The Iowa State Cyclones went to bowl games in 2012 and 2012, but last year it all came crashing down with a 3-9 record overall and a 1-7 mark in the Big 12. This year the Cyclones look improved, with 15 starters back and some solid Jucos coming in, but will it be enough to get them back to a bowl game? Preview & schedule are below.
The offense was decent last year, putting up 24.8 ppg, but will be much better this year with 10 starters back, including QB Grant Rohach, who started the last 4 games for the Cyclones and led them to 2 of their 3 wins on the year. He will have back 6 of the top 7 pass catchers from last year, including Quenton Bundrage, who led the team with 676 yards receiving and 9 TDs. The running game has some decent talent but is not spectacular, while the OL is actually the strength of the offense, with all 5 starters back and some solid depth. The defense is where problems will arise for this team, as they have just 5 starters back from a group that allowed 36 ppg last year. There are some solid Jucos coming in bus still all three units have been rated last in the big 12 by Phil Steele. Still if the Jucos mesh nicely then this defense has enough playmakers to make it a solid unit.
The Cyclones are off a tough year and normally this is a team capable of pulling big upsets at least once or twice a year. Not sure it will happen this year, but if the defense can come around some then they have a shot at a shocker or two, especially with this offense that will put up nearly 30 ppg this year. Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU and Iowa on the road, plus home games vs Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Texas Tech means a pretty tough schedule is ahead for this team. The offense will do fine, but they just won’t have enough defense to grab more than 3 or 4 wins this year. It’ll be another long year in Ames. KEY TREND: 1-9 ATS after playing Texas Tech.
2014 Iowa State Football Schedule
Sat, Aug 30th, 2014 North Dakota State
Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 Kansas State
Sat, Sep 13th, 2014 at Iowa
Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 Baylor
Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 at Oklahoma State
Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 Toledo
Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 at Texas
Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 Oklahoma
Sat, Nov 8th, 2014 at Kansas
Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 Texas Tech
Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 West Virginia
Sat, Dec 6th, 2014 at TCU
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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Golden Nugget Games Of The Year
Steve Fezzik from Pregame.com takes a look at some the games of the year that have been released by the Golden Nugget, along with some tips for handicapping them.