I expect 6 wins for the Cyclone football team in 2010

[Arkansas]

Damn dude your predictions are spot on with mine. Have all the wins and losses agreeing with me. This is gonna be a good opportunity for some quality upsets this year. I know its unlikely we take any of them but we have 5 really good teams that we could pull off a kind of miracle victory. (Utah, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.) If we pull off just 1 upset of the 5 i think we can have a 7-5 record and shock all of the writers. Just a quick question for all of the posters on CF. What would u rather see this year.. A victory over top 10 iowa teams when we play them? Or a possibly top 5 rated, undefeated nebraska team when we play them?

I'll take the win over any ranked team regardless who it is

[MLawrence]

Just a quick question for all of the posters on CF. What would u rather see this year.. A victory over top 10 iowa teams when we play them? Or a possibly top 5 rated, undefeated nebraska team when we play them?

Considering the fact that if Nebraska is undefeated heading into the match with ISU, that they would have defeated Texas. I would rather beat the Cornhuskers, because this could possibly be the last time they Cyclones play them. I fully expect Iowa State to keep playing the Hawkeyes in the future. Not to mention if ISU beat Nebraska this would get more media coverage than it would against Iowa.

[maintain242001]

Considering the fact that if Nebraska is undefeated heading into the match with ISU, that they would have defeated Texas. I would rather beat the Cornhuskers, because this could possibly be the last time they Cyclones play them. I fully expect Iowa State to keep playing the Hawkeyes in the future. Not to mention if ISU beat Nebraska this would get more media coverage than it would against Iowa.

Unless Iowa is ranked #1 the answer should always be the conference game. Beating conference teams get you high in the bowl pecking order. As an Iowa fan Id trade a loss to ISU for a win over tOSU in a split second if it meant a shot at the Big 10 crown

[RedBlooded]

Considering the fact that if Nebraska is undefeated heading into the match with ISU, that they would have defeated Texas. I would rather beat the Cornhuskers, because this could possibly be the last time they Cyclones play them. I fully expect Iowa State to keep playing the Hawkeyes in the future. Not to mention if ISU beat Nebraska this would get more media coverage than it would against Iowa.

I agree. who cares about Iowa.

[TexaClone]

I agree. who cares about Iowa.

+1 - And, omg, if Nebraska beats Texas how major league of a letdown would it be to lose to ISU 2 years in a row?! - Is it September 2nd yet?!

[enisthemenace]

Damn dude your predictions are spot on with mine. Have all the wins and losses agreeing with me. This is gonna be a good opportunity for some quality upsets this year. I know its unlikely we take any of them but we have 5 really good teams that we could pull off a kind of miracle victory. (Utah, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.) If we pull off just 1 upset of the 5 i think we can have a 7-5 record and shock all of the writers. Just a quick question for all of the posters on CF. What would u rather see this year.. A victory over top 10 iowa teams when we play them? Or a possibly top 5 rated, undefeated nebraska team when we play them?

If I can only have one of them, this year I would take Nebraska in a heart beat. **** those bastards, but I digress. Why not both?

[Carr50010]

I am thinking 6 wins also,
I will be disappointed is we get less,
Our new defense and no interceptions will be the key.

[RING4CY]

Fair assessment. I don't think they would go to the Insight Bowl though. If I remember correctly, the Insight Bowl has moved up this year.

That's right. It slipped my mind that the Insight Bowl moves up to #4 picking in the Big 12 this year. I'd rather go play in the Dallas Football Classic (still pending approval.) I know it takes the #8 team from the Big 12 as compared to the Pinstripe Bowl taking #7, and the payout is $800,000 less, but playing the DFC would mean three things. 1) Exposure to the state of Texas. 2) The Classic is played on January 1. 3) Get to play in Cotton Bowl Stadium.

[RING4CY]

And Ring4cy that's a lot of typing. Good work!

Thank you. I enjoy writing, so I enjoyed doing all the typing.

[RING4CY]

Just a quick question for all of the posters on CF. What would u rather see this year.. A victory over top 10 iowa teams when we play them? Or a possibly top 5 rated, undefeated nebraska team when we play them?

Beating a top 10 Iowa team would get you a lot of in-state recognition. Beating a top 5-10, undefeated conference opponent will get you national exposure and recognition.

[swammi]

I expect 6 wins for the Cyclone football team in 2010. Breaking down my thoughts game by game, first with the non-conference opponents.

Non-conference opponents.

Northern Illinois game: This is a win for sure. I don't care that the Huskies were a bowl team last year. I don't care what the have coming back this year. When their 7 wins from a year ago are broken down (see below,) it'll be shown that they're not as good as their record says they are.

