The Iowa State University Cyclones (3-0, 2-0 Home) host the No. 17 Baylor University Bears (2-1, 0-1 Away) at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday for a Big 12 Conference opener that pits superb defense against powerful offense. The Cyclones are three-point favorites, and the total is 45. Baylor is coming off a one-sided 42-7 win over Texas State at McLane Stadium last Saturday. Blake Shapen threw for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Richard Reese ran 19 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Gavin Holmes caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Iowa State beat Ohio 43-10 at Jack Trice Stadium last Saturday. Hunter Dekkers was 28 of 36 for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Jirehl Brock carried seven times for 76 yards. Xavier Hutchinson scored once. He hauled in nine receptions for 93 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Bears won the only game between the teams last season, a 31-29 victory in September. Gerry Bohanon threw two touchdowns for Baylor. Breece Hall had three touchdowns (2 rush, 1 rec) for Iowa State.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Bears are averaging 43.7 points per game so far this season, 16th in FBS, and they are facing a Cyclones defense that has surrendered 9.0 PPG (11th). Meanwhile, Iowa State has scored 31.7 points a game this season, 74th in the country, and Baylor is allowing 14.3 PPG (24th).The Bears rank as one of the country’s top teams in rushing yards per game (234.7, 16th), while they are 92nd in passing yards (219.7). They will be matching strength against strength on the ground, as the Cyclones are fifth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (60.0). Against the pass, Iowa State is 25th (174.3).Iowa State is 49th in the country in passing yards per game (259.0) and 77th in rushing (156.0), while the Bears are allowing 206.3 passing yards (59th) and 84.0 rushing yards per game (23rd).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through three games, Shapen has thrown for four touchdowns (1 INT) and 178.3 yards per game to lead Baylor in passing. In one previous away game this season, he had one TD and 137 yards passing. Reese leads the team in rushing with an average of 79.0 yards a game over three games. He has five touchdowns on the ground. Hal Presley is the Bears’ leading receiver with 31.0 yards a game and one TD. Dekkers has eight passing touchdowns (3 INT) with 248.3 yards per game through three games to lead Iowa State. In two home games this season, he has thrown for seven TDs (1 INT) and an average of 280.5 yards. Brock has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 93.3 yards a game through three games. He has one touchdown. Hutchinson has been a workhorse in the Cyclones’ aerial attack. He has five touchdowns and a 106.3 yard per game average through three appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Baylor (+120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
