Is this years' team better than we thought?

[bosco]

Remaining games and our odds of winning according to ESPN Matchup Predictor:

Baylor 76.5%
@West Virginia 60.1%
UCF 65.8%
Texas Tech 75.1%
"@"Kansas 56.1%
Cincinnati 72.1%
@utah 50.8%
Kansas State 53.0%

Little suspicious of that Kansas game %, but after some thought they might see it as an "away" game. But after more thought I fear we are losing this game.

Looking at KU's schedule it is a real possibility they would have only 1 conference win by that time. If we are undefeated get ready for strong kick to the nuts. Also our record in Arrowhead is not good. With everything set up before this team with a realistic chance at the B12 title game and a playoff berth it would be the most Iowa State thing to happen.

 

[cydnote]

Little suspicious of that Kansas game %, but after some thought they might see it as an "away" game. But after more thought I fear we are losing this game.

Looking at KU's schedule it is a real possibility they would have only 1 conference win by that time. If we are undefeated get ready for strong kick to the nuts. Also our record in Arrowhead is not good. With everything set up before this team with a realistic chance at the B12 title game and a playoff berth it would be the most Iowa State thing to happen.

I get wut your saying, and it doesn't affect the outcome by what the fans think--it's on the coaches and players. Campbell and company have guided us through many of the "most Iowa State things to happen" in his tenure, evident by the number of wins against ranked opponents, etc. We are not the only fanbase that has those thoughts. It wasn't "the most ISU thing to happen" that pushed the kick through the uprights at the Iowa game. Nor the 4-0 start. And it wouldn't be "the most ISU thing to happen" if the stars didn't all align, but so far they are. I'm having those thoughts on occasion too, but it's much more satisfying to wet your whistle with the koolaide, and we can revisit that cliché if needed.

 

[Kinch]

North Dakota in their four wins have averaged 48 points per game. Holding them to three was good.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

North Dakota in their four wins have averaged 48 points per game. Holding them to three was good.

Yeah after watching that game back I realized they are seriously a good team. Honestly we maybe lose that game in 2018 or 2019.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

A win is a win. The whole game was well managed and conservatively done.

Not sure Houston's style of alternating quarterbacks during series was as effective as one would have thought. I would think as a coach you stay with one that has the hot hand. Neither one showed that.

Baylor gave BYU all they could handle. The Bears are definitely a team that is better than what their 2-3 record indicates. Don't think we'll shut them out. Our future schedule is looking favorable... It's easy to look in a crystal ball and look at teams and say we have a legitimate chance, but a lot can happen between now and then.

One game at a time.

If we can get past WVU undefeated my Thanksgiving Day sweats are gonna be real akward.

 

[BoomerClone]

There are people on this forum that legit have this mindset

We didn’t beat a top 10 FCS team by 50. We must suck

We only beat a B1G team on the road that will most likely win 8+ games by 1. We suck.

We blew out a mid tier group of 5 team that previously played the defending national champion close. We suck.

We shut out an in conference team on the road. We suck.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Jury still out for me. Loving the Big 10 West schedule though!

I will NEVER apologize for this schedule after seeing Iowa's schedule for the last 10 years. I've been told that you can only play the games on your schedule... The funny part is that it will still be head and shoulders over TOE's average SOS which is pretty hilarious.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

While Baylor is a lot better than Houston. I'm not overly worried about next week. It's at home, and Jamie is going all out trying to make this a sell out (I think it will sell out). Crowd should be electric.

I think this Houston game was a little weird being a night road game. Won't have that problem at home.

Baylor will be one of those teams where if we can get a lead, they'll probably quit. They've had too much disappointment already this year.

I don't expect Campbell to be nearly as conservative either. Offensively think he is gonna want to pour it on them.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Little suspicious of that Kansas game %, but after some thought they might see it as an "away" game. But after more thought I fear we are losing this game.

Looking at KU's schedule it is a real possibility they would have only 1 conference win by that time. If we are undefeated get ready for strong kick to the nuts. Also our record in Arrowhead is not good. With everything set up before this team with a realistic chance at the B12 title game and a playoff berth it would be the most Iowa State thing to happen.

Man some of you guys can't accept that this era of Iowa State football is just different.

