Pop-Tarts Bowl Preview: No. 18 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Miami
No. 18 Iowa State (10-3) will face off against No. 15 Miami (10-2) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28 at 3:30 p.m. EST. According to current betting lines from BetMGM, Miami is slightly favored by one point.
In terms of matchups, Miami boasts a commendable rushing offense ranked 13th in the nation, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. This poses a challenge for Iowa State’s rushing defense, which is ranked 112th, allowing 5.1 yards per carry. While Iowa State’s rushing offense ranks 67th with 161.7 yards per game, it will come up against Miami’s stout 16th-ranked rushing defense, which permits only 110.1 yards per game.
Both teams are coming off impactful performances in their last outings. Miami faced a tough defeat against Syracuse, falling short with a score of 42-38. Quarterback Cameron Ward had a solid showing, throwing for 349 yards on 25 of 36 attempts, tossing two touchdowns without any interceptions. Damien Martinez also contributed on the ground with 84 yards from 10 carries and one touchdown, while Xavier Restrepo was a standout receiver with nine catches for 148 yards and one touchdown.
On the other hand, Iowa State was not as fortunate, enduring a considerable loss at the hands of Arizona State, resulting in a score of 45-19. Rocco Becht led the Cyclones with 214 passing yards, completing 21 of 35 attempts for two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 23 rushing yards on five attempts. Carson Hansen contributed with 52 rushing yards and a touchdown, coupled with four receptions, while Jayden Higgins was effective receiving-wise, catching seven passes for 115 yards.
Key players to keep an eye on include Miami’s Cameron Ward, who is currently third in the nation with 4,123 passing yards, averaging 343.6 yards per game while completing 67.4% of his passes. He has thrown for 36 touchdowns but also has seven interceptions. Additionally, Ward has made some contributions on the ground with 196 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Damien Martinez has been key in the rushing game, totaling 823 yards and nine touchdowns on 145 carries. Xavier Restrepo stands out with 1,127 receiving yards, scoring 11 touchdowns and ranking highly in receptions as well.
For Iowa State, Rocco Becht has amassed 3,235 passing yards this season, which places him 13th in the nation. He has achieved this with a pass completion rate of 59.4%, along with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In addition, Becht has shown his ability to run the ball, collecting 295 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Another important player is Carson Hansen, who has managed 670 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns across the season, along with contributions in the passing game. Jayden Higgins is also notable with 1,183 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
When looking at team statistics, Miami has demonstrated strong offensive capabilities by outscoring opponents by an average of 20.3 points per game. Conversely, Iowa State has outscored its opponents by 8.7 points per game. Despite Miami’s defense ranking 51st in allowing 209.8 passing yards per game, their offense has led to an impressive performance, sitting second in the country by generating 359.3 passing yards per game. Iowa State’s running game is ranked 67th nationally, while their defense allows 179.2 rushing yards per game, placing them 102nd in that category.
As the teams prepare for this exhilarating matchup, fans can expect high stakes and thrilling performances from both offensives, highlighting the distinct talents that have propelled each school throughout the season.
