There’s a lot going on in the week 11 Iowa State at Texas Tech matchup. On the ISU side, Matt Campbell’s squad is trying to bounce back from a rough start to the year to somehow try and wiggle their way into the Big 12 conference game. The Cyclones are 4-2 in the conference, still trailing 6-0 Oklahoma and 5-1 Oklahoma State. Iowa State plays Oklahoma next weekend though, so they need to avoid the lookahead game.
Texas Tech is looking towards the future after firing Matt Wells a couple weeks ago and naming his replacement Joey McGuire – who won’t take over until the season ends. Sonny Cumbie is coaching in the interim, needing a win over Iowa State, #10 Oklahoma State, or #13 Baylor over the next three games to try and get bowl eligible. That’s quite the gauntlet to complete that task.
Cyclones Try to Take Care of Business
Iowa State can inch closer to getting back into the top 25 with a win on Saturday, but they also need to avoid looking ahead to currently undefeated Oklahoma (who plays #13 Baylor in week 11) next week. The Cyclones had high hopes for the year but started 2-2 with losses to Iowa and Baylor, and also dropped a 38-31 meeting with West Virginia in week 9 as -7.5 road favorites.
There’s no doubt that Iowa State has the talent to compete with anybody in the country, but they really haven’t put it all together this season. RB Breece Hall is off to the NFL next season, but until then he’s posted his second straight 1,000+ yard rushing season (1,121) and has a nice stretch of 100+ yards in six of the last seven.
ISU also has a veteran QB in Brock Purdy, the Senior who is completing a career best 72.9% of his passes this season. Purdy hasn’t thrown an interception in the last five games, and the Texas Tech pass defense is the 2nd worst in the Big 12.
TTU Looks for Stability
The week 11 Iowa State at Texas Tech matchup is the 2nd game with Sonny Cumbie in charge of the squad after the Wells firing. The interim coach was thrown to the wolves in his first game, suffering a 52-21 defeat to unbeaten Oklahoma. The Red Raiders had a bye last week though, and do have extra time to prep for the Iowa State visit.
Texas Tech did do a good job of holding the Sooners to 72 yards rushing on 20 carries – something that’s important with Breece Hall and the ISU rushing attack coming to town. Sooners QB Caleb Williams hit on 23 of 30 passes though for 402 yards and 6 TD. That has Purdy and the Iowa State passing game licking their chops for this matchup.
One major thing working against TTU in this spot is that they don’t really know who their own QB is. Tyler Shough is questionable with a collarbone injury while both Donovan Smith and Henry Colombi took snaps last game vs. Oklahoma. By the way Iowa State has the #2 defense in the Big 12 giving up just 281 yards/game.
Week 11 Iowa State at Texas Tech Pick
It’s a tough spot for the Cyclones looking ahead to the Oklahoma matchup while also going on the road and with the Red Raiders coming off the bye. Iowa State did win this matchup 31-16 at home last year, and although they may get the win on Saturday it’s going to be choppy waters with the -11 points spread.
Iowa State 27 – Texas Tech 24
Free Pick: Texas Tech +11