Northern Illinois wins in 2009:

Opponent, Opponent's '09 W-L record

Western Illinois, 1-10
Purdue, 5-7
Western Michigan, 5-7
Miami (OH), 1-11
Akron, 3-9
Eastern Michigan, 0-12
Ball State, 2-10

Northern Illinois' 7 wins in 2009 came against opponents with a combined 17-66 record. Now, The opponent’s win-loss record from a year for ISU’s wins is not all that impressive either (36-50, .419.) However, if the opponents were to be matched up based on worst record (excluding North Dakota State and Western Illinois, since NDSU actually beat WIU last season,) I would say Colorado was a tougher opponent than Eastern Michigan would have been. The Cyclones start off the '10 season with a sure thing and on the right note. I wouldn't be shocked to see ISU win by 30-35 points. I don’t expect the Cyclones to win by that big of margin, but if they do, I will not be surprised. 1-0

Iowa game: As much as I would like to see the Cyclones go into Iowa City and do the Hawkeyes in, it's not going to happen this year. The Hawkeyes have too much back from their Orange Bowl team from a year ago. But it won't be a 35-3 drubbing like what was witnessed in Ames a year ago. Had the '09 Iowa-Iowa State game been played at the end of the season rather than the beginning, Iowa still wins, but not by 32. And that's what I see happening this year. A 28-17 loss to the bad guys. 1-1

Northern Iowa game: The Cyclones have a lot of reloading to do among their front 7 on the defensive side of the ball for 2010. The Panthers counter that by having to replace all 5 guys on their starting offensive line, their starting quarterback, and starting running back. The Panthers also have to replace 2 wide receivers that graduated last year (they list 3 starting WR positions in their '09 depth chart.) On the defensive side of the ball, Northern Iowa is looking at replacing 2 defensive tackles, a defensive end, 2 linebackers, and a safety. UNI has only 7 of 22 starters returning from a year ago. They Panthers are going to be a young team. If this were the opening game of the 2010 season, it'd probably be an ugly game. While the Panthers have given the Cyclones fits in the recent past, ISU will come out on top of a young Panther team. 2-1

Utah game: I don't know a whole lot about the Utes as to who they have coming back and at what positions. What I do know is the Utes are 47-17 (.734) under Kyle Whittingham, including 23-3 in the last 2 seasons. Utah has also won all 5-bowl games under Coach Whittingham. Whittingham was co-head coach when Utah beat Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, as Urban Meyer was on his way out to Florida. This will be a good, fun match up. I think a game like this will be the kind of game the Cyclones will be able to use to measure just where they are right now under Coach Rhoads. I look forward to the match up. I don't look forward to the result. Utah wins. 2-2

Iowa State finishes non-conference play with a record of 2-2.

Big 12 North opponents:

Colorado game: This should be a win. The Cyclones went into Colorado two years ago and almost beat the Buffaloes (28-24 loss) in their house with sophomores at quarterback and running back. That QB-RB tandem is now in their senior campaign with a return trip to Colorado, to face a team who is still trying to find out who they are and what they have in the 5th year of the Dan Hawkins experiment. Hawkins took over the Colorado program after the 2005 season, the last time the Buffs had a winning record. Unless Colorado shocks the world this year, Iowa State will return home from Colorado with a win for the first time since 2000. 3-2

Kansas game: New quarterback. New wide receivers. Their top returning receiver had just 385 yards and no touchdowns in 2009. They return their top rusher (541 yards), but lose their second leading rusher. Oh, and by the way, they have a new coaching staff as well. This game isn’t until October 30th, so the Jayhawks will have sometime to gel before this game, but I just don’t think they’ll do a whole in the first year under Gill. 4-2

Kansas State game: I’m glad this game was rescheduled to be played earlier in the season. Make sure the Cyclones have a healthy Alexander Robinson. If A-Rob does not go down in last year’s game at Arrowhead, the game isn’t decided by a blocked extra point, and I believe A-Rob will be a big factor in ISU getting the win in Kansas City this year. 5-2

Missouri game: 38 of Gary Pinkel's 67 career wins as head coach of Missouri has come in the last 4 years, an average of 9.5 wins a season, while averaging 5.8 wins a season during his first five at Missouri. Iowa State hasn't beaten Missouri since 2006, Dan McCarney's last game as head coach of Iowa State. Until they do beat Missouri, I have to pick Missouri for the win. 5-3

Nebraska game: Should be interesting game. Huskers have to travel to Ames. Everyone on ISU’s side will be on a high from last year’s meeting. In the end, Nebraska should win the North division this year. Rhoads will definitely have everyone up for this game, and even if Nebraska leaves Ames with a win, ISU will not make it fun for them. Wouldn’t surprise me if this game comes down to a field goal, and Nebraska has a potential Lou Groza award winner in Alex Henrey. 5-4

Big 12 South opponents:

