College Football Pick Utah at Iowa State 10-9-10

Utah Utes (4-0) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (3-2)

Saturday, October 9, 2010 7:00PM EST

Line: Utah -6

The Utah Utes kicked off their season with a terrific overtime win against Pitt. Ever since then, the team has pulled wins in their next three games by large deficits. Their encounter against Iowa State should be a concern. Despite their 3-2 record, Iowa State is coming off two straight wins against Northern Iowa and Texas Tech. The Cyclones have a solid offensive attack behind their quarterback Austen Arnaud and running back, Alexander Robinson.

Keys to the Game:

-          Utah has been able to pull out wins because of their tenacious defense. So far the team has only allowed opponents to score 12.8 points on average. Their last game against San Jose State showcased what this defensive is capable of doing, as the final score ended at 56-3.

-          The Utes quarterback, Jordan Wynn recovered nicely from the thumb injury he suffered earlier in the season. Wynn completed 14 of his 18 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in their win.

-          Alexander Robinson ran for 103 yards and a touchdown off 12 carries last week for Iowa State. The 5’9’’ senior running back has become one of the leading sources for the Cyclones offense. So far he’s run for 404 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Utah will look to move up in the rankings after overcoming a tough against this Iowa State defense. They will have a hard time finding scores throughout this game most likely, but will ultimately settle for the victory. The Cyclones’ offense hasn’t been where they wanted it to be, but it’s important to note that  Austen Arnaud has already passed for 780 yards this season. His throws aren’t always spot-on, but they could potentially hurt the Utes if the Cyclones can generate some adrenaline at home.

Free Pick: Utah -6