Score Predictions for West Virginia at No. 9 Iowa State

The Mountaineer Maven staff makes their picks for this week's game

Schuyler Callihan: Iowa State 28, West Virginia 17

This is a sneaky good game on the Big 12 board this weekend. Neal Brown will have his guys ready to go after a bye week and then an unexpected bye week last week with the Oklahoma game being moved due to COVID issues within the Sooner program.

Both of these teams play sound defense and play smash-mouth football on the offensive side as Leddie Brown (WVU) and Breece Hall (ISU) are two of the country's top three backs in rushing yards. Expect this to be a slow-paced game that favors the defenses, with both teams having a chance to win heading into the 4th quarter. I'm going Iowa State 28-17, but the score will make it look worse than what it was with a touchdown coming in the final two minutes to put the game out of reach for the Mountaineers.

Christopher Hall: West Virginia 27 Iowa State 17

This game will be an absolute slugfest between two programs playing their best football of the season, although the Mountaineers have not competed in the last two weeks. Nevertheless, I do believe West Virginia is up to the task of possibly pulling off the upset. 

As they have consistently done throughout the year, the Mountaineer defense is up to the task of containing Brock Purdy and the Cyclone offense and are capable of holding the Cyclones under 20 points. 

However, the difference in the game will be the Mountaineer offense. The question isn't whether they can move the ball, but can they finish drives that result in six? 

Two of the three West Virginia losses were decided in the red zone. The Mountaineers settled for two field goals in their only two trips in the 27-13 loss to Oklahoma State, and in their five red zone trips against Texas, West Virginia scored one touchdown. 

The offense has improved and gained more opportunities to score as the season has progressed and I do believe Neal Brown may have something up his sleeve after the two-week layover, and he is most certainly due for an upset this season. I think the Mountaineers get over the hump and shock everybody, 27-17. 

Jonathan Martin: Iowa State 27, West Virginia 17

This should be a close game between two solid programs. The West Virginia defense will likely do enough – as usual – to be competitive. The question for me is, how does the long layoff affect the Mountaineers?

West Virginia will need to keep with the tradition of running Leddie Brown and getting just enough from the passing game. I expect the Cyclones to pull away late – proving to be a little too much. 

Zach Campbell: West Virginia 24, Iowa State 21

Lots of intrigue to this one, you might say. Iowa State has come out of the woodwork this year to hold the top spot in the Big 12 and is eyeing a trip to Dallas. This Cyclones team has, well, out-toughed its way to the summit with its two biggest wins over Oklahoma and Texas coming at a combined 10 points. Oh, and that in-conference ranking to go along with that 9th spot nationally looks WAY crazier when you look back to their season-opening 17-point loss to Louisiana.

Meanwhile, West Virginia’s had several weeks off and should be 100% across the board (COVID cases notwithstanding). Neal Brown is shrugging off rumors that South Carolina is out to give him their job, and the Mountaineers defense, having a sensational year, would love nothing more than to bottle up stars Brock Purdy and Breece Hall on their final home game of the season. I know the Stills brothers are chomping at the bit, considering what a win against this offense could do to older brother Darius’ draft stock. A cold, clear day out on the Iowa Plains: anything can happen ...and probably will.

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