2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: Iowa State Cyclones Stats & Odds
Becht Primed to Pace 2024 Iowa State Cyclones Stats
The Iowa State Cyclones are one of the many contenders in a wide-open Big 12 Conference. They won seven games last season, and oddsmakers expect them to take another step forward in 2024 as most key starters return under head coach Matt Campbell.
The program is seeking its first bowl victory since its triumphant 2020 season, when it beat Oregon in the BCS Fiesta Bowl.
What should bettors expect? Read on as we break down the odds and forecast the 2024 Iowa State Cyclones stats in our team preview.
At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| Championship | +3500 | +3500 |
| Conference | +900 | +1000 |
| Regular Season Win Total | 7.5 (o-110, u-110) | 7.5 (o-105, u-115) |
| To Make Playoffs | N/A | N/A |
Opportunity Knocks for Iowa State
Iowa State surprised some doubters last season, finishing 7-6. The Cyclones — who were projected for 6.0 regular-season wins — lost 36-26 to Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. That marked the sixth bowl appearance in eight seasons under head coach Matt Campbell and their first winning season since 2021 (7-6).
Campbell, one of the Big 12 Conference’s longest-tenured coaches, is primed to build off last year’s success. The Cyclones return nearly every starter on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Rocco Becht. Becht, the son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, is still young, though he threw for 3,120 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions as a redshirt freshman. He was sensational in the bowl game (22-38, 446 yards, 3 TD), albeit in a losing effort.
A majority of the defense is back as well, which could give the Cyclones a leg up on most teams in the conference.
With perennial powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas SEC-bound in the latest wave of college realignment, the door’s open for Iowa State to make a run at a long-awaited conference title. The Cyclones are one of seven schools at 10/1, proving there’s not much separating the league’s upper half.
Iowa State has won seven or more games six times under Campbell, highlighted by a Fiesta Bowl appearance (9-3, 8-1) during the COVID-impacted 2020 season. Campbell also has a 40-34 record in conference play and is 2-4 in bowl games.
The Cyclones might not challenge for a playoff spot, but they still have the opportunity to enjoy a successful season given the continuity on the roster.
Here’s a closer look at the projected 2024 Iowa State Cyclones stats.
Working with some of the best!@RoccoBecht | @mpa_info
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— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) July 3, 2024
Championship Odds: Don’t Count on It
Iowa State has never won a national championship, and that’s not changing anytime soon. The Cyclones are talented enough to compete with some of the Big 12’s top-tier programs but still aren’t on par with college football behemoths like Georgia, Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State.
The Cyclones have a few difficult tests out of the gate, starting with the Aug. 31 opener against FCS contender North Dakota and followed Sept. 7 with a trip to in-state rival Iowa. That should tell a lot about the Cyclones’ capabilities of having a winning season.
- For Iowa State to make the playoffs, Becht will need to be even better than he was last season. Even then, it still won’t be enough to raise the bar tenfold. It’s no wonder the Cyclones’ college football championship odds are +3500.
Bettors would be better off putting their money elsewhere.
Conference Odds: Door’s Open in New-Look Big 12
Iowa State realistically has an easier path to a Big 12 title following the departures of Oklahoma and Texas. Still, there’s a lot they’ll need to overcome to make it a reality.
Utah (+320) and Kansas State (+350) are deemed the favorites, with Oklahoma State (+750) a distant third. Iowa State, meanwhile, is tied for the fifth-best odds.
Whether or not the Cyclones cash in on those odds may not be decided until the regular season’s final month. November is shaping up to be daunting, with games at Kansas (+900) and Utah preceding a visit from Kansas State.
If they aren’t already out of the Big 12 race, the Cyclones should have an opportunity to climb the pecking order.
Iowa State went 6-3 in conference play last season and owns a .555 winning percentage against Big 12 opponents since the start of 2020.
Regular Season Wins: Expectations Remain Relatively Steady
The Cyclones have posted a winning record in six of the last seven seasons, topping out at No. 7 in the AP poll (2021). Campbell’s winning percentage during that time is .561.
They are projected for 7.5 wins, and odds have stayed relatively consistent since the start of the offseason.
Can they still change? Sure. But at this point, it seems pretty unlikely.
The Cyclones will go so far as Becht takes them. If he can build off his strong freshman season and post strong 2024 Iowa State Cyclones stats, the Cyclones are capable of taking another step forward and surpassing expectations once again. The schedule is difficult but not overly daunting. It helps no longer dealing with Oklahoma and Texas.
To Make Playoffs: Not Yet Under Consideration
There’s more opportunity this season with the playoff field tripling in size from four to 12 teams. That said, Iowa State’s chances of qualifying are still very slim. In fact, their odds aren’t even listed across most sportsbooks.
That could change, of course. But the Cyclones will need to start fast and avoid potential roadblocks in Big 12 play. They visit Houston in their conference opener on Sept. 28 and also have road games against West Virginia, Kansas and Utah.
If the Cyclones handle business, they’ll stay in the mix for the Big 12 title. That’ll be enough — unlikely as it is — to drum up any playoff talk.
Flier on Becht
- Becht to win the Heisman Trophy? Yeah, yeah, it’s highly unlikely. He’s way down the list of possible contenders at +15000, with some sportsbooks leaving him off the odds board entirely.
That said, Becht posted big numbers last season, and Heisman voters tend to gravitate to quarterbacks. Seven of the last eight winners have been quarterbacks, except for former Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith in 2020.
Even at 150/1, he’s a tantalizing longshot for your NCAAF picks.
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