Oklahoma and Texas games: Losses. Plan and simple. Oklahoma and Texas are just better than Iowa State. I honestly cannot tell you the last time Iowa State defeated either Oklahoma or Texas in football. I don’t know that it has ever happened in my 25 years on earth. Plus ISU has to travel to Norman and Austin in back-to-back weeks (who does the scheduling of the conferences game anyway? Who else has to play at Oklahoma and at Texas in consecutive weeks?) However, losing these games won’t be all bad. The Cyclones won 6 games last year to get to a bowl game, and that in the midst of losing 2 of 3 games to South opponents (OSU, aTm). 5-6

Texas Tech game: This game I believe is the wildcard in whether the Cyclones go 5-7 or 6-6 and a bowl game. It’s the fifth game of the season (October 2,) and the second conference game of the year (KSU.) Tech has to come to Ames this year, and it will be just Tech’s 4th game under a new head coach. The Red Raiders have a bye week before this game, but they will be coming off a loss against Texas. Maybe the perfect time to catch them while they’re down. I’m going to be optimistic and maybe a little bit of a homer and say the Cyclones win this one. If the game were being played in Lubbock, my expectation and prediction would be different. 6-6

In the end, I expect a record of 6-6 overall, 4-4 in conference for the 2010 Iowa State Cyclones football team and a return trip to Tempe, Arizona to play in the Insight Bowl.

That's a good read. Good research. I differ slightly in that I feel strongly that we will beat Nebraska in Ames. I'm going to come back to Ames for that one. I think both teams will want to win badly and you might feel the earth move a couple times.

[cycloneML]

we would have to beat the KUs, KSUs, and CUs all in the same year. we've never been able to put it together before.

[RedBlooded]

I expect 6 wins for the Cyclone football team in 2010. Breaking down my thoughts game by game, first with the non-conference opponents.

Non-conference opponents.

Northern Illinois game: This is a win for sure. I don't care that the Huskies were a bowl team last year. I don't care what the have coming back this year. When their 7 wins from a year ago are broken down (see below,) it'll be shown that they're not as good as their record says they are.

Northern Illinois wins in 2009:

Opponent, Opponent's '09 W-L record

Western Illinois, 1-10
Purdue, 5-7
Western Michigan, 5-7
Miami (OH), 1-11
Akron, 3-9
Eastern Michigan, 0-12
Ball State, 2-10

Northern Illinois' 7 wins in 2009 came against opponents with a combined 17-66 record. Now, The opponent’s win-loss record from a year for ISU’s wins is not all that impressive either (36-50, .419.) However, if the opponents were to be matched up based on worst record (excluding North Dakota State and Western Illinois, since NDSU actually beat WIU last season,) I would say Colorado was a tougher opponent than Eastern Michigan would have been. The Cyclones start off the '10 season with a sure thing and on the right note. I wouldn't be shocked to see ISU win by 30-35 points. I don’t expect the Cyclones to win by that big of margin, but if they do, I will not be surprised. 1-0

Iowa game: As much as I would like to see the Cyclones go into Iowa City and do the Hawkeyes in, it's not going to happen this year. The Hawkeyes have too much back from their Orange Bowl team from a year ago. But it won't be a 35-3 drubbing like what was witnessed in Ames a year ago. Had the '09 Iowa-Iowa State game been played at the end of the season rather than the beginning, Iowa still wins, but not by 32. And that's what I see happening this year. A 28-17 loss to the bad guys. 1-1

Northern Iowa game: The Cyclones have a lot of reloading to do among their front 7 on the defensive side of the ball for 2010. The Panthers counter that by having to replace all 5 guys on their starting offensive line, their starting quarterback, and starting running back. The Panthers also have to replace 2 wide receivers that graduated last year (they list 3 starting WR positions in their '09 depth chart.) On the defensive side of the ball, Northern Iowa is looking at replacing 2 defensive tackles, a defensive end, 2 linebackers, and a safety. UNI has only 7 of 22 starters returning from a year ago. They Panthers are going to be a young team. If this were the opening game of the 2010 season, it'd probably be an ugly game. While the Panthers have given the Cyclones fits in the recent past, ISU will come out on top of a young Panther team. 2-1

Utah game: I don't know a whole lot about the Utes as to who they have coming back and at what positions. What I do know is the Utes are 47-17 (.734) under Kyle Whittingham, including 23-3 in the last 2 seasons. Utah has also won all 5-bowl games under Coach Whittingham. Whittingham was co-head coach when Utah beat Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, as Urban Meyer was on his way out to Florida. This will be a good, fun match up. I think a game like this will be the kind of game the Cyclones will be able to use to measure just where they are right now under Coach Rhoads. I look forward to the match up. I don't look forward to the result. Utah wins. 2-2

Iowa State finishes non-conference play with a record of 2-2.

