The Oklahoma State Cowboys play host to the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday in a crucial Big 12 showdown. The Cowboys return home, having lost two in a row and three of their last four overall, in a shocking turn of recent events. For the Cyclones, finally snapped their own losing last week, which should help them regain some confidence. This has always been a back-and-forth affair and there's little doubt that should be the case again in this one.
Iowa State has had an up-and down-season already in 2022 but after grabbing the win last week, they might be headed down the right path to close out the year. The Cyclones were dominant against West Virginia last week and there's little doubt that they have the talent to take down the Cowboys, though doing so on the road could be a challenge. Iowa State only has one road win in the season and has struggled to move the ball away from home. With some challenging games coming up, this team knows that getting the win in this one is crucial to keep the momentum going in the right direction.
One piece of good news is that Iowa State heads into this one without any injuries to worry about. Given the concerns surrounding their upfront talent, winning depth might be their best option.
Homecoming W!
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& mdash; Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) November 5, 2022
Offensively, the Cyclones are likely to win this one if they can get the running game going early on. They rank 118th nationally on the ground and going on the road, they won't be able to find control in this one unless that changes. Through the air, it hasn't been a problem for this group, which could come as good news given the Cowboys' issues in the secondary. Hunter Dekkers (16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) has been strong but he'll need to be sharp with the ball in this one.
Iowa State does have one of college football's best defenses this season, which is crucial as they hit the road in this one. They rank tenth nationally in total defense and are ninth in scoring defense. Considering the firepower Oklahoma State has in the passing game, this group is actually well-versed to find success in this one.