Is this a classic trap game spot for Texas? Yes. Is this a situation in which the Longhorns will get trapped? Actually ... maybe not. Texas is rolling entering this matchup with Quinn Ewers leading the most explosive 'Horns offense we've seen in years. Iowa State, meanwhile, is struggling to find the end zone doing so just once in its last 21 drives across two games. When the Cyclones play spoiler, they succeed by leaning on their tough defense and dominant running game. One problem: Iowa State's top two rushers are likely out for the game. Texas may pour it on at home making a statement to the nation and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee that it is a far different team with Ewers under center.

I realize that this is a classic trap game for the Longhorns, who are coming off a huge 49-0 victory over rival Oklahoma last week and have what could be an enormous game at Oklahoma State next week. But Iowa State in the post-Breece Hall and Brock Purdy era can't score. The Cyclones are averaging just 13.5 points against Power 5 opponents and now face arguably the best defense they've encountered this season. I know that Iowa State's defense has been lights-out, but the Cyclones haven't played an offense with Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy and Ja'Tavion Sanders. I'll take Texas,

This spread is way too big. The Iowa State Cyclones are on a three game losing streak but they have lost those games by a combined 11 points. All three of these games were against ranked teams. The Texas Longhorns looked amazing last week but that was against a terrible Oklahoma team. The Cyclones have won the last three meetings and look to do so again. I expect the Cyclones to keep this game close and cover this massive spread.

The tough-luck Cyclones lack the veteran presence of recent stars such as Breece Hall and Brock Purdy, but this youth-laden team has lost three straight games by 11 combined points and its prospects are dimming for even reaching a bowl game. The Longhorns are coming off one of their biggest wins in recent memory with their historic blowout of rival Oklahoma. Although they can't afford a letdown for purposes of the Big 12 race, this aligns as a tough spot to get by a desperate Cyclones club.

Iowa State has been excellent at never losing big in recent years, but that's going to end here. The Cyclones defense is good, but has not faced anything like the Texas offense it will see. Quinn Ewers is awesome, and he's surrounded by tremendous weapons. Also, Texas' defense has taken significant steps forward, and Iowa State's offense is not impressive. Texas puts the Cyclones in a hole early and it only gets deeper as they try to dig out of it.