7-0 to start...

[jaretac]

NDakotaS - Win, no question.

Iowa - Toss up. With Greene being gone, the EIU's offense will struggle at times, but their defense should still be tough. It hasn't been Iowa's offense that has hurt us the past few years, hopefully Herman can solve that problem. I think ISU can defiantly win this game, depending on how long it takes for the team to gel.

@Kent State - This is like the Toledo game two years ago or the UNLV game last year. The key to winning this game will be the defense. I'm going to pencil it in as a win.

Army - Win. The run defense will be tested, but it will be good enough to pull out a nice win. I think our linebackers will be to fast for them.

vs.K State - Win. KState will be last in the North this year. They have to find a replacement for Josh Freeman who was the primary reason for their offense last year. Remember that their defense allowed over 600 yards against ISU last year.

@Kansas - Loss. They may not win the North because of a tough schedule, but they will likely be the toughest team in the North this year. I think it will be a close game, but ISU will lose by 10-14 points.

Baylor - Toss up. This will be a very tough game. It is the kind of game that ISU usually loses, hopefully Rhoads can motivate them. Again, defense is the question and how much better it will be this year.

@Nebraska - Loss. If this was in Ames I might look at it differently. Nebraska will be down this year, but not out. I think ISU will hang for awhile but our defense won't be enough

@T A&M - Toss up. Our last road win was @ A&M, 4 years latter, we have a shot at another at A&M. This will be a shoot out and the team with the ball last will win.

Ok State - Loss. This will be a much closer game than the game this year. I think ISU will keep it within 2 touchdowns.

Colorado - Win. Colorado has little offense and their defense, though solid, has done little to impress me. I think Colorado will be in bowl contention, however, they will be far from great- I don't care what Hawkins thinks.

@Missouri - Toss up. Missouri will also be down this year, depending on how things fall, ISU may be playing for bowl eligibility. ISU normally plays Missouri tough, should be a close game that may go either way.

6-7 wins, 2-3 coference wins.

North prediction
Kansas
Nebraska
Missouri
ISU
Colorado
Kansas St.

 

[huskerman]

NDakotaS - Win, no question.

Iowa - Toss up. With Greene being gone, the EIU's offense will struggle at times, but their defense should still be tough. It hasn't been Iowa's offense that has hurt us the past few years, hopefully Herman can solve that problem. I think ISU can defiantly win this game, depending on how long it takes for the team to gel.

@Kent State - This is like the Toledo game two years ago or the UNLV game last year. The key to winning this game will be the defense. I'm going to pencil it in as a win.

Army - Win. The run defense will be tested, but it will be good enough to pull out a nice win. I think our linebackers will be to fast for them.

vs.K State - Win. KState will be last in the North this year. They have to find a replacement for Josh Freeman who was the primary reason for their offense last year. Remember that their defense allowed over 600 yards against ISU last year.

@Kansas - Loss. They may not win the North because of a tough schedule, but they will likely be the toughest team in the North this year. I think it will be a close game, but ISU will lose by 10-14 points.

Baylor - Toss up. This will be a very tough game. It is the kind of game that ISU usually loses, hopefully Rhoads can motivate them. Again, defense is the question and how much better it will be this year.

@Nebraska - Loss. If this was in Ames I might look at it differently. Nebraska will be down this year, but not out. I think ISU will hang for awhile but our defense won't be enough

@T A&M - Toss up. Our last road win was @ A&M, 4 years latter, we have a shot at another at A&M. This will be a shoot out and the team with the ball last will win.

Ok State - Loss. This will be a much closer game than the game this year. I think ISU will keep it within 2 touchdowns.

Colorado - Win. Colorado has little offense and their defense, though solid, has done little to impress me. I think Colorado will be in bowl contention, however, they will be far from great- I don't care what Hawkins thinks.

@Missouri - Toss up. Missouri will also be down this year, depending on how things fall, ISU may be playing for bowl eligibility. ISU normally plays Missouri tough, should be a close game that may go either way.

6-7 wins, 2-3 coference wins.

North prediction
Kansas
Nebraska
Missouri
ISU
Colorado
Kansas St.

i think you are way off, and no not because you dont have NU winning the north.

the first two are right in one order or the other. (of course i will homer pick NU)

the next three should go CU then MU then ISU.

