Iowa State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Memphis in Liberty Bowl

3. Iowa State will finally lose its first fumble of the 2017 season

Part of Iowa State’s success in 2017 has been predicated on its ability to protect the football and prevent turnovers. The Cyclones threw only nine interceptions all season, despite cycling through several quarterbacks. More impressively, though, Iowa State was the only team to reach the postseason without losing a single fumble.

Yes, you read that right. Iowa State lost only nine turnovers during the course of the regular season, and every one of those turnovers came in the form of an interception. That stroke of luck will fall by the wayside as the pigskin finally squirts its way out to be recovered by the defense.

It will be part of a day when Iowa State simply tries too hard to force plays to happen. The Cyclones will get sloppy, and it will result in the first fumbles at the most inopportune time. Memphis will notch at least three takeaways in this game, as one of the top defenses in the country at generating turnovers keeps up the solid work.

While it would’ve been fun to see Iowa State go an entire season without losing a single fumble, Memphis will have different plans. Look for the Tigers to snatch at least one fumble (if not two) as they stymie the Cyclones offense for most of Saturday.