Cincinnati looks to end 3-game slide against visiting Iowa State
Iowa State (3-3, 2-1 Big 12) at Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (FS1)
Line: Cincinnati favored by 4.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: First meeting
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Cincinnati and first-year coach Scott Satterfield need a win. The Bearcats, who are coming off a bye week, are riding a three-game losing streak after stumbling against Miami (Ohio) and then dropping their first two games in Big 12 Conference play. Two of their three losses came by a single possession. A victory for the Cyclones would equal their win total from a season ago and give them a 3-1 start in conference play for the fifth time under eighth-year coach Matt Campbell.
KEY MATCHUP
Iowa State is coming off a 27-14 victory against TCU where the Cyclones defense had four interceptions. Big 12 defensive player of the week Beau Freyler had two of them. Iowa State’s 10 interceptions this season rank third in the FBS. The Cyclones will look to add to that total against Cincinnati QB Emory Jones, who has thrown six interceptions this season. Five of those picks came during the Bearcats’ current three-game losing streak.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Iowa State: Freshman QB Rocco Becht has thrown a TD in each of his first six games as a starter. Becht is one of 27 underclassmen that have played in every game for the Cyclones this season.
Cincinnati: TE Chamon Metayer had three catches for 59 yards in the Bearcats’ last game Sept. 29 at BYU. Two of those catches went for touchdowns. One was a 27-yard score, while the other went for 23 yards. They were the first two TDs of Metayer’s career.
FACTS & FIGURES
Iowa State is 5-2 heading into a bye week under Campbell. ... Cincinnati has won four straight games coming off a bye week. ... Iowa State is one of seven FBS teams without a lost fumble this season. ... Iowa State’s offensive line has allowed just three sacks through the first six games, the fewest through that span under Campbell. ... Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel has 31 receptions this season, third-most in the Big 12. ... Cincinnati WR Xzavier Henderson ranks second in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game (82.8) and fourth in receptions (30). ... Iowa State safety Beau Freyler is the only player ranked in the top 10 in the Big 12 in both tackles (46) and interceptions (three). Iowa State safety Jeremiah Cooper is tied for the FBS lead with four interceptions. ... Campbell and Satterfield served as offensive assistants at Toledo under coach Tim Beckman in 2009.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