 

[jsb]

I get wut your saying, and it doesn't affect the outcome by what the fans think--it's on the coaches and players. Campbell and company have guided us through many of the "most Iowa State things to happen" in his tenure, evident by the number of wins against ranked opponents, etc. We are not the only fanbase that has those thoughts. It wasn't "the most ISU thing to happen" that pushed the kick through the uprights at the Iowa game. Nor the 4-0 start. And it wouldn't be "the most ISU thing to happen" if the stars didn't all align, but so far they are. I'm having those thoughts on occasion too, but it's much more satisfying to wet your whistle with the koolaide, and we can revisit that cliché if needed.

And obviously every fan base does this ****. But sometimes we forget it.

Virginia Tech got screwed on a replay that didn’t have evidence to overturn. Mississippi missed a marketable FG to tie the game. Notre dame **** the bed against a bad team.

I contend that in the last 9 years we’ve had no more “Iowa State” things happen than almost any other team.

It’s football. Sometimes **** happens.

 

[isucy86]

There are people on this forum that legit have this mindset

We didn’t beat a top 10 FCS team by 50. We must suck

We only beat a B1G team on the road that will most likely win 8+ games by 1. We suck.

We blew out a mid tier group of 5 team that previously played the defending national champion close. We suck.

We shut out an in conference team on the road. We suck.

I haven't read earlier posts in this thread, but not sure most people are taking the perspective we suck. Some people feel the talk of Big12 Championship Game and Playoffs is premature after 4 games. IMO fans tend to fall for the media hype machine with Playoff talk in September.

I'm excited about the possibilities for this season, but a lot can happen over 8 games. Breaks are important and sometimes it matters when you play a team. IMO the next 2 weeks will tell Clone fans A LOT! Baylor has struggled to win, but they have scored points. And playing a solid WVU team in Morgantown should be a tester.

 

[cytor]

I have confidence that we take care of Baylor this weekend.... my only trepidation: All white uni's. I don't think ISU has ever won a game in all whites in the Matt Campbell era. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Either way, I know our record wearing all whites is bad.

 

[CycloneErik]

I have confidence that we take care of Baylor this weekend.... my only trepidation: All white uni's. I don't think ISU has ever won a game in all whites in the Matt Campbell era. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Either way, I know our record wearing all whites is bad.

Who cares? Campbell breaks these trends with regularity.

 

[cytor]

Who cares? Campbell breaks these trends with regularity.

Agreed and that is what I am hoping for.

 

[heitclone]

I think we are, we haven't played the toughest schedule but we're 4-0 and our offense hasn't hit it's stride. Sama hitting a big run was a start, really need the Rocco we had late last season to return, he just hasn't looked like himself. If he can get it going, hopefully that gets Brahmer involved. We'll need more than the wr in the passing game as the competition gets tougher.

 

[qwerty]

Well, others are noticing . . . .

 

[Cyclonsin]

Well, others are noticing . . . .

View attachment 135294


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I mean, those are both just Iowa State fans, but ok I guess.

 

[qwerty]

I mean, those are both just Iowa State fans, but ok I guess.

I didn't know Cowboy Carl was an ISU fan. I figured he might be OK St. I did see another post from an OK St fan saying they are cheering for ISU rest of season unless they play OK St.

edit: I have always liked OK St as my 2nd team in Big 12.

 

[Cyclonsin]

I didn't know Cowboy Carl was an ISU fan. I figured he might be OK St. I did see another post from an OK St fan saying they are cheering for ISU rest of season unless they play OK St.

Yup, he is. Caught me off guard, too, the first time I ran into him.