You do have KSUcks correct tho.

North:

Nebraska (returns a lot of talent minus qb)

Kansas (returns a lot, but loses like 6 total players on the line which sucked last year)

Colorado (last season was injury plagued and they should be better this season say around 7-5)

Missouri (Lose their whole offense and most of their defense which was bad in the first place)

ISU (New coach, players need a lot of coaching as they always seemed to be out of position last season. could move ahead of MU if rhoads can develope the talent on the roster better than chizik could but likely he cant do it that fast.)

KSUcks (JUCO snyder. 'Nuff said)

 

[Racer68]

As excited as I am by the new coaching staff and players, I am going to remain cautiously optimistic. Hell, I would be super happy with a 5 win year...to see Coach Rhoads and the team do in 1 year what Chizdick could only acomplish in 2...progress!

Go Cyclones!!!

 

[HuskyCy5]

I hope you are all right, the lowest win total most people are citing is 6 and that makes us Bowl Eligible, which also means we get to practice in December which we haven't done for 3 years!!! If your predictions work out we might get an extra game which is critical to young teams!!

Go Rhoads!!

 

[jaretac]

i think you are way off, and no not because you dont have NU winning the north.

the first two are right in one order or the other. (of course i will homer pick NU)

the next three should go CU then MU then ISU.

You do have KSUcks correct tho.

North:

Nebraska
Kansas
Colorado
Missouri
ISU
KSUcks

I'm way off.:skeptical:

My prediction
Kansas
Nebraska
Missouri
ISU
Colorado
KState

Seems pretty close to me. The only one we really disagree about is Colorado.

As for Colorado, they may end up being higher in the standings. If so, that means the North is awful, because I can't see them winning more than 6 games. They had injuries, but their offense was inept all season. What kept them in games was their defense, which took some big hits over the off season. If they can find some WR's, maybe they can get their offense going- but I don't see it being enough.

I believe that this year, the North will be like 2004/2005 where the North winner has only 4-5 conference wins, which combined with a easy non conference will make 4-5 North teams bowl eligible. Think about it, if you win all your easy non conference games, you only need two conference victories to be eligible; which normally would be toward the bottom of the standings.

 

[d30fan]

Our juniors and seniors will be learning their second or third systems. Don't care how good the staff is, it is pretty hard to imagine more than 4 or 5 wins. I hope I can be slapped down in November when we are looking at 7 and a bowl, but I'm not expecting much more than "good progress" towards rebuilding. We need a couple really good recruiting years to get to the 7-8 win range

 

[Cycofan1]

...the 2009 season.

NDakotaS - W
Iowa - W
Kent State - W
Army - W
K State - W
Kansas - W Lose a lot of seniors
Baylor - W
Nebraska - ? We should be ahead of them in rebuilding
T A&M - ? Same thing
Ok State - ? Tough one
Colorado - ? Hawkins might have them in first place
Missouri - ? If we played them early, I would give us a win because they're bringing in a new QB.


Possible to win 10-11 games. Texas and Oklahoma off the schedule again. Should have an experienced, and dominating OL. A TON of talent at the skill positions (Bo, Austen, Phillip, Sed, J Carlson, A Rob, Schwartz, Hamilton, Darks, Harper, Franklin, Lonzie Range and don't forget Tiller). I can't ever remember being that loaded all over the field. I know most still have to prove themselves though.

I really don't have any doubts about our defense with Chizik in charge. Could be the year we get on the map again. Actually, it NEEDS to be the year since we will have Texas and Oklahoma in '10.

Disclaimer:
I'm definately not saying they will win 10-11 games. I'm saying there's a chance. I predict 8-9 wins. Just like this year I predict 4-5 wins, with a chance to get 6-7.

I think ISUonthemove should get a job for espn since he is so good at picking games.

 

[WalkingCY]

How about 8-0 from the get-go. Lose to A&M and Missouri.....go to the Cotton Bowl?

Oh man, I would freak out.

 

[jaretac]

I really don't think the adjustment is going to be as bad this time. Maybe partly because we were so bad last year, but I really think that the players will take to the new systems, especially on offense, much quicker than they did for Chizik.

 

[jaretac]

How about 8-0 from the get-go. Lose to A&M and Missouri.....go to the Cotton Bowl?

Oh man, I would freak out.

