Oklahoma Football vs Iowa State: Predictions, live stream, keys to victory
Oklahoma Football is playing for its sixth straight Big 12 Championship, while Iowa State is looking for its first conference championship since 1912
Saturday’s Big 12 Championship will be a game of contrasting style, as Oklahoma football and head coach Lincoln Riley bring the fireworks on offense with quarterback Spencer Rattler, while Iowa State and head coach Matt Campbell bring a tough and physical team that tries to grind out wins with the running game and defense.
This is of course a rematch from a game that was played early in the season, with Iowa State winning 37-30 in a shootout and reshaping their season, after they opened with a loss to Louisiana.
Oklahoma has not lost a game since their loss to the Cyclones and the Sooners had been playing their best football of the season before a sloppy game against Baylor two weeks ago.
The first matchup was a statistically similar matchup, with Iowa State just barely out-gaining Oklahoma, 417-414, both teams turning it over just once, and both teams committing nine penalties.
Rattler was making just his third start and was coming off of a loss to Kansas State a week earlier. But he finished with 300 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. Rattler has improved a lot over the course of the season, but Saturday will be the biggest test of the season against an Iowa State defense that is playing its best football of the season.
Iowa State relied on star running back Breece Hall in the first matchup and Hall answered the call, rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Hall has been one of the best players in the country all season, but it could be the development of quarterback Brock Purdy that could push the Cyclone to victory. Purdy came into the season with expectations, but failed to meet them early on. Purdy is playing his best football of the season and is hoping he can cap it off with a Big 12 Championship.
Here is how you can watch Iowa State Vs Oklahoma on Saturday.
Date: Saturday, Dec. 19
Time: 12:00 p.m ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium
Location: Arlington, TX
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN and FUBO TV
Keys to Victory
For the Iowa State offense, it is going to be on the shoulders of Brock Purdy. Breece Hall is a great player and I think he will have a great game regardless of the result, but Purdy is the key to the game for the Iowa State Cyclones. If Purdy can make key throws and not turn the ball over, Iowa State could be celebrating its first ever Big 12 Championship on Saturday.
For the Iowa State defense, getting pressure on Rattler will be huge. Rattler has not done well when he has been pressured this season and that was a key for the Cyclones in the last game. Oklahoma does not have the offensive line that it usually does and that has affected Rattler is certain games.
For the Oklahoma offense, it is going to need to run the ball better than they did in the first game. The Sooners did not have a player run for over 50 yards in the loss and only averaged 3.5 YPC. Iowa State has one of the best defenses in the country and any running yards will be hard to come by.
For the Sooners defense, preventing the big play is the key to stopping Iowa State. Hall is a big play machine and is capable of ripping off long runs at anytime. Purdy is going to be looking to push the ball down the field if the Sooner stack the box to stop Hall and Oklahoma has to stop big plays.
Betting Odds
Spread: Oklahoma -5.5
Total: 57.5
Prediction
I think this will be one of the best games on Saturday and could wind up being the most competitive. Both teams are hoping for chaos at the top and a chance to make a run at the college football playoff.
This game will feature two of the best coaches in the country and two of the most exciting players in the country in Rattler and Hall.
I expect this game to be a shootout of sorts and I think Iowa State is playing great football at the right point in the season. However, it is hard to beat good teams twice in one year and it is hard to bet against Lincoln Riley in a Big 12 Championship.
Final Score: Oklahoma 38, Iowa State 31