 

[Statefan10]

Hypothetical "When We Play Them" Prediction because I'm bored at work (If you're mad about anything in here, deal with it):

@ Houston (1-3): Not going to sugarcoat it. Houston is just not very good. Holgerson left Fritz with a very bare cupboard and Fritz is trying to pick up the pieces. Looking at their schedule, they may be lucky to win two games this year. I really hope we're not one of them, but this "should" be a comfortable victory. Iowa State 34 - Houston 17

Baylor (3-2): First off, give me the Baylor Bears in an upset at home this week against a BYU team coming off a very big high last week. Baylor then comes back down to earth when they come to Ames for a WHITE OUT game under the lights. Iowa State 30 - Baylor 17

@ West Virginia (2-3): West Virginia will lose in Stillwater next week and OSU will be coming off a loss in Manhattan this week. This is going to be a tough one, but the Mountaineers will be in their gauntlet of their season in playing OSU, ISU and KSU 4 games straight. Iowa State goes into Morgantown and steals a close one in a barn burner. Iowa State 38 - West Virginia 35

#25 UCF (5-1): UCF brings their high powered offense into Jack Trice and gets their first taste of The Wizard Jon Heacock. The under hits big time in this one and Iowa State stays undefeated. Iowa State 17 - UCF 14

Texas Tech (5-3): This is likely going to be Texas Tech's hardest game on their entire schedule. Going into Jack Trice against an undefeated Iowa State team on homecoming does not bode well for the Red Raiders. Iowa State 31 - Texas Tech 10

Kansas (4-4): At the beginning of the year, KU was talked about as a team that's going to compete for a conference title. That has been the opposite as they've looked poor so far. There's going to be some buzz this game as it'll be in Arrowhead, but Iowa State fans bring Trice South to Kansas City and keeps the wheels turning. Iowa State 27 - Kansas 20

Cincinnati (4-5): Again, this is going to be the toughest game on Cincinnati's schedule. It's in Ames against a rolling Cyclones squad. Iowa State embarrasses the Bearcats. Iowa State 41 - Cincinnati 10

#5 Utah (10-0): An undefeated Utah takes on an undefeated Iowa State under the lights in a top-10 matchup and College Gameday in appearance. Utah prevails at home comfortably. Iowa State 13 - Utah 27

#13 Kansas State (9-2): Kansas State comes into Ames at night in a game to go to the Big 12 Championship. No snow in this one, but Iowa State wins in a high scoring back and forth shootout. Iowa State 40 - Kansas State 38

Updating this throughout the weeks to see how bad I am at predicting lol:

Iowa State (4-0) 20 - Houston (1-4) 0

Baylor (2-3): Baylor comes back but falls short against BYU (I was so close). The Bears come into a fired up Jack Trice Stadium and start off strong but end up dwindling. Cyclones win and cover. Iowa State 30 - Baylor 13

@ West Virginia (2-3): West Virginia will lose in Stillwater this week as OSU will be coming off a loss in Manhattan last week. This is going to be a tough one, but the Mountaineers will be in their gauntlet of their season in playing KU, OSU, ISU and KSU 4 games straight. Iowa State goes into Morgantown and steals a close one in a barn burner. Iowa State 38 - West Virginia 35

UCF (4-2): UCF comes off a win against Cincinnati but runs into John Heacock and company. Still predicting a sloppy game here where Iowa State grinds out a win. Iowa State 17 - UCF 14

Texas Tech (6-2): Tech loses this week to Arizona and then wins back to back games coming to Ames for a sold out undefeated Iowa State on homecoming. Iowa State rolls under the lights. Iowa State 31 - Texas Tech 10

Kansas (2-6): At the beginning of the year, KU was talked about as a team that's going to compete for a conference title. That has been the opposite as they've looked poor so far. They come into this game losing 6 of 7 and are demoralized. Changing things up here! Iowa State 38- Kansas 10

Cincinnati (5-4): This is going to be the toughest game on Cincinnati's schedule. It's in Ames against a rolling Cyclones squad. Iowa State embarrasses the Bearcats. Changing the score to reflect Cincy's offense. Iowa State 41 - Cincinnati 24

#15 Utah (8-2): I'm not even sure Cam Rising is even on their roster at this point. And his right throwing hand surely is a bigger injury than most thought. That obviously doesn't matter because he'll take the magic elixor potion that heals all top players before facing the Cyclones. Utah loses one more before they catch a red hot top 10 Iowa State squad but win on a final field goal. Iowa State 17 - Utah 20

#14 Kansas State (9-2): Kansas State comes into Ames at night in a game to go to the Big 12 Championship. No snow in this one, but Iowa State wins in a high scoring back and forth shootout. Iowa State 40 - Kansas State 38