Arkansas State vs Iowa State Picks and Prediction – 9/21/2024

On Saturday, the Arkansas State Red Wolves (2-1) face off against the 20th ranked Iowa State Cyclones (2-0) at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. Get the rest of our free college football picks here!

Iowa State comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games dating back to last season. In a thrilling 20-19 victory over the 21st-ranked Iowa, quarterback Rocco Becht delivered an impressive performance, completing 23 out of 35 passes for a total of 272 yards and throwing two touchdown passes. During the previous season, Becht accumulated 3,120 passing yards. Running back Abu Sama III contributed significantly to the ground game, rushing for 614 yards. Meanwhile, wide receiver Jayden Higgins was a standout receiver, amassing 983 yards in catches for the Cyclones. Defensively, Iowa State struggled towards the end of the last season, conceding an average of 27.6 points over their final five games. They wrapped up the season with a 7-6 record, which included a 36-23 loss to Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. Aiming to surpass their previous performance and improve their win-loss tally, Iowa State has been recognized in the latest AP Poll’s Top 25 rankings. On average, the Cyclones managed to score 26.2 points per game last season.

Arkansas State comes into this matchup on a one-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games dating back to last season. Facing a challenging match against the 17th-ranked Michigan team, the Arkansas State Red Wolves fell short, losing 28-18. Jaylen Raynor, the team's quarterback, completed 19 out of 33 pass attempts, accumulating a total of 140 passing yards during the game. Reflecting on the previous season, Raynor delivered an impressive performance with a total of 2,550 passing yards. Complementing his efforts, running back Ja’Quez Cross amassed 716 rushing yards, and wide receiver Corey Rucker contributed 705 receiving yards for the team. In their concluding five games of last season, Arkansas State's defense conceded an average of 25 points per game. This defensive struggle was evident in their overall 6-7 season record, which ended with a narrow 21-19 loss to Northern Illinois in the Camellia Bowl. As the Red Wolves aim to recover from their recent defeat against Michigan, they are gearing up for an away game against the 20th-ranked Iowa State. Looking back, the Red Wolves averaged a solid 27.1 points per game throughout the last season. Their upcoming game presents a crucial opportunity to regain momentum and aim for a successful season ahead.

Arkansas State recently suffered a defeat at the hands of Michigan and will be eager to bounce back as they play away from home. Meanwhile, Iowa State, currently holding the 20th spot in the latest AP Poll rankings, aims to continue their impressive winning streak. Give me the home team in this one. Final Score Prediction, Iowa State Cyclones win and cover the spread, 36-13.