A&M, I would say a 9-0 start with loses against OkState and Missouri, before I would go your route.

Actuall, if we are going to lose two games, I would actually see them as Nebraska and OkState.

 

[TitanClone]

I think we could start out 7-0 even 8-0. I will be dissapointed with less than 6 wins.

I think Iowa was better then people think last year. As much as i hate to say it they were probobly the best team in the Big 10 at the end of the season.

I think Nebraska will be about the same as they were last year.

I think it all comes down to coaching this year. We have alot of young talent. We played 11 or 12 freshman consistantly last year.

We need to perform this year because the next 2 years our in confrence schedule will be a lot more difficult.

I could see anywhere from 6 to 9 wins this year. I would be happy with any of those numbers coming off of 2.

 

[cytyler]

I think ISUonthemove should get a job for espn since he is so good at picking games.

This was predicted in 2008, before Cheezit quit, so these predictions are off of his rebuilding process that would be farther along if he were here in '09.

 

[cyclonepower]

we have officially turned into unrealistic Iowa fans with some of your picks:skeptical:

 

[TitanClone]

we have officially turned into unrealistic Iowa fans with some of your picks:skeptical:

What are your expectations?

 

[sdillon500]

we have officially turned into unrealistic Iowa fans with some of your picks:skeptical:

Seriously. I hate to be Debbie Downer, and I'm always optimistic about the future of ISU sports, but can we at least look at our recent history?

2006 - Coming off back to back bowl seasons with a shot to win the North. A lot of optimism about the offense, bowl game predictions. 4-8 overall. McCarney fired, Chizik hired.

2007 - Chizik's first year, a lot of optimism about the new coaches credentials & the "passion" he brings to the football program, bowl predictions. 3-9 overall.

2008 - Chizik as 2nd year head coach, a lot of optimism about the future of the program, bowl game predictions. 2-10 overall. Chizik jumps ship for Auburn.

Now I admire CPR & I think he's brought in an excellent staff. But to think that a first year head coach is going to lead us to a bowl this year is insane. 4 wins with improvement as the season goes on & I'm satisfied.

 

[GoSTATE71]

i see us winning 3 games tops, not being a debbie downer, but the lower my expectations are the more fun, and less disapointment and anger ill have after watching us game after game this season, i hope your right though and that im terribly wrong

 

[FurleysAscot]

Absolutely no way Nebtrashka wins the north. The Fatman will own the Huskers.

 

[hall4cy]

I'm not predicting 10-11 wins, more like 8-9 wins. I am realistic, but you would be crazy to say we don't have a good shot at every game.

KOOL-AID KOOL AID KOOL AID

wowsers...have my eyes decieved me or does this say 10-11 wins. :biglaugh: I am all for being optimistic, but even your "realistic" expectations" are a bit much. I would like to see a conference win first. Then when we do that, a conference road win. If these two things happen (which they havent for way to long) I could see 6 wins, but we are coming off of 5-19 here the last two seasons. A .500 season would be pretty amazing at this point.

 

[wyocy]

I'm on the kool-aid too!! I don't think there's any way we don't get to 6 wins. This is the best schedule we're gonna have for years. All we need is a good start and getting some confidence going, which is very possible. The only games I see we don't really have a shot to win are Okie St., a program really on the rise, and probably Neb. Kansas without Reesing may not be any good at all and Mizzou, without Daniels and Mackey and without the O coordinator that their head coach has had with him wherever he's gone, will be a different team. I don't think 7 or 8 wins is out of the question at all if Arnaud comes along and shows some improvement.

 

[cyhiphopp]

I'm on the kool-aid too!! I don't think there's any way we don't get to 6 wins. This is the best schedule we're gonna have for years. All we need is a good start and getting some confidence going, which is very possible. The only games I see we don't really have a shot to win are Okie St., a program really on the rise, and probably Neb. Kansas without Reesing may not be any good at all and Mizzou, without Daniels and without the O coordinator that their head coach has had with him wherever he's gone, will be a different team. I don't think 7 or 8 wins is out of the question at all if Arnaud comes along and shows some improvement.

Reesing is still around unfortunately. BOO!

Daniels is a monstrous loss. He knew the spread so well having run it for his entire highschool career. I don't think a newcomer steps in and does nearly the same thing. Who knows what the new OC brings in.