Best chance to pull an upset this year?

**CycloneJames** · 07-26-2011, 12:49 PM

I guess I don't quite get how Texas would be that big of an upset. Sure, they will be favored so it is an upset. But as I see it right now, I wouldn't be shocked at all if we won that game. We outplayed them last year in Austin, and both teams should be a little better. And the game is in Ames so I don't consider that to be a huge upset if we win. Obviously things can change.

It could be that I am looking at this topic differently. There are a lot of games that would be considered "upsets." But if we are talking an upset to would equal Nebraska or Texas, I think only OU, ATM, and OSU qualify. I would truly be shocked if we won any of those games. Missouri is almost to that category, it depends on how their new QB plays.

**prdhawk** · 07-26-2011, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneJames

I guess I don't quite get how Texas would be that big of an upset. Sure, they will be favored so it is an upset. But as I see it right now, I wouldn't be shocked at all if we won that game. We outplayed them last year in Austin, and both teams should be a little better. And the game is in Ames so I don't consider that to be a huge upset if we win. Obviously things can change.

It could be that I am looking at this topic differently. There are a lot of games that would be considered "upsets." But if we are talking an upset to would equal Nebraska or Texas, I think only OU, ATM, and OSU qualify. I would truly be shocked if we won any of those games. Missouri is almost to that category, it depends on how their new QB plays.

how many times has ISU beaten Texas 2 years in a row???

**CycloneJames** · 07-26-2011, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by prdhawk

how many times has ISU beaten Texas 2 years in a row???

Obviously never, but thats not my point. My point is that Texas wasn't that great of a team last year. It was such a huge upset since we had never beaten them before, and at the time everybody thought they were still pretty good. They hadn't gone into complete meltdown mode yet. I don't think Texas is significantly better than they were last year. And we, quite simply, outplayed them last year. We didn't need 8 turnovers (of which 1 or 2 being flukey). Basically, I wouldn't considered being Texas a monumental upset.

By the way, when was the last time Iowa beat Northwestern 2 years in a row? Maybe it will be an upset if they can finally beat them again.

**State43** · 07-26-2011, 01:22 PM

IF we can win the Iowa game, I might seriously be considering a 4-0 start which would be amazing. I would freak out for sure!

**prdhawk** · 07-26-2011, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneJames

Obviously never, but thats not my point. My point is that Texas wasn't that great of a team last year. It was such a huge upset since we had never beaten them before, and at the time everybody thought they were still pretty good. They hadn't gone into complete meltdown mode yet. I don't think Texas is significantly better than they were last year. And we, quite simply, outplayed them last year. We didn't need 8 turnovers (of which 1 or 2 being flukey). Basically, I wouldn't considered being Texas a monumental upset.

By the way, when was the last time Iowa beat Northwestern 2 years in a row? Maybe it will be an upset if they can finally beat them again.

sorry but Texas is still going to be Texas and it's not like ISU doesn't have a ton of question marks as well...it's the same thing as a lot of ISU fans saying that Iowa fans are unrealistic in their expectations at times, which i suppose every fanbase can be...as far as Northwestern goes, its been a while...kinda would be nice to get that monkey off our backs haha

**clone4good** · 07-26-2011, 01:29 PM

I think the only "upset" we will be making is on the road against connecticut and that really isn't an upset. Two equal teams going at it. I just can not see a big time upset this year. Way to many questions, QB, WR, RB, D-line, Safety. Hope I am wrong and we pull off a good one tho! But if I had to go way out on a limb I would say Baylor, but of course our offense would have to score with their offense because there is no way in hell we are keeping them under 30 if Griffin stays injury free.

**ozzie8** · 07-26-2011, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by clonestar12

While the odds will have Iowa as a favorite, I do not believe beating them at JT would be considered an upset at all. On our schedule, OU in Norman would rattle the establishment! We could use a boost like that.

Maybe you dont, but the rest of the college football world and anyone with a little common sense would call that an upset.

**CycloneJames** · 07-26-2011, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by prdhawk

sorry but Texas is still going to be Texas and it's not like ISU doesn't have a ton of question marks as well...it's the same thing as a lot of ISU fans saying that Iowa fans are unrealistic in their expectations at times, which i suppose every fanbase can be...as far as Northwestern goes, its been a while...kinda would be nice to get that monkey off our backs haha

You're right, Texas is still Texas. They will have athetes far superiour to ISU's. But until they prove that last year was a fluke, I'm going to continue to think that they are a mediocre team. I'm not saying that I am expecting ISU to beat Texas. By no means am I expecting that. I'm just saying that I don't think its a huge upset if we were to beat them again.

**tm3308** · 07-26-2011, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneJames

Obviously never, but thats not my point. My point is that Texas wasn't that great of a team last year. It was such a huge upset since we had never beaten them before, and at the time everybody thought they were still pretty good. They hadn't gone into complete meltdown mode yet. I don't think Texas is significantly better than they were last year. And we, quite simply, outplayed them last year. We didn't need 8 turnovers (of which 1 or 2 being flukey). Basically, I wouldn't considered being Texas a monumental upset.

