- Avery Johnson and the Kansas State Wildcats are three point favorites over conference rival Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
- Iowa State lost their top two receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL draft.
DUBLIN – Week 0 of the 2025 college football season begins with a bang as the 22nd ranked Iowa State Cyclones will face the 17th ranked Kansas State Wildcats in Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday, August 23rd.
#22 Iowa State vs #17 Kansas State Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | +3.0 (-105) | +130 | O 178.0 (-110) |
| Kansas State | -3.0 (-115) | -150 | U 178.0 (-110) |
Online sportsbooks slightly favor the 17th ranked Wildcats in the season opener, giving them -150 odds to win outright and a three point spread.
The Cyclones defeated Kansas State in their meeting last season 29-21 at home in a game where both teams were ranked.
Iowa State Preview
Iowa State had a strong 2024 campaign, finishing 11-3 overall and 7-2 in conference play, tied for the best conference record in the Big 12. They looked like a playoff contender after a 7-0 start, but two straight losses derailed their CFP hopes.
They would ultimately end the season with a victory in the Pop Tart Bowl over Miami.
The Cyclones averaged 31.1 points per game behind quarterback Rocco Becht, who will return as a redshirt junior for the 2025 season. However, they will be without their top two receivers from last season, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who were both selected by the Houston Texans in the NFL draft.
The strong suit of the team was its passing defense, which led the nation with the fewest passing yards allowed per game at just 165.6 yards.
The defense should be a strong point of the team once again in 2025, losing just one defensive player to the NFL draft (Darien Porter).
Kansas State Preview
Kansas State was not quite on Iowa State’s level last season, yet find themselves five spots higher in the initial AP rankings, in large part due to returning quarterback Avery Johnson who is expected to be amongst the nation’s best.
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Johnson was a blue-chip recruit for the Wildcats in the 2023 class, ranking as the #9 QB in the country and the top player in Kansas.
His ability as a dual-threat quarterback was a big reason why the Wildcats ranked second in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 215.5, which could play a major factor in this one, as Iowa State allowed the second most rushing yards in the Big 12 last year with 188.4 rushing yards allowed per game.
Star running back DJ Giddens was drafted by the Colts in this year’s NFL draft, so Dylan Edwards is now expected to step into a large workload.
Betting Angle
The biggest advantage Kansas State has over the Cyclones is continuity, losing just three players to this year’s NFL draft, two of which were selected in the fifth round.
Iowa State is going to be tasked with replacing their two best offensive weapons, as well as arguably their best defensive back.
While it is difficult to bet against an Iowa State team who has seen plenty of success in recent years, the drastic drop in talent could prove to be too much to overcome, especially against a Kansas State team with big expectations for Avery Johnson.
Bettors should lean towards Kansas State moneyline at college football sportsbooks.
Drew is currently a student at Florida State University majoring in Communication / Media Studies. He enjoys playing, watching, reading, and writing about sports. If you need to know anything about football or basketball, Drew’s your guy.
