Week one of the college football season is here. Iowa State plays North Dakota, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Aug. 31; 2:30 p.m. (CT); Jack Trice Stadium; Ames, Iowa.
TV: FS1
Iowa State vs. North Dakota betting odds: Iowa State -27, 51.5 over/under (odds from Action Network)
Records: (2023) Iowa State, 7-6; North Dakota, 7-5.
Last Week: Opening game for both teams.
Series History: This is their first meeting.
Last Meeting: This is their first meeting.
Fun Fact: Iowa State has won their last two opening games by a combined score of 72 to 19. The Cyclones are also looking to win their fourth straight home opener.
Key Players
North Dakota
RB Gaven Ziebarth: Gaven will be the main focus of North Dakota’s offense after quarterback Tommy Schuster transferred out of the program. Last season, Gaven rushed for a team-high 700 yards and nine scores. With a brand-new starting quarterback coming in, I expect Gaven to get plenty of touches in this game.
LB Wyatt Pedigo: Wyatt is one of the leaders of the Hawks’ defense. The senior linebacker led the team in sacks (4.0) and tackles last season (72). He tied for second on the team in quarterback hurries (8) and led the nation in fumble recoveries last season (4).
Iowa State
RB Abu Sama III: Normally, I would go with Rocco Becht here, but the guy I really want to see on Saturday is Abu Sama III. We saw flashes from him last season, including his breakout game against Kansas State in the snow, where he ran for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He is going to play a crucial role once again in helping Iowa State establish a run game.
LB Caleb Bacon: Is there anything better than Bacon? The former walk-on is now one of the best players for the Cyclones, and for good reason. Bacon finished second on the team in tackles (60) and was tied for second in sacks (3). He should see plenty of opportunities to rack up some stats against North Dakota.
Key Storylines
North Dakota
Can North Dakota Hang Around?
For the Hawks, they are going to have to try and control the game on the ground. Limiting possessions and mistakes is the name of the game here. If they can do that and keep the game close, then anything could happen in a one possession ball game. While they aren’t as good as the other teams in the Dakotas, North Dakota is still one of the better teams in the FCS.
Iowa State
The Line of Scrimmage
Improvement is needed on the line of scrimmage. The Cyclones should fire off the ball and open up holes for the running backs while the defensive line creates pressure up front. There is no reason Iowa State should go for under 150 on the ground in this game. Defensively, I would like to see them with at least three or more sacks.
Prediction: Iowa State 34, North Dakota: 10
While they have been much better in the last few years, there was a time when I would worry about these types of games. Iowa State has one of their most talented teams in the Matt Campbell era this season, and there are plenty of offensive weapons to put up some points. The defense shouldn’t have much of an issue with North Dakota breaking in a brand-new quarterback and having to replace many starters. Iowa State may not cover the spread, but they will easily win and put the game away by the time the third quarter is over.
