***Official NDSU @ ISU Prediction thread***
- Thread starter UNIGuy4Cy
- Start date
I'm going to have to call you out on this one...
Since Danny Mac got his job in 1995, Iowa State has won 14 of it's 19 home openers. So, in the last 20 years, we're 14-6. Is that stellar? Heck no. But four of those six losses occurred before 1999. We've only lost the home opener twice in the last 10 years. And in those losses, we had Robert McFarland and Courtney Messingham as our offensive coordinators.
Don't let the fact that Iowa State lost, disappointingly, to UNI last year, color your perception of history. It's not like Iowa State makes it a habit to come out and lay eggs against their first opponents each year. Heck, even in the wins, we're not just squeaking out nail biters every time. In all 19 of those games, the average score on the game was 30-18. In the wins, the average goes up to 34-14.
I know last year sucked. But that doesn't mean that we should be sitting here saying that we have a history of not showing up in our openers.
So, that being said, since we beat them 34-17 the last time we played, and the average margin of victory in the last 19 years has been between 1.5 and 3 touchdowns, I'm gonna go with:
34-14, us.
Thankfully it's less than a week until you disappear, just like you did last time you were talking so much s%#t about beating ISU. Cyclones pound whatever directional dakota school it is they play this weekend.
Great. Another FCS conference member with an opinion...
And yes, I am fully aware that you're a hok fan...
So I've been optimistic about this season compared to many others, but I had no reason to feel confident about this first game. After watching Klieman's press conference, I finally was able to put my finger on why we can win this game.
-First, NDSU scared because of how they beat KSU last year. The reason NDSU had success against them is because NDSU is built to play against an offense like their own. KSU is a smash-mouth team, and that is what NDSU practices against game in and game out. ISU is far from a run-it-down-your-throat team. We will try, but if it doesn't work we will spread it out and up. I love Bibbs in this matchup.
-Second, NDSU went into that game against KSU with a complete returning team that had won every game the previous year. NDSU won every game last year as well, but they are missing many of those guys, including the QB. Head coach is a defensive guy. We know how easy a DC makes a transition to a successful offense as head coach. (McCarney, Chizik, Rhoads...) We need to plug gaps, we have some guys to do that. Even if we don't, they still should only score five times if things are clicking for them. (3 TDs, 2 FGs). We have a leader in Morrissey that is all business. They are embarrassed by the result of last year, but know that this is a new year to prove they aren't as bad as many think.
-Third, We are returning a whole offense that started in two wins to end the season, except for Rohach. Couple that with Mangino and his "easy" offense and I feel we will have a very efficient offense to go against that stout D. We can hit them with the run, but won't rely on it. Our strength should be in the air.
This is my reasoning for optimism, will it be accurate? No idea. That being said, I think ISU makes a statement. 38-26 ISU.
-First, NDSU scared because of how they beat KSU last year. The reason NDSU had success against them is because NDSU is built to play against an offense like their own. KSU is a smash-mouth team, and that is what NDSU practices against game in and game out. ISU is far from a run-it-down-your-throat team. We will try, but if it doesn't work we will spread it out and up. I love Bibbs in this matchup.
-Second, NDSU went into that game against KSU with a complete returning team that had won every game the previous year. NDSU won every game last year as well, but they are missing many of those guys, including the QB. Head coach is a defensive guy. We know how easy a DC makes a transition to a successful offense as head coach. (McCarney, Chizik, Rhoads...) We need to plug gaps, we have some guys to do that. Even if we don't, they still should only score five times if things are clicking for them. (3 TDs, 2 FGs). We have a leader in Morrissey that is all business. They are embarrassed by the result of last year, but know that this is a new year to prove they aren't as bad as many think.
-Third, We are returning a whole offense that started in two wins to end the season, except for Rohach. Couple that with Mangino and his "easy" offense and I feel we will have a very efficient offense to go against that stout D. We can hit them with the run, but won't rely on it. Our strength should be in the air.
This is my reasoning for optimism, will it be accurate? No idea. That being said, I think ISU makes a statement. 38-26 ISU.
