PREDICTION: Iowa State 20, IOWA 17
Wow. A lot of very confident Iowa fans here that makes me nervous. Most of the opinion is coming from the ISU - UNI game. You’d think Iowa fans would know that anything can happen in one week. For instance Iowa hangs 55 on OSU the following week has 86 yards of total offense at UW. If I recall Iowa almost lost to UNI one year and went on the have a great season.
Iowa is dinged in the secondary and will be starting a walk on at safety. Iowa has played two home games against sub 75 level college football teams. Point being we don’t exactly know what we have an how are young guys are going to handle this environment.
Iowa’s run game was mostly bottled up by Rutgers until later in the game when the Rutgers D really wore down from being on the field the majority of the game.
This is a massive game for Iowa State’s football program. I’m expecting a dog fight but would lean Cyclones in this one.
I’m not nearly as bullish on this defense yet. Pass rush still concerns me. Nothing from a Golston to date and next to nothing from the interior guys. Secondary play didn’t look great against Miami (OH).Our D has the potential to be very special, one of our best ever, maybe the best ever.
All we need is for someone to total AJ Epenesa's ride, frame the clowns for it, and have him turn into Charles Jefferson for one game.
Just giving you shit, Rob. I appreciate your analysis, but I think the good guys win by 2 scores. However I will not be placing any wagers on that.
Lets look at matchups:I just don't see Iowa State being able to move the ball well enough to score 20 pts.
UNI got significant pressure constantly with 3 man fronts, and ISU needed to go to heavy formations to run the ball with any consistency.
Purdy also looks timid without a playmaker like Butler, and while I think Jones and Milton are good receivers, I don't think they can stretch the field like he could.
I haven't been this confident in a Cy-Hawk matchup in a while.
All we need is for someone to total AJ Epenesa's ride and have him turn into Charles Jefferson for one game.
Then ISU doesn't stand a chance!