Northern Iowa at Iowa State

[unipanther99]

In the "modern era," Iowa State leads this series 6-3 with all games played in Ames. UNI won the most recent game in 2007.

Iowa State is supposed to be improved this year (the second for head coach Paul Rhodes). Both teams are coming off of a loss and looking to make a statement. The game will be under the lights Saturday night, broadcast on Mediacom across the state, and this series has given the Cyclones some of their best attended games over the years (including their home attendance record).

I'll take the Panthers 27-24.

[MoValley John]

Iowa State sucks. They suck bad. My mind says Iowa State wins, but this is a game could go to the 1-AA boys.

[valleychamp]

If we hold onto the ball, we can win the game. I think we definitely have a faster team than they do. Utilize our speed, and don't turn the ball over like we have in the first two games.

[45otseoj]

UNI FIGHT! UNI FIGHT!

[Kip Dynamite]

Now here's a sports writer who really did his homework on UNI

http://collegesportsmatchups.com/commen ... powers/713

Big 12 Notes and News
Big 12 Week 4 Preview: One more week of tune-ups for Big 12 powers
9/24/2010
Grant Tolley


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info@collegesportsmatchups.com

Unfortunately, we have to wait one more week before the teams of the Big 12 football league jump into conference play in earnest, including the “Red River Shootout” between Texas and Oklahoma. The first couple of weeks have the Big Red of Nebraska rising as the cream of the crop as the league’s most impressive team but watch out for those Oklahoma State Cowboys.

OSU is taking a bye week along with Texas A&M as those two play on Thursday of next week on ESPN.

Both Oklahoma and Texas have as many questions as answers, and each faces a solid non-conference foe in their final tune-up before facing each other in a week.

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UCLA AT No. 7 Texas (-16)

Defensively, the Longhorns have been excellent, ranking No. 2 nationally in total defense. Last week, the defense held the potent Texas Tech offense to 144 yards, its lowest output in 10 years, in a 24-14 UT win.

Texas (3-0) has to be concerned with the play of quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who was 21-of-36 for 222 yards and two touchdowns but tossed three interceptions against the Red Raiders including one returned for a TTU score.

UCLA (1-2) has had it struggles, including an embarrassing 35-0 loss at home to Stanford two weeks ago. However, the Bruins are coming off their best performance, a 31-13 win over No.23-ranked Houston last week.

UCLA lost 66-3 in 1997 in its last visit to Austin, and the Bruins have struggled on the road recently, losing 15-straight away from Pasadena.

CSM Says: Expect the Longhorns to muddle through another win, with the defense again being the key … Texas 24, UCLA 10.

No. 8 Oklahoma (-13 1/2) at Cincinnati

Before the season, this looked like a dangerous trap for Oklahoma (3-0), but Cincy has been far off the pace the Bearcats (1-2) set last year when they were unbeaten en route to an undefeated campaign topped off with a Big East Conference championship and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.

Oklahoma has been maddeningly inconsistent. At times, the Sooners have looked every bit the team we expected to challenge for a national title. But, at other moments, the offense has struggled and the defense can’t get a stop. OU put together a complete game against Florida State yet let both Utah State and Air Force mount comebacks after OU built big leads.

Coach Brian Kelley departed UC for Notre Dame after last year’s regular season finale at Pitt and seems to have taken the magic with him to South Bend. The Bearcats still run the same spread offense but are averaging two touchdowns a game less in points and are leading the nation in sacks allowed.

CSM Says: The Sooners are going to crank it up and keep it cranked up for once in a big blowout win … Oklahoma 51, Cincinnati 13.

South Dakota State at No. 6 Nebraska (NL)

Nebraska has been the most consistent and impressive team in the league thus far, with the Huskers passing their first big road test with flying colors last week. Nebraska traveled to Washington and routed the Pac-10 sleeper Huskies 56-21. The Blackshirts defense has been as impressive as last year, and redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez has ignited the offense with his running ability. The Nebraska quarterback ran for 137 yards on 19 carries last week. Martinez leads the nation with eight touchdowns rushing.

CSM Says: Don’t expect much resistance from the Football Championship Subdivision Jackrabbits, who are 0-2. Relax and enjoy the show … Nebraska 70, South Dakota State 6.

Baylor (-7½) at Rice

Baylor (2-1) was a big dud in a showcase game against TCU last week. The Bears were never in the contest, trailing 35-3 at the half before finally losing 45-10. We aren’t quite sure what to think about Rice (1-2). The Owls lost to Northwestern last week 30-13 in a Brain Bowl but were very competitive with Texas earlier in the year.

CSM Says: After last week’s outing, we are going to have to see something from Baylor to believe they are anything more than the same old Bad News Bears … Baylor 24, Rice 23.

Central Florida at Kansas State (-7)

Kansas State (3-0) has been under-the-radar on the national scene, and the Wildcats’ schedule hasn’t been too tough so far. The ground game has been strong with halfback Daniel Thomas racking up 522 yards and even getting his name mentioned in Heisman watch lists. UCF (2-1) comes in off a 24-10 win over Buffalo.

CSM Says: The Knights have had some decent teams in recent years, but UCF won’t be able to handle the KSU power running game … Kansas State 31, Central Florida 16.

Miami (OH) at Missouri (-20)

Mizzou (3-0) has gone through a lot of off-the-field problems already, and the Tigers have stumbled around a bit on the field. Last week, all signs pointed to a home loss to San Diego State before Blaine Gabbert and T.J. Moe hooked up on a 68-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining for a 27-24 victory.

Miami (OH) (2-1) crushed Colorado State 31-10 last week and don’t forget the Redhawks’ scare into Florida earlier this year.

CSM Says: Until Missouri starts blowing people out, there is no reason to believe the Tigers can. Upset alert … Missouri 28, Miami (OH) 24.

Northern Iowa at Iowa State (NL)

You might remember Northern Iowa. The Panthers are the team that took down mighty Kansas last year…in the NCAA basketball tournament. Northern Iowa (0-2) is a FCS school in football and hasn’t been able to win yet against opponents competing above that level.

CSM Says: Iowa State 45, Northern Iowa 7.
New Mexico State at Kansas (-23)

New Mexico State is one of the worst teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is probably worse than half of the FCS teams. The Aggies have surrendered points in droves to Utah and San Diego State during their first two showings.

Kansas (1-2) is still trying to figure out its identity under first-year head coach Turner Gill. After a poor outing at Southern Miss in a 31-16 loss, the Jayhawks will be looking to recapture the magic from a 28-25 upset of ranked Georgia Tech the week before.

CSM Says: A team like New Mexico State is just what the doctor ordered for the Jayhawks … Kansas 34, New Mexico State 17.

[unipanther99]

I was going to say something about posting the whole article, but considering his complete lack of research, he doesn't deserve the web traffic.

[MoValley John]

Based on the report from this jackbabble, I'm not getting any takers on my Nebraska-SDSU bet because I'm not giving enough points. I may have to bump the spread to 34-1/2. Ouch!

On the other hand, I thought UNI had won a game this year. Maybe this brownhammer doesn't know what he is talking about and I should stick to the original spread. I can't stand reporters that research like a bunch of dogbobbers.

[MVCfans]

Iowa State shuts out Northern Iowa, 27-0.

report: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302680066