While everyone in the SEC was talking about Jacksonville State’s near-miss against Auburn, Toledo actually pulled off the big upset, going to Arkansas and coming away with the monster win. Iowa State fought well against Iowa, but lost to its in-state rival. Fortunately, beating Toledo now would qualify as a big bounceback. It’s the fourth time the two teams have played with Iowa State winning last year and going 2-1 overall. Check out the Iowa State vs. Toledo preview and prediction.

Iowa State vs. Toledo Preview & Prediction

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 19
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio
Network: ESPNews

Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak  

Why You Need To Care

Could Iowa State go on a little bit of a run? With the Kansas layup next week to start out the Big 12 season, a 3-1 start is almost assured if the Cyclones can somehow come out of the Glass Bowl with a tough win. The offense might not be balanced, and the defense is coming off a rough performance, but this might be the best ISU team in the last few years. It needs to show it against the Rockets.

Toledo might be flying high after the win over Arkansas, and now it’s time to go on a run. Arkansas State, at Ball State, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, at UMass – win this week, and the Rockets will almost certainly be 7-0 going into the Northern Illinois showdown. The offense might not have been great last week, and the secondary got torched, but all that matters is the 16-12 final score.

Why Iowa State Will Win

Time to get the passing game rolling. Iowa State might not have a running game so far, but Sam Richardson and the air show have been great, cranking out 240 yards per game. Arkansas committed to the pass, and the results were there with 412 yards from Brandon Allen. The Rockets kept the Hogs out of the end zone through the air, and came up with a pick, but with the time Richardson will get, the numbers should be astronomical.

Why Toledo Will Win

Iowa State might be throwing well, but because the running game isn’t setting up easy second and third down chances, the third down conversions aren’t there. Iowa State only hit on three of 13 chances against Northern Iowa, and it only converted four of 14 tries against Iowa. The Rockets couldn’t get the defense off the field against Arkansas – that might not be a problem this week.

Player Who Matters

Even though Toledo couldn’t play its first game of the year due to weather, it still counted towards star running back Kareem Hunt’s two game suspension. The team was able to go on without him against Arkansas and pull off the win, but the ground game only went for 81 yards and a score. Damion Jones-Moore and Marc Remy will each see carries, but this is Hunt’s time to shine. The all-star back missed last year’s game against Iowa State, and this time around he’ll be fed from the start.

What’s Going To Happen?

Toledo will keep the fun rolling with its second win over a Power Five team. The running game will be better, the offense will work more efficiently, and the Rockets will show that the Arkansas game wasn’t any sort of a fluke.

Iowa State vs. Toledo Score Prediction

Final Score: Toledo 31, Iowa State 21, Line: Toledo -7.5, o/u: 58

Must See Rating: 5: Republican Debate, Second Round – 1: Republican Debate, First Round … 3

MORE: College Football Bowl Projections After Week 2