Iowa State Cyclones vs Colorado Buffaloes Pick and Prediction October 11th, 2025
Use Code SSWC The #22 Iowa State Cyclones will travel to Colorado to take on the Buffaloes in a Big 12 matchup on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST in Folsom Field. Check out our Iowa State Cyclones vs Colorado Buffaloes pick and prediction here!
Iowa State is ranked 22nd overall thanks to their 5-1 overall record and 2-1 record in their respective conference. While four other teams are ahead of them in the conference with a 2-0 record, there is plenty of time for each team to mess up and for the Cyclones to take advantage. However, they cannot afford to slip up here. Meanwhile, Colorado is 0-3 in conference play this season and 2-4 overall. They are looking to avoid a three-game losing streak here. Iowa State is a 2.5-point favorite in this one while the total is set at 52 points. Can the Buffaloes earn a home upset win?
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Cyclones Climbing Up
Iowa State lost their first game of the season to the Cincinnati Bearcats by a score of 38-30 in their most recent contest. Rocco Becht went 30/48 for 314 yards and two touchdowns while Abu Sama II had 18 carries for 96 yards. Becht had two rushing touchdowns, and Brett Eskildsen led the receiving core with eight receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Ta'Shawn James had the most tackles and tackle assists with four and five respectively while nobody was able to come up with a sack or an interception on defense.
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The Cyclones will have eight new players arriving through the transfer portal, while 17 players will be departing the program. Among the incoming transfers, Chase Sowell, Derek Jensen, and Tre Hall are the most highly rated. Tyler Onyedim and Jack Sadowsky V are going to be the biggest losses for the Cyclones this season. Iowa State has a large number of players on the injured list, totaling 17. Only four players are listed as questionable while the rest are either out or doubtful.
Becht is the leader on offense for the Cyclones with a 64.9% completion percentage, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and 1,417 yards. Carson Hensen is the leading running back on the squad with 79 carries, 348 yards, and two touchdowns. However, Becht is the leading rusher in terms of rushing touchdowns with seven. Among the receivers, Benjamin Brahmer has the most receptions with 19 and touchdowns with three, but Eskildsen has the most yards receiving with 321. Marcus Neal Jr. is leading the defense with 39 total tackles and 23 solo tackles. Tamatoa McDonough is the only player with multiple sacks on the year and James has the most passes defended with four. Jamison Patton is the only player with more than one interception on the season, and he has two.
Buffaloes at the Bottom
Colorado fell to TCU by a score of 35-21 last week. Kaidon Salter went 18/29 passing for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Dallan Hayden was the leading rusher with 61 yards on only nine carries, but Salter rushed for the only touchdown. Omarion Miller led the way among the receivers with six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. DJ McKinney had seven tackles on the day while Keaten Wade and London Merritt had a sack each.
Aside from the obvious key losses in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes are bringing in 33 new faces to their program, while 33 players have decided to leave the university. Among the top players going out, Nikhai Hill-Green, Colton Hood, and Adrian Wilson are ranked as the top players. However, Colorado brought in players such as Jehiem Oatis, Sincere Brown, and Noah King to help mitigate the losses. So far, it has not been working despite the impressive talent. It is clear this team needs a little time to gel before they can hopefully get back to relevancy. As bad as Iowa State is with the injuries, Colorado has it worse with 22 players listed on the injury report. Wade and Merritt are probable while three players, including King are questionable for this upcoming contest. The rest are either out or doubtful.
Salter is leading the offense with a 65.8% completion percentage for 901 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Micah Welch is the primary rusher with 250 yards on 52 carries, while Salter is second in both categories and leads in rushing touchdowns with five. Miller is barely ahead in receptions with 17 and is leading the receivers in yards with 289. He also has a team-high three receiving touchdowns. Among the defensive players, Tawfiq Byard has a team-high 40 total tackles and Keaten Wade has the most sacks with 2.5. Preston Hodge has the most passes defended with six, while McKinney and RJ Johnson each have an interception on the year.
Iowa State vs Colorado Pick
Spread Pick for Iowa State vs Colorado
- Iowa State -2.5 (4 units)
This is not the same Colorado team that had Sanders and Heisman winner Travis Hunter. While injuries remain prevalent, it not a good enough excuse to be 0-2 in the conference and a subpar overall record. I'm taking Iowa State who has a legitimate chance to be in playoff contention with the small spread here. The Cyclones have gone 1-1 on the road this season and their only loss was by one score against a much better team in Cincinnati. I'm making sure I don't overthink this and taking the ranked team with a small spread here.
Over/Under pick for Iowa State vs Colorado
- Under 52 (4 units)
Considering this game is projected to be close, I expect Iowa State to put on a much better showing on defense compared to how they performed last week. Before their game against Cincinnati, the Cyclones gave up an average of just over 14 points per game this season. Colorado is 4-2 on the under this season and the under has been hit in their last two meetings against each other. Both teams should want to establish a solid rushing attack, which will take time off the clock and limit the possibility of both sides obtaining more points. Colorado has scored 21 points or fewer in three of their last four games as well.
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