mjones34's Ranking of winnable games

**mj4cy** · 08-15-2007, 11:18 AM

In my opinion, here is the order from easiest to hardest of winning games in our schedule.

1. Kent State - I still don't think this is a pushover
2. UNI - Should play them better than last year
3. Colorado - They don't even know who their QB is, either way neither has played a down before.
4. KSU
5. @KU - Big 12 road games are always hard
6. @Toledo - Our first road game of the year...they're pretty good
7. Iowa - We always gear up for this one
8. @ Mizzou - They're going to want payback for last year
9. @T-Tech - Have we ever won down there?
10. Oklahoma - The worst ISU football I've seen over the years has been against OU
11. @NU - Tough place to play in with a young team with a new coach. I think NU will run away with the North.
12. Texas - Their state breeds 5 star football players and many go to the University of Texas.

**jtdoyle1** · 08-15-2007, 11:21 AM

Looks pretty dead on to me.

**ISUFan22** · 08-15-2007, 11:25 AM

I really think some ISU fans (and college football fans) are underestimating what Kansas can do. I know they lost a key guy on defense, but they do return most of their starters this fall.

That team did beat the tar out of us last year.

I'd flip Kansas and Toledo. Perhaps even move Iowa ahead of KU. I may be inclined to flip OU and NU but I can see that one either way.

Otherwise I agree.

**sdillon500** · 08-15-2007, 11:25 AM

I would move Texas a little higher up on the list. I don't think we're going to beat them, but hey, Chizik must've learned a few things about Mack Brown while he was there right? Right? He probably knows enough about the inner workings of Texas to keep the game close (at least, this is the pipe dream I fall asleep to every night).

**thakeepa14** · 08-15-2007, 11:29 AM

1) Pretty close to what I had in mind, but I believe @ Toledo will be tougher than Iowa.

2) Oklahoma will be the toughest game on our schedule.

3) Given Mizzou's revenge factor and the time we play them (late in the year with potentially the North on the line) they'll be tougher than the earlier NU game.

**CYdTracked** · 08-15-2007, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by sdillon500

I would move Texas a little higher up on the list. I don't think we're going to beat them, but hey, Chizik must've learned a few things about Mack Brown while he was there right? Right? He probably knows enough about the inner workings of Texas to keep the game close (at least, this is the pipe dream I fall asleep to every night).

Won't matter where you rank it, the odds of winning that game are still not good regardless.

**BryceC** · 08-15-2007, 12:40 PM

I like it - However, I would probably tier mine:

GAMES WE WILL WIN
1. Kent State - If this is within 2 touchdowns I'd be surprised.
2. UNI - It was close last year, but that was last year.
3. Colorado - If we can't beat this young team at home I'm gonna be disappointed.

GAMES WE SHOULD WIN
4. @Toledo - Were worse than us last year and return even less... it is a road game though.
5. @KU - They whupped us, but I can't see their running game being as effective without Cornish. They also graduated his backup - only running back on the roster is a guy with 21 career carries.
6. Iowa - It's Iowa at home, and while they'll be good... we've done well against them at home lately.
7. KSU - Entirely new coaching staff other than Prince again, still a ton of youth and unproven talent including Chubby McChubberson at QB.

TOUGHIES
8. @T-Tech - mjones said: Have we ever won down there? I dunno.
9. @ Mizzou - I see them coming out breathing fire in this one.

BRINGIN' A KNIFE TO A GUNFIGHT
10. @NU - Corncobs gunning for a North Championship at home... tough to imagine this one going well.
11. Oklahoma - After being in attendance at OU 2002... it's going to take a lot for me to predict a Cyclone victory over these guys.
12. Texas - Mack Brown would get killed if he lost to Chiz in his first year.

**Bader** · 08-15-2007, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

7. KSU - Entirely new coaching staff other than Prince again, still a ton of youth and unproven talent including Chubby McChubberson at QB.

Oh man, I just fell out of my desk chair

**Gary_ISU** · 08-15-2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

5. @KU - They whupped us, but I can't see their running game being as effective without Cornish. They also graduated his backup - only running back on the roster is a guy with 21 career carries.

Do we have a running back with more than 21 career carries? Possibly Scales who cannot stay healthy. Does that mean our running game will be as ineffective as KU's?

**isucyfan** · 08-15-2007, 12:54 PM

7. KSU - Entirely new coaching staff other than Prince again, still a ton of youth and unproven talent including Chubby McChubberson at QB.

Dear sir,

You are a callous, unfeeling cad. Our family has a long history of churning out large-boned QBs. Please refrain from sullying our family name.

Signed,

Joe McChubberson

**BryceC** · 08-15-2007, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Gary_ISU

Do we have a running back with more than 21 career carries? Possibly Scales who cannot stay healthy. Does that mean our running game will be as ineffective as KU's?

I've been roundly abused on this board for being too pessimistic... let me live the dream for a moment, it's fantastic.

**dinger** · 08-15-2007, 03:04 PM

mr jones, i look forward to debating this with you over a couple of beverages this weekend. shall we say old chicago?

**mj4cy** · 08-15-2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by dinger7203

mr jones, i look forward to debating this with you over a couple of beverages this weekend. shall we say old chicago?

I would but I have another freaking wedding to go to in Minnesota. Perhaps the following weekend, or a week night once school starts?

**D UP Clones** · 08-15-2007, 07:34 PM

Why is everyone buying the media line that Nebraska will run away with the north? They couldn't do that last year.

Nebraska will not WALK away with the north unless Keller is incredible. I think they and you forget how tough Taylor was and how many shots he took.

You do realize they are replacing their entire dline and that their dbacks were terrible last year?

I must be alone in thinking Nebraska maybe could be favored, but also could lose a few games to north teams.

**thakeepa14** · 08-15-2007, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by D UP Clones

Why is everyone buying the media line that Nebraska will run away with the north? They couldn't do that last year.

Nebraska will not WALK away with the north unless Keller is incredible. I think they and you forget how tough Taylor was and how many shots he took.

You do realize they are replacing their entire dline and that their dbacks were terrible last year?

I must be alone in thinking Nebraska maybe could be favored, but also could lose a few games to north teams.

You're not alone, I'm right there with you. However I'm not picking Mizzou, who probably has the most returning talent if their D comes together, to run away the North either because they have Gary Pinkel as a head coach. It'll be another close one to the finish because nobody's good enough to dominate. Sounds like a broken record. My current thinking is not only will the finish be close, but a lot of these games in the North will be too....between everybody.