Iowa State Football: Pre-spring game-by-game predictions for Cyclones

Games 5-6

Oct. 2 vs Kansas 

You don’t need to know much about Kansas to know that Iowa State should cruise in this one. The Jayhawks are going with Emmett Jones as their interim head coach following Les Miles ugly exit and it’s hard to see this season going well in Lawrence. The trip to Ames won’t be fun…for them.

Final score: Iowa State 55, Kansas 14

Oct. 16 at Kansas State 

The trip to Manhattan will come after a bye week for the Cyclones. Last season, Kansas State was 4-6 and in some games, the Wildcats were good, like when they beat Texas and other games, they were bad, such as when Iowa State drubbed them 45-0.

This game does feel like a trap game of sorts for the Cyclones. Oklahoma State will be coming to town the next week, one of the three teams that beat Iowa State and another Big 12 contender, so there could be some overlooking on the part of Iowa State.

The other reason I like Kansas State’s chances of making this close is Deuce Vaughn, the dynamic running back who earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors as a freshman. KSU rode him to a win over Texas, so he’s capable of doing special things.

Last year, he got seven carries for 44 yards against Iowa State. In 2021, I expect him and the Wildcats to perform better, but not well enough to spring the upset.

Final score: Iowa State 31, Kansas State 24