SportsLine model reveals its college football picks for Iowa State Cyclones vs. Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes in the Pop-Tarts Bowl 2024 on Saturday

In the new age of college football with the 12-team playoff, there were concerns over whether the bowl games would still mean anything.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl is Saturday and features No. 19 Iowa State Cyclones (10-3) of the Big 12 taking on the Miami Hurricanes (10-2) of the ACC. Kickoff from Camping World Stadium in Orlando is at 3:30 p.

If ISU is to avoid being shredded by someone named Cam for the second straight game (ahem, Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo), it will need to spy on Ward and shine in the secondary. As of now, star safety Malik Verdon seems iffy at best for Saturday’s game, so younger players at linebacker and safety will need to be at their absolute best.

Iowa State and Miami weren’t far off from playing in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cyclones made it as far as the Big 12 championship, which they lost to Arizona State, while the Hurricanes missed out on a trip to the ACC game after losing to Syracuse in the regular-season finale.

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Two of the best teams outside of the College Football Playoff will meet on Saturday when the Iowa State Cyclones and Miami Hurricanes square off in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Heisman finalist Cam Ward leads the Miami Hurricanes into the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.; Buccaneers need win to stay in playoff hunt.