Big 12 North opponents:

Colorado game: This should be a win. The Cyclones went into Colorado two years ago and almost beat the Buffaloes (28-24 loss) in their house with sophomores at quarterback and running back. That QB-RB tandem is now in their senior campaign with a return trip to Colorado, to face a team who is still trying to find out who they are and what they have in the 5th year of the Dan Hawkins experiment. Hawkins took over the Colorado program after the 2005 season, the last time the Buffs had a winning record. Unless Colorado shocks the world this year, Iowa State will return home from Colorado with a win for the first time since 2000. 3-2

Kansas game: New quarterback. New wide receivers. Their top returning receiver had just 385 yards and no touchdowns in 2009. They return their top rusher (541 yards), but lose their second leading rusher. Oh, and by the way, they have a new coaching staff as well. This game isn’t until October 30th, so the Jayhawks will have sometime to gel before this game, but I just don’t think they’ll do a whole in the first year under Gill. 4-2

Kansas State game: I’m glad this game was rescheduled to be played earlier in the season. Make sure the Cyclones have a healthy Alexander Robinson. If A-Rob does not go down in last year’s game at Arrowhead, the game isn’t decided by a blocked extra point, and I believe A-Rob will be a big factor in ISU getting the win in Kansas City this year. 5-2

Missouri game: 38 of Gary Pinkel's 67 career wins as head coach of Missouri has come in the last 4 years, an average of 9.5 wins a season, while averaging 5.8 wins a season during his first five at Missouri. Iowa State hasn't beaten Missouri since 2006, Dan McCarney's last game as head coach of Iowa State. Until they do beat Missouri, I have to pick Missouri for the win. 5-3

Nebraska game: Should be interesting game. Huskers have to travel to Ames. Everyone on ISU’s side will be on a high from last year’s meeting. In the end, Nebraska should win the North division this year. Rhoads will definitely have everyone up for this game, and even if Nebraska leaves Ames with a win, ISU will not make it fun for them. Wouldn’t surprise me if this game comes down to a field goal, and Nebraska has a potential Lou Groza award winner in Alex Henrey. 5-4

Big 12 South opponents:

Oklahoma and Texas games: Losses. Plan and simple. Oklahoma and Texas are just better than Iowa State. I honestly cannot tell you the last time Iowa State defeated either Oklahoma or Texas in football. I don’t know that it has ever happened in my 25 years on earth. Plus ISU has to travel to Norman and Austin in back-to-back weeks (who does the scheduling of the conferences game anyway? Who else has to play at Oklahoma and at Texas in consecutive weeks?) However, losing these games won’t be all bad. The Cyclones won 6 games last year to get to a bowl game, and that in the midst of losing 2 of 3 games to South opponents (OSU, aTm). 5-6

Texas Tech game: This game I believe is the wildcard in whether the Cyclones go 5-7 or 6-6 and a bowl game. It’s the fifth game of the season (October 2,) and the second conference game of the year (KSU.) Tech has to come to Ames this year, and it will be just Tech’s 4th game under a new head coach. The Red Raiders have a bye week before this game, but they will be coming off a loss against Texas. Maybe the perfect time to catch them while they’re down. I’m going to be optimistic and maybe a little bit of a homer and say the Cyclones win this one. If the game were being played in Lubbock, my expectation and prediction would be different. 6-6

In the end, I expect a record of 6-6 overall, 4-4 in conference for the 2010 Iowa State Cyclones football team and a return trip to Tempe, Arizona to play in the Insight Bowl.

some one is trying to take Chris's job!

[StLouisClone]

I am thinking 6 wins also,
I will be disappointed is we get less,
Our new defense and no interceptions will be the key.

I'm not convinced we have the talent to win 6 games. We lost our best OL (Haughton), our best WR (Hamilton), our best DE (Lyle) and our best LB (Smith). I'm not convinced that their replacements will be anywhere near the caliber of those guys. I guess we'll find out against Northern Illinois. If we struggle against them, we'll know we're in for a long season.

WR is the one position that scares me the most. Arnaud took a step back last year after losing Sumrall. Now he loses Hamilton, and we keep hearing about all the dropped balls in the scrimmage. If Sed Johnson is our go-to receiver, then he better have improved 10X or Arnaud will be tucking it and running it a lot this year.

[JUKEBOX]

I'm not convinced we have the talent to win 6 games. We lost our best OL (Haughton), our best WR (Hamilton), our best DE (Lyle) and our best LB (Smith). I'm not convinced that their replacements will be anywhere near the caliber of those guys. I guess we'll find out against Northern Illinois. If we struggle against them, we'll know we're in for a long season.

WR is the one position that scares me the most. Arnaud took a step back last year after losing Sumrall. Now he loses Hamilton, and we keep hearing about all the dropped balls in the scrimmage. If Sed Johnson is our go-to receiver, then he better have improved 10X or Arnaud will be tucking it and running it a lot this year.

You're wrong. No disrespect to the guys that played last year, but this year's team is a whole lot more talented.