Iowa State vs Miami prediction & betting tips - Dec. 28 - Pop-Tarts Bowl

The Iowa State Cyclones will play the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 3:30 p.m. EST in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The game will be braodcast on ABC.

Iowa State (10-3) ended the year with a 45-19 loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game. Miami (10-2) ended the year with a disappointing 42-38 loss to Syracuse to miss out on the ACC Championship Game.

Iowa State vs Miami: Preview

Iowa State is a 3.5-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 56 points.

The Cyclones played in the Big 12 Championship Game and had they won, they would have been in the College Football Playoff. Instead, Iowa State will play Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and the Cyclones have most of its key players playing, as the players opting out are as follows:

• JJ Kohl, QB (transfer portal)
• AJ Burton, OL (transfer portal)
• Kenard Snyder, DL (transfer portal)
• Trent Jones, DL (transfer portal)
• Jacob Ellis, LB (transfer portal)
• Ryan Robinson Jr., CB (transfer portal)
• Trevon Howard, S (transfer portal)
• Keegan Shackford, K (transfer portal)
• Drak Knobloch, LS (transfer portal)

The Cyclones are led by Rocco Becht who threw for 3,235 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Carson Hansen rushed for 670 yards and 11 touchdowns, while top receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel had over 1,000 receiving yards will play in the bowl game.

Miami, meanwhile, will also be starting most of its key players, including Cam Ward who decided to play in the Bowl game, despite him projecting to be a top-five pick in the NFL Draft. The full list of Hurricanes opting out are as follows:

• Isaiah Horton, WR (transfer portal)
• Reese Poffenbarger, QB (transfer portal)
• Cyrus Moss, DL (transfer portal)
• Ajay Allen, RB (transfer portal)
• Antonio Tripp, OL (transfer portal)
• Robby Washington, CB (transfer portal)
• Robert Stafford, CB (transfer portal)
• Ryan Mack, S (injury)
• Ronald Daragjati, K (transfer portal)

“I’m playing in the game, it’s exciting to go out in your college career and try to win your last game," Ward said ahead of the Heisman Trophy ceremony earlier this month, via Miami Herald.

Ward threw for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Damien Martinez, who was the Hurricanes' top running back, will also play. He rushed for 823 yards and nine touchdowns.

This will be one of the top bowl games this year due to both Iowa State and Miami playing their starters. Ultimately, the Hurricanes offense should be too much for the Cyclones as ASU had a lot of success moving the ball in the Big 12 Championship game.

Look for Ward to dominate the Cyclones' defense to win his final college game and lead Miami to a Pop-Tarts Bowl win.

Prediction: Miami 37, Iowa State 27

Iowa State vs Miami: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Miami ML (-175)

Tip 2: Miami -3.5 (-110)

Tip 3: Over 56 points (-110)