2010 Season Preview: Iowa State Cyclones Football Predictions

2010 Season Prediction (8-4) (5-3)

KO should show up in the Big 12 Postseason Awards

Players to Watch for Post Season Awards

QB Austen Arnaud
RB Alexander Robinson
C Ben Lamaak
OT Kelechi Osemele
TE Collin Franklin
WR Sedrick Johnson
CB Leonard Johnson
S David Sims
K Grant Mahoney

Game-by-Game Predictions

9/2 Northern Illinois (2009 record: 7-6) – Top returning players: RB Chad Spann – The Cyclones young linebackers will be challenged by the Huskies power running game, but I-State’s offense is much improved and will be too much.

• Prediction: Iowa State 30 Northern Illinois 20
  

Win (60% chance of victory)

9/11 at Iowa #9 (2009 record: 11-2, 2009 result: Iowa 35 Iowa State 3) – Top returning players: DE Adrian Clayborn / S Tyler Sash – Iowa is going to be a very solid team, but they are beatable.  Iowa doesn’t put too many teams away early, in fact the Iowa State game was one of the few games last year that the Hawkeyes won handily.  Austen Arnaud will be determined to go out with a win after playing his worst game in last year’s contest.

• Prediction: Iowa 27 Iowa State 20
  

Loss (40% chance of victory)

9/18 Kansas State at Arrowhead Stadium (2009 record: 6-6, 2009 result Kansas State 24 Iowa State 23) – Top returning players: RB Daniel Thomas – Very important game for Iowa State.  ISU wins the close game this year.

• Prediction: Iowa State 31 Kansas State 27
  

Win (55% chance of victory)

9/25 Northern Iowa (2009 record: 7-4) – Top returning players: TE Schuyler Oordt – The Panthers will come in confident they can win this ball game after beating the Cyclones 24-13 in their last meeting.  Iowa State will take care of business this time around.

• Prediction: Iowa State 30 Northern Iowa 17
  

Win (65% chance of victory)

10/2 Texas Tech (2009 record: 9-4) – Top returning players: LB Brian Duncan – We have no idea what to expect from this Texas Tech team. Our best guess is they take a step back , but they still have a lot of Texas talent on this squad.

• Prediction: Texas Tech 27 Iowa State 24
  

Loss (50% chance of victory)

10/9 Utah (2009 record 10-3) – Top returning players: RB Eddie Wide / DB Brandon Burton – The Utes will bring a punishing running game to Jack Trice Stadium.  The Cyclones need this win badly and find a way to get it done.

• Prediction: Iowa State 30 Utah 27 (OT)
  

Win (50% chance of victory)

10/16 at Oklahoma #7 (2009 record: 8-5) – Top returning players: RB DeMarco Murray / WR Ryan Broyles / LB Travis Lewis – Oklahoma had a down season last year and will take it out on opponents this year.  OU has a too much talent, but expect our boys to battle hard.

• Prediction: Oklahoma 27 Iowa State 10
  

Loss (30% chance of victory)

10/23 at Texas #5 (2009 record: 13-1) – Top returning players: LB Keenan Robinson / DB Aaron Williams / DB Curtis Brown / DB Blake Gideon – Texas will be stout on defense.  The Longhorn offense will be a work-in-progress, but you know the talent is there.  The Cyclones are 0-7 lifetime against Texas.  It would be great to get that first win this year.

• Prediction: Texas 34 Iowa State 17
  

Loss (30% chance of victory)

10/30 Kansas (2009 record: 5-7, 2009 result: Kansas 41 Iowa State 36) – Top returning players: LB Drew Dudley – We like Turner Gill and think he will be a good coach, but why is there so much love for the Jayhawks this year.  The team lost all of their top talent last year, are breaking in a new system and are coming off a 1-7 record in the Big 12.  We think they stay at the bottom of the Big 12 again this season.

• Prediction: Iowa State 38 Kansas 14
  

Win (65% chance of victory)

11/6 Nebraska #8 (2009 record: 10-4, 2009 result: Iowa State 9 Nebraska 7) – Top returning players: DL Jared Crick /DB Prince Amukamara –  Iowa State will be out to prove that last year’s victory in Lincoln was no joke.  The Cyclones will trade blows with the Huskers and send them off to the Big 10 with a two game losing streak against Iowa State.

• Prediction: Iowa State 23 Nebraska 20 (OT)
  

Win (50% chance of victory)

11/13 at Colorado (2009 record: 3-9, 2009 result: Iowa State 17 Colorado 10) – Top returning players: OL Nate Solder / OL Ryan Miller – We should know Dan Hawkins fate by the time of this game.  If Colorado is having a good season, it will be a close game.  We think the Buffaloes season will be spiraling by this point and Iowa State will take advantage.

• Prediction: Iowa State 27  Colorado 17
  

Win (55% chance of victory)

11/20 Missouri (2009 record: 8-5, 2009 result: Missouri 34 Iowa State 24) – Top returning players: DE Aldon Smith – The Tigers have relied heavily on their offense to win games.  MU is on the verge of losing their top running back and are inexperienced at wide receiver.  Blaine Gabbert and company will put up points, but the Cyclones will score more.

• Prediction: Iowa State 34 Missouri 28
  

Win (50% chance of victory)

2009 Season Preview: Iowa State Cyclones Football Predictions