The BYU Cougars take on the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Iowa State is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -150. BYU, meanwhile, comes in as a +2.5 underdog and is +130 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 49 total points.
Here’s my BYU vs. Iowa State prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 25.
BYU Cougars vs Iowa State Cyclones Prediction, Picks
- BYU vs. Iowa State Pick: BYU +2.5
My Iowa State vs. BYU best bet is on the Cougars to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
BYU vs Iowa State Odds, Spread, Line
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -102 | 48.5 -112o / -108u | +124 |
| Iowa State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -118 | 48.5 -112o / -108u | -148 |
- BYU vs Iowa State Spread: Iowa State -2.5, BYU +2.5
- BYU vs Iowa State Over/Under: 48.5
- BYU vs Iowa State Moneyline: BYU ML +124, Iowa State ML -148
BYU vs Iowa State NCAAF Week 9 Preview
BYU Cougars Betting Preview
BYU will visit Ames, Iowa, for the first time since 1974 on Saturday.
The Cougars have been one of the more surprising teams of the 2025 season, supporting a perfect record with four conference wins in the tank.
Head coach Kalani Sitake has one of his best offensive rosters in his tenure, fielding a top-five rank in quality drives. BYU's success can be attributed to freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has posted 17 all-purpose touchdowns on the season.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has called an effective 3-3-5 against the pass all season, ranking top-20 in Success Rate allowed and coverage grading, per PFF.
A trio of cornerbacks in Therrian Alexander III, Mory Bamba and Evan Johnson have combined for 10 passes defensed.
The rush defense has been highly efficient against offenses running inside zone, posting a 56% Success Rate against opponents.
Teams that get behind the chains against BYU often have failed possessions, as the Cougars are top-15 in passing downs Success Rate allowed and third-down defense.
Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview
With two consecutive road losses in Big 12 play, head coach Matt Campbell enjoyed a much-needed bye with the Cyclones last week.
Colorado took to the friendly skies, averaging more than 10 yards per play in 25 attempts against Iowa State. The Cyclones' previous loss to Cincinnati can be attributed to the defense in passing downs, surrendering 11.4 yards per play to the Bearcats in 22 attempts.
The overall season numbers point to a horrific bottom-10 ranking in two areas: pass rush and tackle grading, per PFF.
The Iowa State offense has been heavy in personnel, electing to rush on 57% of attempts while using plenty of zone read option.
Quarterback Rocco Becht is on a fast track to break a career high in rushing touchdowns, as the lack of explosive playmakers has been the big difference from the 2024 Cyclone offense.
Iowa State ranks in the bottom half of FBS teams in overall EPA while also falling to 70th or worse in Line Yards and Finishing Drives.
BYU vs Iowa State NCAAF Week 9 Pick
The situational spot favors Iowa State, coming off a bye week and hosting a BYU team off a Holy War victory.
However, the Action Network betting power ratings project this game as a pick'em, as the market has adjusted for the spot with Iowa State as a field-goal favorite.
The Cyclones will have issues running inside and outside zone read against the Cougars' stingy defense. Iowa State's Success Rate dips outside the top 60 in passing downs, an area the BYU defense dominates.
Standard downs have been the forte of the BYU offense, running inside zone with a variation of personnel on the field. Iowa State has struggled to defend inside zone, posting a low 45% Success Rate or less depending on the number of players in the box.
In their two previous losses, the Cyclones defense gave up at least 50 rushing yards to the quarterback and now has to find a way to contain Bachmeier.
Pick: BYU +2.5 or Better
How To Watch BYU vs Iowa State
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FOX
- Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
BYU vs Iowa State Betting Trends to Know