By the way, when was the last time Iowa beat Northwestern 2 years in a row? Maybe it will be an upset if they can finally beat them again.

Texas still has FAR more talent than does ISU. And since when don't the Cyclones have question marks?

Arnaud is gone. Jantz hasn't played a single down of Big 12 football. He looks like he's got some talent, but there's no telling how he'll pan out.

A-Rob is gone. Dude rushed for 120 yards and 2 TD's against Texas last year, and Arnaud was the second-leading rusher in that game. I'm not saying Shontrelle sucks, because he doesn't. But he didn't even play against Texas last year, so that's another question mark.

ISU's best "receiver", Franklin, is gone. The other receivers didn't exactly demonstrate a consistent ability to gain separation, or even hold onto the ball.

ISU's defense should be okay, but they need to find a good replacement for Sims.

Those holes on offense can get pretty big when you face a team with as much talent as Texas has.

That's not to say that ISU can't win the game. I think they definitely can. But to say it wouldn't be an upset is just ludicrous at this point.

**CycloneJames** · 07-26-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by tm3308

Texas still has FAR more talent than does ISU. And since when don't the Cyclones have question marks?

Arnaud is gone. Jantz hasn't played a single down of Big 12 football. He looks like he's got some talent, but there's no telling how he'll pan out.

A-Rob is gone. Dude rushed for 120 yards and 2 TD's against Texas last year, and Arnaud was the second-leading rusher in that game. I'm not saying Shontrelle sucks, because he doesn't. But he didn't even play against Texas last year, so that's another question mark.

ISU's best "receiver", Franklin, is gone. The other receivers didn't exactly demonstrate a consistent ability to gain separation, or even hold onto the ball.

ISU's defense should be okay, but they need to find a good replacement for Sims.

Those holes on offense can get pretty big when you face a team with as much talent as Texas has.

That's not to say that ISU can't win the game. I think they definitely can. But to say it wouldn't be an upset is just ludicrous at this point.

Please show me where I said it wouldn't be an upset. I said it would be an upset just not a monumental upset. You are essentially agreeing with me when you say you "definately think they can" win the game. Thats all I'm saying. I think they have a decent chance of winning - therefore, in my opinion, its not a monumental upset that would match Nebraska 2 years ago or Texas last year.

**Erik4Cy** · 07-26-2011, 03:50 PM

Texas would still be an upset of course, I don't think anyone is saying it wouldn't be. but a lot of these guys on our team KNOW they can beat them...and beat them even more handily. we were up 21-6 going into 4th Q and things got kinda conservative defensively and we sat back and let them come to us when pressure and turnovers were the story all day to that point. our D can force turnovers on them again this year. it's just keeping the pedal all the way to the floor once you're up on them. I think a lot of our guys felt they should of won that game by 14-17 points or more the way we handled them. Texas will have last year fresh in their mind for sure, but Texas realizes it can't underestimate or sleep on Iowa State even for 1 possession anymore. Paul Rhoads-led Cyclone teams are not Gene Chizlick-led Cyclone teams, as we all well know.

**IcSyU** · 07-26-2011, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Erik4Cy

Texas would still be an upset of course, I don't think anyone is saying it wouldn't be.

Originally Posted by UNIGuy4Cy

I think we beat Iowa and Texas by decent amounts and I would not call either an upset aside.

**woodie** · 07-26-2011, 04:05 PM

baylor
connecticut

**tazclone** · 07-26-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by CPRsavedMYlife

Each of the last two years we have had monumental upsets on the road, that have shaken the college football world. In 2009, we won in Lincoln, last year we won in Austin.

This year, I think our big upset comes at home, against the Squawks.

Thoughts?

When I think of "upset" I am thinking of games that the average fan just does not expect us to win. IMO- that would limit choices to

iowa- Lost a ton of talent off a mediocre team
Texas- new OC/DC and coming off a poor season
Mizzou- we always play them tough
aTm- IMO a very overrated team
OSU- I don't like this match up
OU- They own us

Looking at the choices, I go with iowa or Texas. Both would be considered upsets butI think both are doable. I know people think Texas will just bounce back but they have a ton of talent very year. Now they have to go through a complete overhaul on offense and defense. Call me crazy but they have to make a long road trip and have OU the following week.

**zwclones51** · 07-26-2011, 04:16 PM

Im not counting Kansas, K State, Baylor, Tech or UNI just the ones where ISU will be predicted to lose by a decent amount. Here's my list of most likely to least likely to win.

1. UCONN
2 Iowa
3 Missouri
4. Texas
5. Texas A&M
6. Oklahoma
7. Oklahoma St.

I think we get Uconn and either Missouri or Texas.