 85th (239.7).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through six games, Dillon Gabriel has thrown for 13 touchdowns (1 INT) and 269.7 yards per game to lead Oklahoma in passing. In two away games this season, he has two TDs and an average of 178.0 yards passing. Eric Gray leads the team in rushing with an average of 99.3 yards a game over seven games.

He has five touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Marvin Mims is the Sooners’ leading receiver with 77.4 yards a game and three TDs. Hunter Dekkers has 13 passing touchdowns (7 INT) with 263.3 yards per game through seven games to lead Iowa State. In four home games this season, he has thrown for nine TDs (3 INT) and an average of 260.8 yards.

Jirehl Brock has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 56.9 yards a game through seven games. He has three total touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Xavier Hutchinson has been a workhorse in the Cyclones’ aerial attack. He has five touchdowns and a 108.3 yard per game average through seven appearances.