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After losing to of their last three games, the Oklahoma Sooners have gone from a top 10 team in the nation to the No. 19/20 team in the country in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, respectively. The Sooners are likely out of the playoff picture, but a conference title still looms.
On the other hand, the Iowa State Cyclones have lose three of four and are definitely out of conference title hopes after an 0-4 start in Big 12 play. From here on out, the Cyclones will be playing spoiler as three ranked conference foes remain on their schedule.
Oklahoma has relied heavily on sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight this season as the young gun has led the 40th-best passing offense in the nation. Knight, a second-year starter, has passed for 1,821 yards with just nine touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 59 percent of his throws. The sophomore QB has also been able to work with his legs, rushing for another 149 yards and adding two rushing scores. Freshman running back Samaje Perine leads all rushers with 657 yards and 10 touchdowns while he is still looking for his second career 100-yard game. Sterling Shepard has been Knight’s favorite target in the pass game, grabbing 49 receptions for 911 yards and five touchdowns while the next closest receiver, Durron Neal, has just 26 catches for 339 yards and a single score. Last year’s quarterback Blake Bell is fourth on the team in receptions with 11 for 132 yards and two scores.
Iowa State’s junior quarterback Sam B. Richardson had a mediocre overall season in 2013 and the coaches wanted to see vast improvement in 2014 if he wanted to keep his starting job. Well, Richardson has responded, already surpassing his passing yards and touchdowns from a season ago, accounting for 1,699 yards, 13 touchdowns and a 61 percent completion rate. His legs have also been improved as he leads all rushers with 319 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Aaron Wimberly is right behind Richardson with 268 yards and a team-leading four rushing touchdowns. Allen Lazard has been one of the junior QB’s favorite targets, catching 29 passes for a team-high 392 yards and three scores. Wide out E.J. Bibbs leads the team in receptions, 32, and touchdowns, six, while accounting for 263 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Cyclones have owned one of the worst units in the nation this season. Iowa State has the 109th-ranked scoring defense in the country as well as the 103rd-ranked total defense. Oklahoma has struggled a bit this season, surprisingly, ranking 39th in points allowed per contest as well as 63rd in total yards allowed per game — especially struggling against the pass. Iowa State fans will be out in big numbers, hoping to play spoiler to the Sooners’ conference title hopes.
Oklahoma will travel to Iowa State to take on the Cyclones at 12 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 1. The game will be broadcasted on FOX Sports 1.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma 41, Iowa State 17
Want to see the Sooners take on the Cyclones in week 10? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
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