ISU Commissioner: The B Team

The B-Team

This is what you get after playing 4 top 20 teams in a row (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Oklahoma State). Typically you play one top 20 team and you call that an Ice Pack Game. 4 in a row and you end up with the B-Team. This week Iowa State could be without their starting Quarterback, their starting running back, and one of their starting linebackers (for the season).

Kansas State isn't a top 20 team this year. They are 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big XII. Not the same team they were last year. This is what they call a rebuilding year in Manhattan. Kansas State has owned Iowa State over the past five years. Kansas State is on a 5 game winning streak against the Cyclones and looking to make it six in a row against ISU. Although over those five game they have won those games by an average of 5.8 points. So nearly all of those games have come down to a touchdown on less. Including last year when they did have a Top 20 ranked team.

I would project that Iowa State falls behind early. Then Iowa State pulls back to make it a game and give us some hope, and then Kansas State pulls away in the third to fourth quarter. If Iowa State has execution issues such as turnovers, I would expect Kansas State to step on our throats and not let us back up. In other words, they will run up the score and not lose any sleep over it all. Bill Snyder was on Hayden Fry's coaching staff back in the 80's so there is still no love loss between the programs of Iowa State and Kansas State.

On the offensive side Quenton Bundrage, currently has 6 touchdown catches. The all-time record for touchdown catches in a single season is Todd Blythe with 9 and he did that two years in a row. So, although Iowa State's Offense has sputtered at times Bundrage is quietly marching toward the record books. We'll need Bundrage to continue to pull in touchdown grabs and for our Quarterback (Rohach,or Richardson) to spread the ball around.

On the defensive side we are in deep doo doo. I read one article that had Iowa State ranked as the lowest ranked defense of any BCS School. Last week Oklahoma State's Roland ran for a career-high 219 yards and four touchdowns. I would certainly expect Bill Snyder and the Wildcats to copy the same blueprint and run the ball. Kansas State has developed a balanced offense between pass and run. But, expect the Wildcats to be run heavy this Saturday.

The Cyclones currently rank at the bottom of the Big 12 in rushing defense, allowing nearly 220 yards per game on the ground. When Iowa State heads to Manhattan, Kansas State’s rushing offense will be waiting, ranking No. 4 in the Big 12 at 180 yards per game. Good recipe for Bad Mojo.