Iowa State Football: 2018 Game-by-game predictions
7. West Virginia (Oct. 13)
Iowa State enters this pivotal game with a 4-2 and their chances for a Big 12 Championship still very much alive and well. This matchup against West Virginia will be an elimination game for that Big 12 title race. Last year, the 14th-ranked Cyclones were upset in Morgantown by the Mountaineers, highlighted by a great performance by quarterback Will Grier, who is now a serious Heisman Trophy contender.
West Virginia was looking like a top 25 team when they knocked off Iowa State at home, however, the Mountaineers crashed and burned down the stretch, finishing 1-3 and losing their last three games including their bowl game. 2018 does have the potential to be a banner year for Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers, with Grier and star wide receivers David Sills and Gary Jennings returning. West Virginia does return an experienced defense from last year as well.
This will be a marquee game in the Big 12 conference in 2018 as I fully expect West Virginia to be in the top 10 and maybe even undefeated. This game will have it all as it will be a back and forth affair and perhaps even a shootout. In the end, Jack Trice still has so magic up its sleeve and that will be the difference maker as Matt Campbell gets his biggest win at Iowa State to date.