The Cy-Hawk Trophy is up for grabs as the Iowa State
Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes renew their rivalry on Saturday.
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The Cyclones may be an improving Big 12 squad but
upsetting the No. 9 team in the nation on the road is a tall order.
Iowa State
Cyclones @ Iowa Hawkeyes Matchup
NCAA Football Betting Line:
NCAAF MoneyLines:
Betting the NCAAF Total:
The Iowa Cyclones Can
Win Because...:
This passing game, led by Austen Arnaud, is steadily
improving. As a matter of fact, this Iowa State team as a whole is as well and
the team is somewhat underrated.
While the Cyclones passing game may not produce the type
of aerial assault that would make Mike Martz smile, they are effective and they
do enough to soften up the defense for running back Alexander Robinson. Very
quietly, he's emerged as one of the best backs in the Big 12.
If the Cyclones can keep their passing game fluid -
especially the short passing game - they could make this very hard on the
Hawkeyes. Manageable third down distances will be the key.
On defense, they need to find a way to slow down the
Hawkeyes running game. It's doable, but they'll have to tackle better than they
did last week.
The Iowa Hawkeyes Should
Win Because...:
They are going to run, run and run all over the Cyclones.
The Cyclones counted 14 missed tackles in the opener of the NCAAF 2010 schedule.
They can get away with that against Northern Illinois but not against Iowa.
The Hawkeyes will get Jewel Hampton back in the lineup
after his season-opening suspension and combined with Adam Robinson, they are
going to have fresh running backs cutting through the Cyclones front seven all
day long.
To keep them honest, veteran quarterback Ricky Stanzi
will connect with returning wideouts Marvin McNutt and Derrell
Johnson-Koulianos.
On the other side of the ball, the Hawkeyes defense has
owned the Cyclones of late. They've allowed just eight points in the last two
meetings and the Cyclones haven't scored a touchdown against Iowa in 14
quarters (back in 2006). Preseason All-American defensive end Adrian Clayborn
should have his way with the Cyclones front lines and impede a lot of their
offensive plans.
Outlook &
Football Betting Prediction:
The Cyclones do very well in this rivalry and have won seven
of the last 12 meetings and 38 of 57 overall. The only problem is that they are
just 12-22 in Iowa City.
Arnaud had a pitiful performance in last year's matchup,
throwing for just 79 yards and four interceptions. Expect him to be much
sharper in this contest as the Cyclones will find a way to move the ball.
But the Hawkeyes defense doesn't bend often and it breaks
even less. They'll keep the Cyclones to field goals - for the most part - and
trade with touchdowns on their end.
Iowa won't stumble here but two touchdowns is a large
number for a conservative team to cover. 5Dimes has the Cyclones listed as a
14-point underdog and it's a good value bet if you get it before it moves off
the key number of two touchdowns.
NCAA Football Pick:
Cyclones +14