The Iowa State Cyclones boast a 4-1 all-time edge over the Utah Utes, but it’s worth noting that all four wins happened before 1980. Utah, on the other hand, made a statement in their most recent meeting, steamrolling Iowa State 68-27 back in 2010.
Our Iowa State vs. Utah prediction breaks down this intriguing matchup, providing key betting insights to help shape your picks.
Iowa State vs. Utah Betting Preview
All Iowa State vs. Utah odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Iowa State -5 - Spread
Iowa State -6.5 - Moneyline
Iowa State -250, Utah +205 - Over/Under
42.5 points - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Nov. 23 - Location
Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City - Predicted Weather at Kick
53 degrees, 9 mph winds, cloudy - How To Watch
Fox
Iowa State is 7-1 against the spread in their last eight road games, making the Week 13 matchup with Utah, who is 1-5 ATS in its last six, even juicier.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Utes have played in quite a few low-scoring and one-sided bouts this year, with the under hitting in five of their past six contests.
The Cyclones have a trend of their own that could continue this week: since Week 2, the total has alternated between the over and under. With their previous matchup going under, the over is the play this week, right?
Iowa State’s Winning Probability
The Cyclones are going bowling for the seventh time in head coach Matt Campbell’s nine years at the helm, but they have their eyes set on more in 2024. At 5-2 in the conference, they are fourth in the Big 12 standings with two contests left — one game back from the Colorado Buffaloes and BYU Cougars and tied with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
- at Utah: 64.6%
- vs. Kansas State: 57.4%
Utah’s Winning Probability
After riding out to a 4-0 start to the season, injuries have decimated the Utes’ roster, resulting in six straight losses. Bowl eligibility is still within reach, but banking on Utah defeating Iowa State and UCF to finish the season is a tall order.
- vs. Iowa State: 35.4%
- at UCF: 50.0%
Prediction for Iowa State vs. Utah
Despite dealing with a laundry list of injuries, the Utes had managed to hold their ground on defense—until last week. Colorado hung 49 points on them, the first time Utah allowed more than 30 all season. It feels like a breaking point for a team that’s now playing for little more than pride in 2024. Both sides of the ball are out of sync, and any semblance of momentum has evaporated.
Iowa State doesn’t have a Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter on offense, but Rocco Becht has been quietly effective at quarterback. He’s handled pressure well, avoiding sacks, and he’s been aggressive in stretching the field, with an impressive 9.6 average depth of target.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The Cyclones don’t need Becht to be a game-changer, though. Their rushing attack ranks 21st in EPA per carry, providing a solid backbone for their offense. And on the other side of the ball, Iowa State’s defense swings this matchup further in their favor. Utah’s offense has been among the conference’s worst (22.7 points per game, third-worst; 353.8 yards per game, second-worst), and now faces a Cyclones defense ranked 20th in EPA per play.
Turnovers are another key factor. Utah’s dismal -8 turnover differential stands in stark contrast to Iowa State’s +8. No matter how you slice it, the Utes come up short in every critical area against the Cyclones.
I’m calling for another blowout. Iowa State takes care of business, and Utah’s struggles continue.
Prediction: Iowa State 37, Utah 17
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.