After returning to the win column with a win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders last season, the Texas Longhorns will look to go back-to-back for the first time since October when they host the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones this coming Saturday. While neither are listed with odds to win the College Football Championship, bettors are intrigued by the close 3-point (at press) spread. Read on for a preview of this matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Iowa State Cyclones vs Texas Longhorns Week 11 College Football Game on November 17 2018
Where: Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium
When: Saturday, November 17, 2018, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Iowa State Cyclones (+3) vs Texas Longhorns (-3) – view all 2018 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: Longhorn Network
Betting on the Iowa State Cyclones (6-3 Overall / 5-2 Conference)
First, the good news: Iowa State extended its win streak to five games by beating the Baylor Bears over the weekend, 28-14. As for the bad news, the Cyclones could be without star running back David Montgomery for at least the first half of this coming Saturday’s game against the Longhorns. Montgomery was thrown out of the Baylor game for getting involved in a scuffle. The Big 12 will review the incident, which could end up in the tailback getting barred from joining the team in the first two quarters of the Texas game. If that’s going to be the case, then the Cyclones will have to rely more on their passing attack, which is being led by quarterback Brock Purdy. The freshman signal-caller had 230 passing yards and a touchdown on 18-of-23 completions against Baylor, while adding 56 rushing yards and a score on 12 carries. Iowa State’s defense will also be highlighted against Texas. The program is 18th in the nation with 20.4 points allowed per game and 27th with just 344.4 total yards surrendered per contest.
The under is 8-2 in the Longhorns’ last 10 road games.
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (7-3 Overall / 5-2 Conference)
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for the Longhorns, who used to have their eyes on a possible rise all the way into the CFP picture but virtually let that goal fly away after going 1-2 in their last three games. Still, a win against a ranked team like Iowa State could strengthen the Longhorns’ bid for a glossier Bowl game. The Longhorns are coming off a 41-34 win in Lubbock over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, which also snapped their two-game losing skid. Against Texas Tech, Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger had his guns blazing, passing for 312 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions on 22-of-34 completions. Running back Lil’Jordan Humphrey, meanwhile, had 159 rushing yards and a touchdown on just eight carries for an incredible average if 19.9 yards per carry. With the one-two punch combo of Ehlinger and Humphrey, Texas’ offense looks capable of putting up points in a hurry. Texas is averaging 33.2 points and 426.8 total yards per game, ranked 30th and 42nd in the nation, so far this season.
Texas is 2-1-1 ATS in its last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas wins, 28-24.
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