I'll start with mine....
Iowa State will win if..... Austen Arnaud, for the first time in his career, has a good day against Iowa. From what we saw last week, I don't believe that ISU is going to run the ball with much success on Iowa's defensive front seven, which means they'll have to move the ball through the air. If that is the case, Arnaud will have to show he really can be patient and take what the defense gives him....even if ISU gets behind, Arnaud can't force things....we saw that show last season. Arnaud has never had a good game against Iowa, but if ISU is going to win, he has to have one this season.
Iowa will win if.... They don't turn the ball over. In a game with no turnovers, I don't see ISU winning. Last week, NIU ran the ball stronger as the game wore on due to ISU's lack of depth on the DL....that problem will only be worse this week. ISU will likely be strong against the run for the fist half, but as the game wears on, the Iowa OL will start to win the battle up front. I fully expect this to be a close game for a half...but in the second half Iowa's depth will start to wear on ISU. As long as Iowa doesn't give ISU any unnecessary breaks, Iowa will win this game.
What will happen..... Arnaud hasn't ever led an offensive scoring drive against Iowa. That is an amazing stat, but one that I think will change Saturday. Arnaud will get his first TD, but his emotion will get the better of him in 2nd half. Arnaud will throw 2 INT's, and that will be enough to cost ISU the game. ISU has to be +3 in the TO margin to win this one, in my opinion, and with Arnaud at QB for ISU, I don't see ISU getting to that point. Arnaud has thrown 8 INT's in his last two efforts against Iowa, I don't see him completely cleaning that up this season. Iowa will lead at halftime, but the lead will not be overwhelming. As the 2nd half wears on, Arnaud will throw a pick that will completely let the air out of the ISU sails. Iowa's OL will wear on the ISU DL (much like it did last season) and Iowa will pull away.
Final score prediction.... 31-13 Iowa
The gamebreaker will be.... The Jewel Hampton/Adam Robinson combo. They will combine for 200 yards and 3 TD's.
Iowa State will win if..... Austen Arnaud, for the first time in his career, has a good day against Iowa. From what we saw last week, I don't believe that ISU is going to run the ball with much success on Iowa's defensive front seven, which means they'll have to move the ball through the air. If that is the case, Arnaud will have to show he really can be patient and take what the defense gives him....even if ISU gets behind, Arnaud can't force things....we saw that show last season. Arnaud has never had a good game against Iowa, but if ISU is going to win, he has to have one this season.
Iowa will win if.... They don't turn the ball over. In a game with no turnovers, I don't see ISU winning. Last week, NIU ran the ball stronger as the game wore on due to ISU's lack of depth on the DL....that problem will only be worse this week. ISU will likely be strong against the run for the fist half, but as the game wears on, the Iowa OL will start to win the battle up front. I fully expect this to be a close game for a half...but in the second half Iowa's depth will start to wear on ISU. As long as Iowa doesn't give ISU any unnecessary breaks, Iowa will win this game.
What will happen..... Arnaud hasn't ever led an offensive scoring drive against Iowa. That is an amazing stat, but one that I think will change Saturday. Arnaud will get his first TD, but his emotion will get the better of him in 2nd half. Arnaud will throw 2 INT's, and that will be enough to cost ISU the game. ISU has to be +3 in the TO margin to win this one, in my opinion, and with Arnaud at QB for ISU, I don't see ISU getting to that point. Arnaud has thrown 8 INT's in his last two efforts against Iowa, I don't see him completely cleaning that up this season. Iowa will lead at halftime, but the lead will not be overwhelming. As the 2nd half wears on, Arnaud will throw a pick that will completely let the air out of the ISU sails. Iowa's OL will wear on the ISU DL (much like it did last season) and Iowa will pull away.
Final score prediction.... 31-13 Iowa
The gamebreaker will be.... The Jewel Hampton/Adam Robinson combo. They will combine for 200 yards and 3 TD's.