The Iowa State Cyclones put together an impressive offense last season but it fizzled when the team needed it the most. They’ll look to rectify that in 2020 as they kick off their campaign Saturday afternoon against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Iowa State is a double-digit favorite in the opener and will be aiming to light up the scoreboard behind standout quarterback Brock Purdy.
- Date/Time: September 12, 12 noon ET
- Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Sportsbook Odds: Iowa State -11.5 | O/U 58 (Line History)
- Louisiana vs Iowa State Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Iowa State opened the betting as an 11.5-point favorite, though the line has settled at -11 in most spots. The total started at 58 but has since moved down a point.
Louisiana News & Notes
The Ragin’ Cajuns were fun for fans and bettors alike for most of the 2019 season, getting off to a 10-2 SU start while going an incredible 9-3 ATS over that stretch. Things might be even more explosive this year for a team that ranked eighth in the country in total yards and returns eight offensive starters, including the backfield duo of Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas.
The pair combined for 1,967 rushing yards and 27 TDs on the ground, and could provide a stiff test for an Iowa State team that ranked inside the top 50 in fewest rush yards allowed per game (139.5). Also returning to the fold are QB Levi Lewis (26 TDs, 4 INTs last season) and three key starters on an offensive line that allowed the fewest tackles for a loss in the country (3.29/game).
Iowa State News & Notes
When the guy who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and accounted for 35 touchdowns is back for another year, your offense is in a pretty good place. That’s what the Cyclones have in QB Brock Purdy, who completed nearly 66 percent of his passes while throwing for 27 scores, adding eight more on the ground and getting sacked just 16 times all season.
Purdy isn’t the only talented player returning to an Iowa State team coming off the best offensive showing in school history. Breece Hall is back after shining as a freshman (897 rushing yards, 9 TDs); he had four 100-yard rushing performances in a five-game span at one point. Also returning is tight end Charlie Kolar, who finished fifth at the position in receiving yards (697).
Betting Pick: OVER 57 (-110)
Both of these teams are capable of racking up points, and with defenses scrambling to keep up in what will be a truly bizarre college football season, we should see crooked numbers from both sides.
- Louisiana was 6th in rush yards per game last year.
- Hall had 23 catches for 252 yards and a TD in 2019.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns went 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games of 2019.
