Oklahoma State Football: Can Cowboys upset Iowa State in Week 9?

Oklahoma State football will take part in a Homecoming game for the second straight week, this time as a visitor. Can the Cowboys pull a Week 9 upset?

No. 23 Iowa State (5-2, 3-1) welcomes Oklahoma State (4-3, 1-3) in Week 9 for its 2019 Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon. Though the Cyclones seemingly have OSU’s number, having won last year’s contest, 48-42, that home loss by the Cowboys actually snapped a six-game winning streak against Iowa State.

Iowa State has won five games, with its only two losses coming to ranked opponents (No. 23 Iowa and No. 14 Baylor) on the road. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, is on a two-game slide and is searching for answers. In consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Baylor, redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders has accounted for eight turnovers.

Iowa State is seeking to better its 8-5 record each of the past two seasons and is entering a critical stretch of its season. The Cyclones will have a bye after this weekend before traveling to Oklahoma and then hosting Texas in back-to-back contests.

OSU has lost three of its first four Big 12 contests for the second year in a row. Last season, the Cowboys responded by beating then-No. 6 Texas. Can OSU pull off a similar upset after this season’s 1-3 start to conference play?

Here’s how you can watch:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ames, Iowa
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium
TV: FS1
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

For the Cowboys’ defense, the key will be slowing down Iowa State Brock Purdy. The sophomore quarterback has been sensational to this season, ranking fifth in the nation in passing yards (2,185) in addition to throwing 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

In Iowa State’s 34-24 win against Texas Tech last week, Purdy compiled a 195.8 passer rating by completing 23-of-32 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns.

OSU’s passing defense has allowed 258 yards per game through the air and is No. 126 out of 130 FBS teams in yards per completion allowed (14.26).

For the Cowboy offense, limiting turnovers will once again be the crucial focus. The offensive line, which was partly responsible for the seven sacks allowed against Texas Tech in Week 6, will be the key to helping Sanders have enough time to make throws from the pocket.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of The Action Network

Line: Iowa State -10.5
Over/Under: 64

Prediction

Iowa State, since falling behind 20-0 against Baylor in its Big 12 opener, has put together an impressive run behind the passing accuracy of Purdy. They’ve won their past three games against TCU, West Virginia, and Texas Tech all by double-digits. Expect this trend to continue at home against the Cowboys, who have lost six straight conference road games dating to last year.

If OSU can’t efficiently get the ball to star wideout Tylan Wallace deep while balancing the ground attack with the nation’s leader rusher in Chuba Hubbard, expect the Cyclones to make quick work of the Cowboys.

Final Score: Iowa State 31, Oklahoma State 20