Game by Game Predictions

[CyFan61]

It was 7-3 Iowa with 3 minutes left in the first half, with Iowa's TD coming after a failed on-side kick by ISU.

My apologies, I was thinking of the Iowa 2010 game when I typed 2009.

 

[Aclone]

Because of the schedule.

Yes, but every year the past few people have whined and moaned about how tough the schedule was--then when the season was over, it proved not to be so bad.

How do we get to double digit wins? Simple. We play well.

Sep 01 Tulsa
Tulsa had a good team last year. Of course, a lot of the pieces are missing. And, oh yeah—this game isn’t in Tulsa. They might even do surprisingly well…except that I think that CPR’s team comes out intent upon blowing their doors off, even sticking to basics. W

Sep 08 at Iowa
The Hawkeyes are a bit unsettled on both trenches, the defense more than the offense, though the offense is equally hurting for skill players at RB and wide receiver. They might have to show a good chunk of the new playbook against NIU—do you think that Wally can work with that? Even if ISU Off = UI Def, the fact is that ISU Def > UI Off. To me, that makes a W

Sep 15 Western Illinois
Not a big fan of this game, for lots of reasons. With a bye coming up, a good excuse to get sloppy—and still win big. W

Sep 29 Texas Tech
Wally surely seems to have Tech’s number defensively, and the Red Raiders have never been able to play defense themselves. That might change eventually with Tuberville—but not now, in Ames, IA. W

Oct 06 at TCU
The new kids on the block, it would be nice to have that bye week before heading down to Dallas. Of course, Tech wasn’t much of a challenge last year—so after that game, this matchup might well garner some national attention. One question is TCU’s speed, but CPR has dealt with speed before. This road trip is the tough part of the early schedule, and will set the tone for the rest of the season. Should be a real fight, a major battle, and I think it will come down to the fourth quarter…but maybe we’ll put it away sooner. This team starts convincing people. W

Oct 13 Kansas State
K-State did it with mirrors a year ago, eking out everything they could. That won’t happen again. By the time this game in Ames rolls around ISU will be favored—and will win, by a decent margin. W

Oct 20 at Oklahoma State
Switching from ancient to new, the Cowboys go from a practically geriatric to peach fuzz in a true freshman quarterback. Combined with Blackmon’s absence, that means that OSU will rely on their running game—and Wally must already be drooling. For that matter, OSU had a horrible defense last year. It’s not going to magically get better overnight. W

Oct 27 Baylor (Homecoming)
Let’s see. Griffin and his favorite target gone, a bad defense that White and Reynolds ran roughshod around, over and through in Waco shelled by graduation anyway. Huh. Sounds like the Baylor offense will be very run oriented. See above as to Wally’s salivating proclivities. W

Nov 03 Oklahoma
I have to tell you, this is one that I really want. I think that it’s that time. Barring injuries, by this stage of the season the Cyclone defense will be as strong as it’s been in decades, and the offense should easily have gelled into an efficient unit. If I am going to call a true upset, this is it—because I don’t think the others will be upsets once each respective part of the schedule rolls around. ’Ware ye Sooners, for this be Giant Slayer Country! W

Nov 10 at Texas
Texas has a really, really tough defense. Their offense stank last season, but what can you say? After all, it isn’t going to completely turn around in a heartbeat. Odds are that they will be extremely run oriented, with their collection of hugely talented backs. Generally speaking, Wally and his boys, A.J. and Jake, like to see that. For that matter, CPR has demonstrated a knack for winning in Austin. Unfortunately, the team is flat after a big win. L
BTW—Props to Tim Sitzman for calling these two games the same way as me. :biggrin:

Nov 17 at Kansas
I could rationalize this one seven ways to Sunday as “difficult”. The one real flaw is that it’s a road game, so why not a bit of a challenge? The only salient fact is, unless absolute disaster strikes, there is only one outcome. These Cyclones come roaring back after their first loss of the season. W

Nov 24 West Virginia
So, Kansas makes for a breather before the Mountaineers come to town, right? Well, since this game looks like it’ll be a Black Friday special, we could be setting up for much the same kind of drama as when OSU came to town. Love me some of that! W