Cheez-It Bowl: Iowa State vs. Clemson

Another college football bowl game is upon us. In this article, we’re taking a look at the Cheez-It Bowl. This year’s matchup is between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Clemson Tigers.

BetMGM’s current NCAAF odds have the Tigers as one-point favorites.

Will they cover the spread? What are the best bets in this bowl game? Here are three of my predictions for this game.

Cheez-It Bowl Game Information

Before we get to my predictions, here is the date and location information for this game:

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 29th
• Time: 5:45 P.M. EST
• Venue: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL
• Participants: Iowa State and Clemson

Iowa State +1

I think this will be a game where points come at a premium, considering that these two defenses rank in the top 25 in the country when it comes to points allowed per game.

Looking at the offenses, I believe that Iowa State has an advantage in this department. The Cyclones average 33.8 points per game, which is the 33rd-best in the nation. As for Clemson, their offense tends to struggle more. They rank 78th in points per game (26.8).

Admittedly, they did get better at scoring in their last five games of the season, getting at least 30 points in every one of those games. But, they do not do well when their offense has to face a top-50 scoring defense. Clemson has faced four defenses in that category this season and average just 15 points per game on those occasions.

I am concerned that their offense is not talented enough to handle more robust defenses, so I will take Iowa State to win the game here.

Under 44.5

The under feels evident to me in this game. Combined, these teams only allow 35.58 points per game.

If these defenses live up to their billing as elite defenses, points should come at a premium. Clemson, in particular, ranks second in the country in points allowed per game (15). On the other hand, Iowa State gets most of their points by running the ball. They rank 27th in rushing yards per game, at 268.8. Conversely, Clemson is 8th-best at stopping the run, only allowing 98.8 yards per game.

Given that Clemson’s offense tends to struggle against more elite defenses and that Clemson’s defense excels at stopping the run, I think the under is the way to go with this point total.

Iowa State By 1-6 (+360)

I think Iowa State will win this game, but I also notice that Clemson keeps games close that they lose. This year, their three losses have been by a combined total of 23 points.

On top of this, the Cyclones tend to play close games against ranked teams. Clemson comes into this bowl game ranked 19th in the country. In their four games against ranked teams this season, Iowa State’s total margin of victory has been just 22 points.

If both of those hold up here, and the defenses keep scoring opportunities limited, a late field goal could decide this game.

Make Your Bowl Predictions

These are my three most significant predictions for the Cheez-It Bowl. Do you agree with these picks, or would you go in a different direction?

Either way, you can make your predictions for all of the bowl games here at BetMGM, a safe and reliable site for all of your online sports betting needs. Create an account today for a risk-free initial bet of up to $1,000.