Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz gets his players ready prior to kickoff against South Dakota State during a NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 20, Iowa 14
I wouldn’t bet this game with Chris Hassel’s money. You absolutely cannot bet on Iowa, who will start a quarterback with a 1.1 QBR. You can’t bet on Iowa State either, as this is still the one box Matt Campbell hasn’t been able to check during his time in Ames. A lot of money is coming in on the UNDER, which has steamed down to 40. That makes me nervous as this is the one game every year where Brian Ferentz seems actually to get somewhat creative. I’m not 100 percent confident in Iowa State’s defense yet, especially against the run. Iowa State always turns the ball over against the Hawkeyes & has traditionally struggled with special teams in this rivalry game as well.
However, if I keep picking Iowa State to win this game, I will eventually be correct, right?
Jared Stansbury, Managing Editor – Iowa State 21, Iowa 17
I hate that everyone on our staff is going to pick Iowa State, but it is what it is. I think Iowa State matches up in this game as well as it has in any year since Matt Campbell arrived in Ames. Hunter Dekkers has the arm strength and ability to stretch the field that has been missing for Iowa State offensively in this game. The Cyclones aren’t going to try to out Iowa the Hawkeyes for the first time in several years, and that gives me confidence in the offense’s ability to function. Iowa State’s defenders have to be licking their chops after what the Iowa offense looked like last week. In the words of Anthony Johnson, “Bring your chinstraps.”
Connor Ferguson, Staff Writer – Iowa State 14, Iowa 6
There’s obviously a couple of different streaks in favor of Iowa coming into this game and I didn’t go through my life being a Cubs fan to not bring up the phrase, ‘incredibly due.’ I think this is the most unique look Iowa State brings offensively for a matchup with Iowa since Campbell got here. Hunter Dekkers opens up the field, the Cyclones find the end zone twice and Iowa nets two field goals throughout the game. I was going to predict a loss, but I’ll just say if this is the score going into the fourth quarter, Iowa will somehow be driving down the field looking for eight points to tie the game.
Jay Jordan, Football Analyst – Iowa State 23, Iowa 15
Hawk offense will be found in its usual form. ISU will have to overcome field position and pressure but is better suited to do so than in any of the other Campbell-era match-ups. Rolling with my gut on this one as ISU throws some counter-punches and the Hawks can’t answer.
Jeff Woody, Football Analyst – Iowa State 20, Iowa 12
Iowa has one way of winning this game—ugly. Not “oh, that pug is so ugly it’s cute” ugly. Like, “crow eating roadkill shot in vivid HD” ugly. Because of how bad Iowa’s offense has been for the last 9 games (and how Iowa State is built to play) I don’t think it’s going to get ugly enough for Iowa to pull it out or to keep up with a competent passing game. Not a flashy win, but a win nonetheless.
