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Iowa State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 10 Iowa in Week 2

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 4, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Greg Eisworth II (12) and defensive back Isheem Young (1) celebrate a defensive stop against the Northern Iowa Panthers in the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Greg Eisworth II (12) and defensive back Isheem Young (1) celebrate a defensive stop against the Northern Iowa Panthers in the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Iowa State football fans have to be sick and tired of seeing the Cyclones playing down to their opponents in every season opener and for the second time in recent memory, they were nearly upset by Northern Iowa to start the season.

Back in 2019, Iowa State needed three overtimes to beat Northern Iowa and in Week 1, the Cyclones held on to beat the Panthers 16-10 in Ames. A better performance is needed on Saturday afternoon as a huge battle awaits.

Matt Campbell has never beaten Iowa and Saturday would be a signature win for the head coach as Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are ranked No. 8 in the country.

Let’s get bold ahead of Saturday’s monster matchup in Ames.

3. Both teams struggle on the ground

I know you probably already think I’m crazy, and that’s OK. Both Iowa and Iowa State have all-conference caliber running backs and two guys who could push for All-American status this season in Iowa’s Tyler Goodson and Iowa State’s Breece Hall. So how can both of these guys struggle?

Both defenses are going to be stingy in that regard like they were in their respective openers.

Iowa gave up just 77 rushing yards in the opener to No. 17 Indiana and Iowa State only surrendered 45 rushing yards to Northern Iowa.

Neither star running back will reach 100 yards on Saturday afternoon as this will be a drag-it-out game. I just don’t think either run game will see any major success on Saturday.

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