Rankings change anyone's mind?

[oldman]

Based on SPORTING News Top 100 teams,we will play two teams below our ranking of #82. That is K St at #85, and UNI (not on the list). Colorado is #74, N. Ill is #49, three teams in the #30s, and five teams in the Top 25.

So, is my previous prediction of 6-6, 7-5 all wet? I know there will be a lot of shuffling of ranks going on when the teams finally hit the field. Injuries will play a part as always.

From the look of it, I didn't realize how tough our schedule was really going to be.

I still think we can be bowl eligible, because I feel our offense will will put up a lot of points. Anyone's mind get changed?

[Bobber]

Based on SPORTING News Top 100 teams,we will play two teams below our ranking of #82. That is K St at #85, and UNI (not on the list). Colorado is #74, N. Ill is #49, three teams in the #30s, and five teams in the Top 25.

So, is my previous prediction of 6-6, 7-5 all wet? I know there will be a lot of shuffling of ranks going on when the teams finally hit the field. Injuries will play a part as always.

From the look of it, I didn't realize how tough our schedule was really going to be.

I still think we can be bowl eligible, because I feel our offense will will put up a lot of points. Anyone's mind get changed?

I think we'll struggle to get to 6 wins with the youth of our defense and the tough schedule. As a matte of fact, 3 wins may be difficult.

My mind hasn't changed at all.

[tejasclone]

Preseason rankings still don't mean anything. We play a lot of good teams, yes, but we won't be a slouch, either. I still think 6-6 is attainable, plus or minus a game or two.

[Clones85']

My mind hasn't changed. I had us at 5-7 and am sticking with that.

And Northern Illinois at 49 is more of who they play and how they are expected to finish rather than being the 49th best team in the country. We should win that game

[JY07]

I'm sticking with 4 to 5 wins

[Tre4ISU]

I'll go 6-6. OUr defense may be shoddy early, but they will improve dramatically and our offense should be at least good.

[DRCHIRO]

I think 5 is the over/under number to begin with.

Who knows. I know the magazines should be great motivational materials.

Until we put together a string of decent seasons, we will get no respect. I don't think anyone on here is getting to bent out of shape because of what the "experts" predict.

[weR138]

Based on SPORTING News Top 100 teams,we will play two teams below our ranking of #82. That is K St at #85, and UNI (not on the list). Colorado is #74, N. Ill is #49, three teams in the #30s, and five teams in the Top 25.

So, is my previous prediction of 6-6, 7-5 all wet? I know there will be a lot of shuffling of ranks going on when the teams finally hit the field. Injuries will play a part as always.

From the look of it, I didn't realize how tough our schedule was really going to be.

I still think we can be bowl eligible, because I feel our offense will will put up a lot of points. Anyone's mind get changed?

I think the way we get to six wins is by beating KU, KSU, CU, NIU, UNI and TTU. IMO we will win five games (this list minus TT) but we could win seven games (this list plus Mizz/NU/Iowa)You're not all wet but beating Utah and OU with open dates before us or beating Iowa; those are tall orders. The schedule is brutal this year and all ISU fans are keenly aware of this.

[CykoAGR]

Preseason ranking dont mean much to me. IMO once you get out of the top 7-10 teams in the country there is a huge pool of teams that could beat anyone else in that pool on a given day. Last years win at Neb is proof of that. The so called experts look at last years record/results and then look at how many starters return on each side of the ball and special teams. And then base their ASSumptions on this.

They do not attend practices for all of the teams to see what new players bring to the table. They do not take into account how much better players grasp the playbook, if they got stronger or faster. Too much stock put into numbers and not enough on the on-field performance on game day. How many of these "experts" to you think watched ISU last year play more than maybe one or two games IF that? My guess is zero.

Dont get me wrong I enjoy the preseason previews but I also love to look back in about Oct and see just how far off some of these experts were.

[d4nim4l]

My mind hasn't changed. I had us at 5-7 and am sticking with that.

And Northern Illinois at 49 is more of who they play and how they are expected to finish rather than being the 49th best team in the country. We should win that game

I agree with this.

This team realistically can go anywhere between 5-7 and 7-5 with a limited outside shot at 4-8 to 8-4.

What amazes me about the Sporting News' rankings are the rankings of Kansas and Colorado. Kansas is completely changing their philosophy and Colorado only has a pulse because their defense has actually been pretty solid over Hawkins' tenure.

We may not have more talent than Kansas but right now I take our coaching staff over theirs and our experience in the system over theirs.

[Clark]

I'm trying to decide if I've been brainwashed by Cyclone Nation or if these guys are just throwing darts at the wall.

3 wins seems a little low.

[cyclones6785]

Where is UNIguy4Cy? His input is needed here

[Bobber]

I'm trying to decide if I've been brainwashed by Cyclone Nation or if these guys are just throwing darts at the wall.

3 wins seems a little low.

There's a difference between what you want and what you get.

Hope I'm wrong and you're right.

[ISUonthemove]

I'm leaning more towards 4 wins, rather than 5. Hope I'm wrong.

[CyDude16]

6-6 is my prediction, but i can easily see us ending up with 4... like someone said 5 is probably the over/under. I'd love to be surprised and end 7-5,8-4... it depends on if the defense can mold together and health of the offense.