College GameDay Predicts Iowa State Victory Over Arizona
In a highly anticipated matchup, the College GameDay crew has unanimously selected No. 14-ranked Iowa State to triumph over Arizona during their clash on Saturday. The game will showcase two undefeated teams, with Iowa State holding a record of 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big 12, while Arizona stands at 3-0.
Iowa State has faced its share of challenges this season, securing narrow victories by just three points against Kansas State and Iowa, alongside a 24-16 win over Arkansas State. The Cyclones have demonstrated resilience, guided by veteran quarterback Rocco Becht, who has thrown for 860 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception, while also scoring two rushing touchdowns. The running game is led by Carson Hansen, who has accumulated 252 rushing yards at an average of 4.7 yards per carry.
On the other hand, Arizona, under the direction of coach Brent Brennan, is emerging as one of the most improved teams in the conference after a challenging previous season that ended with a 4-8 record. The Wildcats have registered significant victories, including dominant wins over Hawaii and Weber State, along with a competitive 24-17 win against Kansas State. Quarterback Noah Fifita has been a key player, amassing 712 passing yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions, complemented by three rushing touchdowns. The Wildcats’ running game has also benefited from Texas State transfer Ismail Mahdi, who has rushed for 263 yards at an impressive average of 7.1 yards per carry.
With Iowa State favored by 4.5 points according to ESPN BET, the GameDay panel expressed their confidence in the Cyclones. Desmond Howard remarked, “Arizona’s defense is better this year, but not good enough to beat Iowa State.” Nick Saban echoed this sentiment, stating, “I just like Rocco Becht. Man, I think this guy is a winner.” The rest of the panel, including Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit, and guest picker LaVarr Arrington, agreed with the choice of Iowa State.
In terms of defense, Arizona has shown significant improvement this season, allowing only 20 total points in their first three games. This impressive performance ranks them sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 8.7 points per game, a stark contrast to their previous season’s ranking of 109th, where they allowed an average of 31.8 points per game.
One notable injury that could impact Iowa State’s performance is that star cornerback Jeremiah Cooper is not expected to play due to injury, as reported by the Des Moines Register. The two teams last faced off on the football field in 1968, and they did not meet during Arizona’s debut season in the Big 12 last year.
As the clock counts down to kickoff at 19:00 ET, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this clash between two undefeated programs unfolds.
