Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma vs. Iowa State odds and preview

The No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners are chasing their sixth straight Big 12 Championship, but they'll have to go through the No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones to accomplish the feat. The two teams tangled earlier this year on Oct. 3, with Iowa State coming out on top, 37-30.

Both teams went through multiple postponements in this COVID-19 riddled season, but they also had the benefit of starting their season early, thereby allowing them to finish a 10-game season with only one true cancellation (Oklahoma vs. West Virginia).

Here are the betting odds and preview you need for the Big 12 Championship Game.

#10 Oklahoma vs. #6 Iowa State

The Cyclones went 8-1 in Big 12 play and 8-2 overall as they took home their first regular season Big 12 title since joining the conference in 1996. This will also be Iowa State’s first ever appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Cyclones have not lost since Oct. 24 at Oklahoma State.

The Sooners went 6-2 in Big 12 play and 7-2 overall, and are one of the hottest teams in college football as they have not lost since that Oct. 3 game at Iowa State. Oklahoma is looking for its 14th Big 12 title and 11th Big 12 Championship Game victory.

Sooners and Cyclones are evenly matched

In their previous matchup, these two teams were about as evenly matched as you could be in a game. Each team had one turnover and nine penalties, while Iowa State had slight advantages in first downs (25-to-22) and total yards (417-to-414).

During the course of the season, both defenses finished similarly, as Iowa State ranked 27th in points allowed per game, and 25th in yards allowed per game. Meanwhile, Oklahoma ranked 29th in points allowed per game, and 16th in yards allowed per game.

The offenses are not too far off, but the Sooners do have a slight advantage ranking seventh in points scored per game, and 15th in total yards. Meanwhile, the Cyclones ranked 29th in points scored per game, and 28th in total yards.

Iowa State will keep things close

The Cyclones once again find themselves as the underdogs in this matchup. However, the Cyclones have covered the spread in five consecutive games against the Sooners, including two straight up victories. In addition, the Over has hit in four consecutive matchups between these two teams.

The Cyclones tend to thrive in underdog situations, as they are 8-4 ATS in the past three seasons as an underdog, and have three straight up wins. Oklahoma is just mediocre as a favorite, as they are 16-18 ATS in the past three seasons, but they only have four straight up losses, with two of those coming this season.

Neither team has much of a true shot at making the College Football Playoff, but both teams are hungry to get this conference championship and lock in a spot to a New Year’s Six bowl game. I believe that the hot Oklahoma Sooners will get revenge on the Cyclones in this one, but Iowa State will keep it close and this one will come down to the final possession.

Score prediction: Oklahoma 31, Iowa State 30

NCAAF pick: Iowa State +5.5