Iowa State Cyclones (2-9 SU, 4-6-1 ATS) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS)
College Football Week 15
Date and Time: Saturday, December 6, 12:00pm EST
Where: Amon G Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, TX
TV: ABC
by Bob, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: ISU +33.5/TCU -33.5
Over/Under Total: 67.5
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This Saturday, Iowa State will travel to Fort Worth to take on the 3rd ranked TCU Horned Frogs. TCU is a convincing win away from making it to the college football playoffs but they need this game to be just that, convincing. Iowa State has had a rough season, winning just two games so far, and nothing would make them happier than to play spoiler to the TCU national title hopes.
Of course, TCU is heavily favored in this game against the Iowa State Cyclones. The 3rd ranked team in the nation is giving up 33.5 points to the lowly Cyclones, while the total points are set at 67.5. Currently, 69% of bettors is putting their money on TCU to cover this spread, but I am not so quick to jump on anyone who is favored by almost five touchdowns.
TCU is 10-1 and ranked 3rd in the latest college football playoff poll. A big win over Iowa State should be enough to keep TCU in that top four, but they cannot just win this game, they need to cover this spread or at least come close to covering. The only worry that TCU should have right now is that their only loss this season was to Baylor in a 61-58 shootout. Baylor is currently ranked 5th in the nation and if TCU slips up just a litle and Baylor rolls Saturday, I could see the Bears jumping TCU to make it to the Final Four. Part of me feels that Baylor should be ahead of TCU anyway, but we will see what happens come Sunday. TCU has one of the best offenses in football. Averaging 46 points a game is good enough to be ranked 3rd in the FBS. The defense is not too bad either. TCU’s scoring defense is just outside the top 25 allowing right at 21 points per game. This is a good matchup for TCU, seeing as how the Iowa State defense ranks near the bottom of the entire FBS. If TCU can play four quarters on both sides of the ball, I think they can win this game with ease.
Iowa State is not only 2-9, but they have not won a Big 12 Conference game yet. At 0-8, the Cyclones are dead last in the Big 12 and nothing would be sweeter than 1-8 and ruining the chance of TCU to win a national title. Now, winning this game is a huge longshot for Iowa State. Their defense is ranked 115th in the nation, allowing over 37.4 points per game and this match-up against TCU will not be easy. Not only does Iowa State struggle on defense, their offense is not much better. The Cyclones offense is barely ranked in the top 100 in scoring, and they are ranked 108th in rushing yards on offense. What needs to happen for the upset or at least to cover the 33.5 is that Iowa State needs to score points. If they struggle on offense and let TCU jump out early, it could be a long, long day for ISU. The Iowa State passing game is actually not too bad. They need to come out, play loose, and let it fly. They have nothing to lose.
Being a Georgia Bulldogs fan, my team has no chance to win a national title now, therefore I am pulling for TCU to make a run. Although they are a great team, I still kinda consider them an underdog for a national title run. With that said, TCU MUST blow out Iowa State. There will be no letting up in the game because Gary Patterson and the Frogs know that they cannot risk an upset or even a near upset. This is a statement game for TCU and I think they come in and beat the brakes off of Iowa State. I sense a 56-10 type game here on Saturday.
Bob’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: PICK THE TCU HORNED FROGS -33.5