Iowa State vs Miami Prediction, Odds & Opt Out News – Pop-Tarts Bowl

• Miami is a 3.5-point favorite over Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl
• Starting QB’s Cam Ward and Rocco Becht confirmed to play
• Check the latest Iowa State vs Miami odds, spread and prediction below

Two of the highest-ranked teams that didn’t make the College Football Playoff will clash in the Pop-Tarts bowl, when the Iowa State Cyclones (10-3, 7-2 Big 12) battle the Miami Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2 ACC).

These teams won’t fully resemble the teams they looked like in-season (more on that below), but oddsmakers like the ‘Canes, in the College Football odds, particularly as its star quarterback is confirmed to play.

Iowa State vs Miami Green Odds

Miami is a 3.5-point favorite, with a total set at 56.5 points.

The College Football public betting trends skew almost entirely to Miami, with 94% of the betting public taking them to cover with 100% of the money.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30pm ET at Camping World Stadium, in Orlando, FL, with ABC providing the broadcast coverage.

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Odds as of December 27 at 2pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any College Football Bowl Games.

Opt Outs Could Alter Matchup

It’s the norm now in college football, so any matchup in a bowl game should alert the bettor of any notable players opting out.

Miami will have 10 players out, most notably wide receiver Isaiah Horton, who was second on the team with 56 catches and 616 yards (third). He’s reportedly on his way to Alabama.

Isaiah Horton : Season-high 9 catches for 83 yards & a TD on 11 targets pic.twitter.com/zBUY4V2M1w

— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) October 6, 2024

The Cyclones also have 10 players into the portal, most notably linebacker Jacob Ellis and defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim.

Still no word on senior wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins’ participation. Both could sit out as they prepare to enter NFL Draft this summer.

Quarterbacks Will Power Teams in Matchup

The biggest news for this high-profile bowl game is the quarterbacks that have already confirmed they are playing.

That includes Miami pivot Cam Ward, the centerpiece of the nation’s top offense and likely Top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Ward, who arrived via the transfer portal from Washington State, set multiple single-season school records, throwing for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 67.4% of his attempts while throwing just seven interceptions.

He helped Miami to average an NCAA-best 44.2 points and 538.3 total yards per game.

pic.twitter.com/G8qXxB1sqo

— OutCYdeTheBurn (@OutYde) September 23, 2023

Less heralded but still excellent, Iowa State QB Rocco Becht threw for more than 3,200 yards on a 59.3%  completion rate, with 22 TD’s against just nine interceptions.

Under his guidance, Iowa State averaged 30.2 points per game, which was ranked inside the Top 10 of the ultra-offensive Big 12.

Iowa State vs Miami Prediction

Iowa State brings the more potent defense to the table, allowing just 21.5 points per game. The Cyclones brought chaos to the field, forcing 14 interceptions while recovering right fumbles. They are 6-0 when giving up fewer than 20 points.

Miami’s defense actually has impressive numbers on defense, ranking 17th in rush yards allowed at 110.1 and just 209.8 passing yards (53), while allowing 23.9 points per game, ranking seventh in the ACC.

However, they’re not exactly humming at the moment. The ‘Canes lost two of the final three games of the season to get knocked out of the College Football Playoff, averaging 35 points against in losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

Just some more Cam Ward magic for your timeline 🪄

📺: ABC #GoCanes | #HE1SMAN pic.twitter.com/OpPUUF7iQX

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) November 2, 2024

Still, their offense is that good, with its lowest scoring output of the season at 23 points in the loss to the Yellow Jackets.

While they are only 6-6-0 against the spread this season, the Hurricanes have been double-digit favorites in nine games. As a favorite in games with a spread of five points or lower, they are 2-0-0 ATS.

The Cyclones might be able to offer resistance at points, but Ward, the fourth-place finished in Heisman voting this year — will show he’s clearly the best player on the field, and anything Becht and Iowa State can throw at him won’t be enough in his collegiate swan song.

Iowa State vs Miami Pick: 

• Miami -3.5 (-115)