ISU wins this weekend if they...

The offense has to show up in the second half. Two straight games they have completely disappeared. Can't afford that this week. Turn the heat on high in the first half (score 21-24 points) and continue that trend in the second. Will probably require 38-45 points to win this one.
 
Gotta think at some point these teams start to consistently double Lazard, Eaton and/or Butler. ISU's passing game has been pretty straight-forward, essentially throwing at favorable 1:1 matchups. I love the strategy, but gotta believe that opposing coaching staffs are going to find a way to beat that eventually. So, if that happens to be Saturday, ISU needs to be able to run the football consistently to keep them honest. If ISU does that and limits mistakes like they have, I like our chances.

ISU 27, WVU 24 in a close one.
 
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Stop WVU on 3rd downs

On the season, WVU is not good at converting on 3rd down and rank 98th nationally (Avg 35% conversion rate for the season). Over their past 3 games (Tech, Baylor, OK St) they are converting 26% of 3rd downs.

ISU on the other hand ranks 95th on the season at opponent 3rd down conversion (42%).
 
Gotta think at some point these teams start to consistently double Lazard, Eaton and/or Butler. ISU's passing game has been pretty straight-forward, essentially throwing at favorable 1:1 matchups. I love the strategy, but gotta believe that opposing coaching staffs are going to find a way to beat that eventually. So, if that happens to be Saturday, ISU needs to be able to run the football consistently to keep them honest. If ISU does that and limits mistakes like they have, I like our chances.

ISU 27, WVU 24 in a close one.
The other team only gets 11 guys. Double somebody and you get killed by somebody else. Our WR corps is the envy of many, many teams.

We need to run the football better, no question.
 
Our defense is built to take away the big plays, which tends to frustrate a lot of Big 12 teams. Make WV grind out long possessions and pounce when they get impatient. This is what K-State has done for years and I love that we have been able to achieve a similar model. Grier likes to sling it around but the throwing windows should be fairly small, so will he be patient enough to take what we give or does he try to force it like he did against OSU?
 
Need to be in the game from the beginning. Score early and get some pressure on WVU. They do have the ability to score quickly, against bad defenses. Look for ISU to turn them over in the passing game when they think they see something easy that isn't there.

DM needs to have a good game, and he should. Kempt may have to keep the ball on a bootleg a couple times to keep their defense honest. These guys are road warriors, I like their chances this weekend.

OL play will be key with a new starter, and other guys being called on to step in and up.
 
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Montgomery > 100yds rushing and 140yds combined
Team > 150 yds rushing
Kempt - 60% completion rate
Defense, no plays over 25 yds
even or positive in the TO battle.
 
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Montgomery > 100yds rushing and 140yds combined
Team > 150 yds rushing
Kempt - 60% completion rate
Defense, no plays over 25 yds
even or positive in the TO battle.
60% is Kempt's worst game so far (TCU). I'd like to see him back up near 70%.
 
As others have said: the key to this team is maintain focus on details and eliminate mistakes.

That translates in the box score as:
- no big plays given up on D
- win the turnover battle
- win the penalty battle

A couple of crazy penalty related stats for you:

- In the 4 game winning streak - ISU has 12 first downs via penalty. Opponents have TWO!
- ISU has not had more penalties than its opponent in any game this year
- Against Power 5 teams:
- ISU averages 2.8 penalties for 24.6 yds per game
- Opponents average 8 penalties for 71.3 yds per game


That's over 2 first downs and almost 50 yards difference per game. HUGE!
 
WVU is gonna have at least a couple of drives that connect on 30 yard pass plays...ISU defense needs to hold those drives to field goals.
 
Many have said it already, and I agree: run the football and don't turn it over.

Grind clock, win TOP, less possessions, less pressure on the defense. Frustrate WV.
 
WV will probably come out swinging and maybe score a couple of times quickly. Been since OU that ISU has had that happen so it may depend how they respond. (Happened at TT but it was one score--ISU responded pretty damn well, so I have a bit of faith).

Defense will need to tackle better than last week and offense will need to move the ball more consistently especially in the 2nd half.
 
WVU is gonna have at least a couple of drives that connect on 30 yard pass plays...ISU defense needs to hold those drives to field goals.
I'll have to look this up when I have some time later. Has ISU given up a 30+ yd pass play since the first half at OU? I can't recall one.
 
60% is Kempt's worst game so far (TCU). I'd like to see him back up near 70%.

I thought about that number being low, but I think he only needs to be ok instead of great for us to win. I think we're going to be able to run more this week, which should take some of the burden off the passing game. If he's connecting at 70%,I like us big.
 
WV will probably come out swinging and maybe score a couple of times quickly. Been since OU that ISU has had that happen so it may depend how they respond. (Happened at TT but it was one score--ISU responded pretty damn well, so I have a bit of faith).

Defense will need to tackle better than last week and offense will need to move the ball more consistently especially in the 2nd half.

@TTU they scored quickly and then we marched down the field (complete with the stone cold 4th and 1 call) and scored and never looked back.
 

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