Iowa State vs Miami Pop-Tarts Bowl Pick For 12/28/2024

The Iowa State Cyclones will take on the Miami Hurricanes in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28, 2024, at 3:30 pm EST. The Miami Hurricanes are favored by three points according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The total for this game is set at 56.0. It is expected to be a competitive matchup between these two college football teams. Stay tuned to see who will come out on top in this exciting showdown.

Ahead of this game, which is known for its unique ways of integrating Pop-Tarts into the mascots and trophy, continue reading to get our preview of Iowa State vs Miami. In this preview, you will find everything you need to know about both teams in this game. You will also get my best bet for this contest between Big 12 and ACC opponents, as I use my college football betting model to predict the outcome of what should be an entertaining game from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL.

Can Iowa State Rebound From Big 12 Title Game Letdown?

The Iowa State Cyclones made it to the Big 12 Championship Game after a chaotic final day of the regular season in that conference. But they were unable to win their conference championship game, as they were blown out by the Arizona State Sun Devils, who earned a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Going into this game, college football betting odds show the Cyclones as an underdog against Miami, as Iowa State looks to rebound from falling short with its conference title on the line last time out.

Of course, the key to this game is going to be the pass defense of the Iowa State Cyclones. Going up against Cam Ward and the potent offense of Miami, it will be up to the Iowa State secondary to get stops and find a way to keep this game from getting away from them. That is easier said than done, given how well Ward has played this season, but it certainly isn't impossible given what we saw from Miami late in the regular season.

Miami Looks to Send Cam Ward Off In Style

In the final game of their regular season, the Miami Hurricanes simply needed to beat the Syracuse Orange to qualify for the ACC Championship Game against SMU. But Miami was upset by Syracuse, ending their chances of winning the ACC and making the College Football Playoff. In this game, Miami will look to rebound from that disappointing loss to Syracuse and end their season on a high note before quarterback Cam Ward heads to the NFL Draft.

Ward is expected to play for Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl despite him being predicted to go in the top-three in the next NFL Draft class. Ward will need to avoid injury in this game to maintain that positioning in the upcoming draft. But as long as he is on the field, Ward will be expected to make plays on a consistent basis, using his improvisational skills to extend plays and make life tough on the Iowa State defense.

Iowa State vs Miami Best Bet

The over is our best bet for this Iowa State vs Miami matchup in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Iowa State offense should be able to move the ball against a Miami defense that has been porous throughout the college football season. Meanwhile, Miami's offense should continue to be effective as long as Cam Ward is on the field. As long as Ward does go through with playing in this game, the Cyclones and Hurricanes should combine to go over the total in this battle of teams named after natural disasters.